Marathon – Beautifully Brutal
Start Time: 6:30 am
Elevation: Start @ 6339 ft, Max @ 7331 ft, Finish @ 5213 ft, +1,492 ft / -2,618 ft
Max uphill grade: 13.7%
Max downhill grade: -13.8%
Surface: 99% Paved, 1% Unpaved
Course Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30907855
Time Limit: 5 hours, average ~11:30 min/mile pace
Aid Stations: 10
Certified Course
Don’t be fooled, this marathon course is a challenge, but a gorgeous run through the mountains, earning its tagline – “Beautifully Brutal”. The race starts at Ohana Mountain Ranch in the Buckhorn Canyon running on a dirt road for the first 1/4 mile to Buckhorn Road (paved). The first 10 miles go through the Buckhorn Canyon past mountain ranches and along Stove Prairie Creek, just after mile 10 you will turn right into the Poudre River Canyon and continue down along the Cache La Poudre River to the finish line at the base of the canyon.
Prepare yourself for the first 5 “hilly” miles with the steepest uphill grade (13.7%) ~1.6 miles into the course. When you get to Stove Prairie School, 5.3 miles into the course, at the junction of Buckhorn Road and Rist Canyon Road you will cry tears of joy as the course begins its first major decent dropping 300+ feet over the next 2 miles. Be prepared at mile 7.2 for another uphill section, relatively short (0.4 miles) but steep, gaining 175 ft and hitting a 10% grade. Now the real fun starts as you’ve conquered the uphills and now get to pickup the pace and enjoy the downhill all the way to the finish line… Well almost. This might not be worth mentioning, but you have one last small hill at Mile 21 for 0.2 miles gaining just under 30ft in elevation on a 1-3% grade up to the entrance of Gateway Natural Area. Then it’s downhill for another couple miles until it flattens out from mile 23-25, and finally the LAST mile has a little more downhill to the finish. Be sure to take a look at the course profile and plan your training and race strategy accordingly.
Half Marathon – Wild & Scenic
Start Time: 7:30 am
Elevation: Start @ 5858 ft, Finish @ 5213 ft, +175 ft / -820 ft
Max uphill grade: 2.5%
Max downhill grade: -6.8%
Surface: 99% Paved, 1% unpaved
Course Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21095020
Time Limit: 4 hours, average ~18:20 min/mile pace
Aid Stations: 5
Certified Course
The Half Marathon race starts at the Mishawaka Amphitheater (“the Mish”), an iconic riverfront music venue and restaurant in the Poudre Canyon. You’ll enjoy the local hospitality at the Mish, who opens early and gets the morning coffee brewing (complimentary for runners), while allowing you access to the indoor restaurant space, SpokesBUZZ Lounge, deck, and the river front property.
Enjoy the fall scenery along the Cache la Poudre, Colorado’s only designated Wild & Scenic River as you run on a downhill point-to-point course to the finish. This course could be described as a “runnable” downhill with an average descent of ~50ft per mile. It is not the super steep downhill that kills your quads but enough that you will find yourself easily running a faster pace. However, your legs are still sure to feel the effects of 13 downhill miles by the finish, so make sure to do some downhill training leading up to the race and visit the Rebound Sports & Physical Therapy Recovery Room to roll and stretch your legs at the finish during the post-race party. The majority of the downhill is from the start to mile 10, with miles 10-12 relatively flat, and the last mile dropping ~42 ft. Plan your race strategy accordingly and save some in the tank for the last few flatter miles as you come out of the canyon to the finish.
Five Mile – First to Finish
Start Time: 7:30 am
Elevation: Start @ 5372 ft, Finish @ 5213 ft, +78 ft / -237 ft
Max uphill grade: 2.5%
Max downhill grade: -4.3%
Surface: 94% Paved, 6% Unpaved
Course Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31104801
Time Limit: 4 hours, average ~48 min/mile pace
Aid Stations: 2
Fast or festive? You choose how you want to run the 5-Mile race.
The race starts at Gateway Natural Area where the North Fork of the Poudre River joins the main Poudre River.
The downhill point-to-point course joins the marathon/half-marathon race course, but you will get to the finish line party first! The race starts on a dirt road next to the river, allowing you to avoid climbing the short steep hill out of the park on the main exit road. You will run on dirt for ~1/4 mile out to Poudre Canyon Road (paved) where you will enter the closed east bound lane and cruise downhill to the finish line. The majority of the downhill is from the start to mile 2 and mile 4-5, with miles 2 & 3 relatively flat. This is the perfect race and distance for all different kinds of running goals; if you are increasing from running 5k races, if you are wanting to race at a faster speed than your usual half marathon or longer distance pace, or if you just want to walk/jog/run/race a beautiful course!
The finish line crew will be anticipating your finish with medals and pint cups ready for your triumphant arrival.
