Note: Some events are a bit shy or a bit over the traditional marathon distance.
So you want to run a marathon in Colorado. Colorado has many marathon choices, ranging from flat courses on city streets to running up and down mountains, and everything in between. You should be able to find something that suits your fancy. With such a beautiful state, you simply can't go wrong. Here is some brief information to help you choose a Colorado marathon. A few of the events are not the full marathon distance, but pretty darn close. Please visit the marathon's website for all the latest details on the event. Good luck and get out there and train!
This list is meant to be all inclusive, so if we've missed an event, or there is inaccurate information, please send an e-mail to the webmaster and it will be fixed.
| Date | Event | Distances | Location | Marathon Cost | Years in Existence | Approx Marathon Size | Comments |
| Sat, Feb 4 | Alley Loop Nordic | 42K, 21K, 10K, 5K, 1K | Crested Butte | $40/$50 | 20 | 120 | Ok, so it's not a running event. But it does offer a 42K course (marathon distance) using cross country skis. What a great way to keep your endurance level intact during the dead of winter. Shorter distances are also offered. |
| Sat, Mar 18 | A Run Through Time Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Salida | $35/$40/$45 | 1 | 60 | The hilly course gains about 3,200 feet in elevation and consists mostly of dirt roads. There will be four aid stations along the way, including one at the pump house in Turret. |
| Sat, May 6 | Collegiate Peaks Trail Run |
25M, 50M | Buena Vista | $45 | 16 | 200 | Not the full marathon distance. Beautiful trail course on single-track trails and jeep roads. About 3,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. Good food at the aid stations. |
| Sun, May 7 | Colorado Marathon (formerly Fort Collins Old Town Marathon) | 26.2M, 15M, 10K | Fort Collins | $60/$70 | 5 | 650 | Certified. Point-to-point road course, about 1100 feet of elevation loss (6100 feet to around 5000). Voted 2005 Best Marathon in Colorado by Colorado Runner magazine. |
| Sun, May 21 | Post News Colorado Colfax Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, relay | Aurora, Denver, Lakewood | $90/$100 | 1 | 1200 | Certified. Point-to-point road course, characterized as flat (279 net elevation gain). Run west on Colfax Avenue, so the morning sun will be on your back. Starts in Aurora, goes through Denver, ends in Lakewood. |
| Sun, Jun 4 | Steamboat Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K | Steamboat Springs | $60/$70 | 25 | 500 | Certified. Point-to-point road course, downhill, starting about 8100 feet and ending about 6700 feet. There are some rolling hills along the way. Great hot springs in town, and more rustic hot springs a few miles out of town. |
| Sun, Jun 18 | Estes Park Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 5K | Estes Park | $45/$55 | 3 | 150 | Highest paved marathon in the world. High point is 8150 feet, low point is 7420 feet. 2/3 of course is either flat or a gentle downhill. 1/3 of course is gentle uphill. |
| Sat, Jul 1 | Leadville Trail Marathon | 26.2M | Leadville | $50/$65/$75 | 7 | 225 | Entire course above 10,000 feet, topping out at 13,188 feet. Out-and-back trail course. Good grub at the aid stations. |
| Sun, Aug 20 | Pikes Peak Marathon | 26.2M, 13.32M | Manitou Springs | $65 | 51 | 800 | Out-and-back trail course, topping out at 14,000+ feet. Around 7,800 feet of elevation gain on the way up and similar decrease on the way down. Voted 2005 Race of the Year by Colorado Runner magazine. 13.32M event (Pikes Peak Ascent) is on Saturday. |
| Sat, Aug 26 | Silverton Alpine Marathon | 26.2M | Silverton | $55/$65/$75 | 3 | 50 | Trail marathon, 3,800 feet of ascent and descent. |
| Sun, Sep 3 | Breckenridge
Mountain Crest Marathon 2006 Event Cancelled | 24.5M, 10M, 5M | Breckenridge | $35/$45 (2005 fees) | 11 | 140 | A little shy of the full marathon distance. A hearty trail-running challenge, loop course. High point of 12,400 feet. 5,500 feet of elevation gain. Average elevation is 10,923 feet. |
| Mon, Sep 4 | American Discovery Trail Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 5K | Colorado Springs | $45/$55/$65 | 6 | 250 | Certified trail course. About 1/2 on paved trails and 1/2 on dirt trails. The course is mostly flat with a few small hills. Pizza for all runners and their entourage at the finish. |
| Sun, Sep 24 | Boulder Backroads Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Boulder | $75/$85 | 8 | 600 | Certified course on mostly soft-packed dirt roads in a rural location. Some rolling hills. |
| Sat, Oct 7 | Danielesque Trail Marathon | 27.6M, 13.8M | Golden | $35 | 2 | 25 | The course is all off road, follows the perimeter trails of White Ranch Open Space Park near Golden, CO and in a Danielesque way, adds extra distance to the traditional marathon and half marathon distances. |
| Sun, Oct 8 | Durango Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 25K, 50K | Durango | $75 | 5 | 250 | Road course designed to be runner friendly with minimal elevation gain/loss. 25 aid stations, 9 hour time limit. 25K and 50K events are on Saturday. |
| Sun, Oct 15 | Denver Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, relay | Denver | $70/$85/ $95/$105 | 1 | 1500 | Certified road course, mostly flat and taking in the LoDo area, state capital and many Denver city parks. Race director is Dave McGillivray, who is also the Boston Marathon race director. |
| Sat Nov 11 | Rim Rock Run | 37K (22.6M) | Grand Junction | $35/$45 | 13 | 300 | 5K short of the full marathon distance, but the beauty, grandeur, and stunning vistas more than make up for this not being a full marathon. The course winds its way through paved roads in the Colorado National Monument. One of America's most scenic runs, the course takes you from high desert through red rock canyons, majestic mesas and towering rock monoliths. Voted 2005 Most Scenic Race by Colorado Runner magazine. |