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, Jan 5 | Turquoise Lake 20 Mile Snowshoe Run | 20M | Leadville |
$10/$15/$20 (or bring food) | 19 | 40-90 | Shorter than a marathon but it will take you longer. If you can run you can run some on snowshoes. 2800' climb up to 11,370 feet. Semi-packed snow around, above and on the lake. Not for the meek. |
| Sat, Feb 2 | Alley Loop Nordic | 42K, 21K, 10K, 5K, 1K | Crested Butte | $40 | 22 | 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 15 | A Run Through Time Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Salida | $35/$40/$45 | 3 | 100 | 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, Apr 19 | Greenland Trail 50K | 50K, 25K, 8M | Greenland Open Space (between Palmer Lake & Larkspur) | $60/$65/$70 | 4 | 85 | 8K more than the normal marathon distance. The entire course is run on wide, smooth double track dirt trails. The course passes through native grasslands, by ponds, through rolling Gamble oak hills and skirts ponderosa pine forests allowing for outstanding views of Pikes Peak and the surrounding buttes. |
| Sat, May 3 | Collegiate Peaks Trail Run |
25M, 50M | Buena Vista | $50/$60 | 18 | 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 4 | Colorado Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 5K | Fort Collins | $80/$100 | 7 | 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. |
| Sat, May 17 | Sky Mesa Pass Trail Marathon | 26.2M | Gateway | $55/$65 | 0 | TBD | Begins at 4500 feet. Climbs up to 8500' before ending in Gateway, CO. Entire course is trail or dirt road. Beautiful course! |
| Sun, May 18 | Post News Colorado Colfax Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, relay | Denver, Lakewood | $90/$100 | 2 | 500 | Certified road course. Start and finish is at City Park in Denver. Course heads west on Colfax Ave to Lakewood. Returns via Colfax, Sloan Lake, and downtown Denver. |
| Sun, Jun 1 | Steamboat Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K | Steamboat Springs | $60/$70 | 26 | 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 15 | Estes Park Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 5K | Estes Park | $50 | 4 | 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 5 | Leadville Trail Marathon | 26.2M | Leadville | $65/$80 | 8 | 225 | Entire course above 10,000 feet, topping out at 13,188 feet. Out-and-back trail course. Good grub at the aid stations. |
| Sat, Jul 12 | High Mountain Institute Trail Run | 50K, 25K | Leadville | $55/$65 | 8 | 100 | 8K more than the normal marathon distance. A +/- 25-kilometer (15 miles) loop with 2,600 ft. of climbing on each lap. The first 25K is counter-clockwise around Turquoise Lake, past May Queen Campground, up Sugarloaf Mountain, and down to the High Mountain Institute campus. The second lap is in reverse for the 50K. There is a four-hour cut off for the first lap. Proceeds benefit the non-profit High Mountain Institute |
| Sun, Aug 17 | Pikes Peak Marathon | 26.2M, 13.32M | Manitou Springs | $75 | 52 | 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. |
| Sun, Aug 31 | Breckenridge Crest Mountain Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 5M | Breckenridge |
$55 (2007 fees) | 12 | 75 | 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 1 | American Discovery Trail Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 5K | Colorado Springs | $50/$55/$65 (2007 fees) | 7 | 200 | 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 14 | Mountain Air Marathon | 26.2M, 10M | Crested Butte to Gunnison | $65/$75 | 3 | 50 | Certified road course. You will be in the middle of a Colorado scenic and historic byway that is beginning the transformation from summer paradise to winter wonderland. |
| Sun, Sep 21 | Boulder Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Boulder |
$75/$80 $85/$90/$95 | 9 | 600 | Certified course on mostly soft-packed dirt roads in a rural location. Some rolling hills. |
| Sun, Oct 19 | Denver Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, relay | Denver | $85/ $95/$105 | 2 | 1600 | 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 8 | Rim Rock Run | 37K | Grand Junction | $60/$75 | 15 | 400 | 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. |