There’s no better time than the Fall to hit the trails in Boulder. Cool mornings and blue afternoons with some dirt beneath your feet is a religious experience. At the very least, it’s free therapy.
Here are some great trail races and training runs (one that includes beer drinking) in and out of town that will help you stay race ready, meet kindred spirits, and add some more technical tees to your collection.
Saturday August 30 – Bergen Peak Half Marathon Trail Run – This run has an elevation gain of 1,500 feet and it ends at 9,000 feet. Go out to Evergreen and test your lungs.
Saturday September 7 – Denver Trail Half Marathon and 10k – Head to the Cherry Creek Reservoir and see if you can set a new PR. It’s flat, fast and perfect for those who want to give trail racing a try.
Sunday September 14 – 4 Mile Firefighter Challenge 10 Miler – This run starts at the base of Canyon and ends in Gold Hill. This is the only hill climb race in Boulder; so, if you want to pop your calves and support a good cause, join the 2500 others in a race to the top.
Sunday September 14 – Rocky Mountain Brew Runs: Bru – Run a 5k and finish with a brew. That is all.
Saturday September 27 – The Bear Chase – 100k, 50 Mile, 50k, half-marathon or 10k – If you haven’t been planning on running this one all year, I wouldn’t recommend just “giving it a go”. But, if you want a great training run, sign up for the 10k or half-marathon and go chase some frickin’ bears.
Sunday October 5 – Boulder Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5k – Take to the back roads of Boulder and be reminded with every step how lucky you are to live in this little slice of paradise.
Saturday October 11 – 24 Hours of Boulder – You’ll get 30 hours to complete 100 mile course or 8 hours for the 50k course. Or you can just run for 24 hours straight and see what the heck happens. This course is fast, apparently, and is held on the trails and dirt roads surrounding the Boulder Reservoir.
Sunday October 12 – Louisville Trail Half Marathon and 10k – This is a great community race that brings out runners of all levels. Plus, there’s a party afterward
Saturday November 8 – Backcountry Wilderness Half Marathon – This race is in Highlands Ranch. Who knew? It’s a single loop on 95% trail with spectacular views of the front range. And depending on the weather, it could be a real shit show. But they don’t care. The race goes on no matter what.
Thursday November 27 – Community Food Share 5k Turkey Trot – Do good + run. Then eat turkey.
Would you like to add a local race to this post? Let us know in the comments below.
