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 | Years in Existence | Approx Marathon Size | Comments |
| Sat, Feb 6 | Alley Loop Nordic | 42K, 21K, 10K, 5K, 1K | Crested Butte | 24 | 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 13 | A Run Through Time Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Salida | 5 | 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, May 1 | Collegiate Peaks Trail Run |
25M, 50M | Buena Vista | 20 | 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. |
| Sat, May 1 | Greenland Trail 50K | 50K, 25K, 8M | Greenland Open Space (between Palmer Lake & Larkspur) | 6 | 120 | 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 8 | Grand Valley Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 5K | Palisade | 2 | 75 | Beautiful course along the base of the Grand Mesa, through vineyards, orchards and along a river. |
| Sun, May 9 | Colorado Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 5K | Fort Collins | 9 | 1000 | 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 15 | Sky Mesa Pass Trail Marathon | 26.2M | Gateway | 3 | 40 | Begins at 4500 feet. Climbs up to 8500' before ending in Gateway, CO. Entire course is trail or dirt road. Beautiful course! |
| Sun, May 16 | Colorado Colfax Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, relay | Denver, Lakewood | 5 | 600 | 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. |
| Sat, Jun 5 | Golden Gate Dirty Thirty | 50K, 12M, 7M | Black Hawk | 2 | 100 | 8K more than the normal marathon distance. More than 12,000 acres of dense forest, rocky peaks, and aspen-rimmed meadows laced with miles of single-track trails awaiting the trail runner. |
| Sun, Jun 6 | Steamboat Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K | Steamboat Springs | 29 | 375 | 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. |
| Sat, Jun 12 | Turkey Track Trail Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Pagosa Springs | 2 | 50 | Features gentle climbs and pristine single track. |
| Sun, Jun 13 | Estes Park Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 5K | Estes Park | 7 | 110 | 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 3 | Leadville Trail Marathon | 26.2M | Leadville | 11 | 350 | 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 17 | Kendall Mountain Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Silverton | 1 | 10 | |
| Sat, Aug 14 | Gold's Gym Half Maraton & 5K Run/Walk | 13.1M, relay, 5K | Grand Junction | 0 | 200 | Half
marathon distance - posted by special request. Participants will start from the Gold's Gym in Grand Junction. All course distances will use portions of the Blue Heron Trail along the Colorado River. The Half Marathon and Half Marathon Relay courses will extend through Connected Lakes State Park and return to Gold's Gym. |
| Sun, Aug 22 | Pikes Peak Marathon | 26.2M, 13.32M | Manitou Springs | 54 | 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 28 | Silverton Alpine Marathon | 26.2M, 50K | Silverton | 4 | 10 | Back in 2009 after a 2-year hiatus. Loop course on dirt/gravel. Lots of climbing, tops out at about 13,000 feet. |
| Sun, Sep 5 | Breckenridge Crest Mountain Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, 5M | Breckenridge | 14 | 100 | 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 6 | American Discovery Trail Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, relay | Colorado Springs | 9 | 370 | 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 19 | Mountain Air Marathon | 26.2M, 10M | Crested Butte to Gunnison | 3 | 35 | Downhill course (8800 feet to 7700 feet). Perfect for first timers. |
| Sun, Sep 19 | Boulder Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M | Boulder | 11 | 460 | Certified course on mostly soft-packed dirt roads in a rural location. Some rolling hills. |
| Sun, Oct 3 | Blue Sky Marathon | 26.2M, 50K, 13.1M | Fort Collins | 2 | 50 | Mostly single track trails on rolling hills with some moderate climbs. 3,268 feet of elevation gain. |
| Sat, Oct 9 | XTERRA Marathon of Trail Races | 26.2M, 13.1M, 5K | Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Springs | 1 | 50 | Trail course featuring many hills and outstanding scenery at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. The marathon is a double loop. |
| Sun, Oct 17 | Denver Marathon | 26.2M, 13.1M, relay | Denver | 4 | 2000 | 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 13 | Rim Rock Marathon | 26.2M, relay | Grand Junction | 17 | 400 | This will mark the second year for the Rim Rock Marathon, continuing an 18 year tradition of having a run that occurs inside the Colorado National Monument. This venue provides epic views and a world class running course. Voted 2005 Most Scenic Race by Colorado Runner magazine. |