Estes Park Marathon & Half Marathon

This race works best for trail runners who are comfortable at elevation and enjoy technical terrain over smooth pavement. You need to be experienced with uneven ground, roots, and rocks underfoot, and you should already be training on trails rather than roads. The high starting elevation of 2278 meters means your aerobic system will work harder than it would at sea level, so this isn't a personal record course. Runners who love scenic mountain running and accept that their GPS watch will show a slower pace than road marathons will find this rewarding. Skip this if you're training for a flat fast marathon or if you've only ever run on roads. The course climbs steadily through the Colorado mountains with moderate hills throughout, gaining 254 meters overall while taking you up to 2774 meters above sea level. Trail marathons demand more from your legs and joints than road races do, even when the elevation gain sounds modest on paper. You'll be picking your way across uneven surfaces for over four hours if you're running at a decent clip, which means your quads and ankles take a pounding that road running doesn't replicate. The biggest challenge is the combination of altitude and terrain working together. You might feel strong at sea level hiking, but six miles into this race with thin air in your lungs and your feet constantly adjusting to rocks and roots, the effort compounds quickly. Early morning starts mean cold mountain conditions at dawn, and the forecast at that elevation in June can shift without warning. Come prepared to slow down, trust your trail training, and appreciate the scenery because you'll have time to notice it.