This event features two trail runs, one for the more advance trail runner and a 3 mile run for all to enjoy.

In the Fall of 2018, the Dixon Trail was opened at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, CO. This trail race will provide runners with a challenging heavy half-marathon race that will be about 14 miles in length. Starting elevation at Limekiln parking lot is 6,060’ and the turn around elevation is approximately 9,050’. Therefore approximately 3,000 gain and loss.  The turnaround at the top of Cheyenne Mountain is remote and access is limited by a very rough 4-wheel drive road that is not open to the public. The exact turn around point will be posted as soon as we can access the top of the mountain and test equipment.   

The heavy half-marathon will start at the Limekiln parking lot, west of the entrance to the state park and entrance fee gate. The race course heads west on Talon Trail, turns onto North Talon, at about 3.3 miles turns onto the Dixon Trail and finally .3 mile on the Mountain Loop.  The Dixon Trail and Mountain Loop are on a single track that gains about 2,100 feet of elevation on the way to the turnaround. Portions of the Dixon Trail are in the process of continued construction this summer of and you will see notable changes since 2018. The upper portions of the Dixon Trail are the most difficult and the trail has steep and rocky sections. The total uphill distance is approximately 7 miles. The downhill portion of the race returns on the same course to the Limekiln Trailhead start and finish line.

Due to the safety of both runners and volunteers, a CUT-OFF TIME of 12 noon to reach the turnaround around will be instituted. The timing station will be closed at 12 noon.  Participants who have not reached the station by this time will be directed by course marshals to turnaround and head back down the trail.
 
There will be water stops at the Talon/Sundance and Talon/North Talon Trail junctures, one just up the lower section of the Dixon Trail, and one at the top turnaround. Since this is an out and back course participants will have the same water stops going up and coming down. For about 3 miles of the Dixon Trail from the lower Dixon water stop to the top of the mountain runners will need to carry their own hydration and be prepared for weather changes. We will have course marshals, timing equipment, and a great aid station at the turnaround but participants won’t have any way off the top of the mountain other than coming back down the race course to the Limekiln parking lot.
 
The 3 Mile race will start at 9:30 AM and will follow the Talon trail to the Sundance trail junction at about 1.5 miles.  The 3M race will turn right onto the Sundance trail and return to the finish at the Limekiln trailhead.  This is a loop course with one water stop at the Talon/Sundance junction.