New Course!

Here is the course map and elevation for the 2027 edition of RUFA here in CO, which is brand-spanking new for this year.  After listening to our participants, we decided to try something new and shorten the loop, which is now 4.6 or 4.7 miles, depending on how the wind blows.  In order to continue to ensure everyone gets to see others on course, which people have appreciated, you will alternate directions on the loop: on your first loop you go counter clockwise and on your next loop you go clockwise, etc.  The new course also means you don't go up and down the death ice on Old Mill on each loop.  Your first loop takes you up Old Mill, but you come down Staunton Ranch, and on your second loop you go up Staunton Ranch and down Old Mill.  You'll definitely appreciate that.

This year's course will again start and finish at the Lazy V parking lot, which is ideal for RUFA.  This lot is about 1.5 miles up the main Park road from the Park entrance.  There are restrooms at the upper lot and we will have additional portos onsite!  We will, as always, have a heated tent at the S/F, which will serve as race HQ and our main aid station.  It is an ideal gathering space. 

Here is a link to the gpx file for the new course.

 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/57768400?via=fKw8t75tGPOtMb134x08-w

Each lap of the new course is approximately 4.7-ish miles with about 1000 feet of elevation gain (and descent).  The course is as follows:  

Start at the new upper Lazy V lot, head up from the lot and ascend the Old Mill Trail to where it intersects with the Mason Creek Trail (approx 1 mile) , go left and follow Borderline Trail to the Staunton Ranch Overlook - you MUST go to the overlook on each lap.  We have a transponder located there, which will recognize your bib.  After visiting the overlook, get back on Borderline and continue on to where it intersects with the Staunton Ranch Trail.  Take that turn and follow Staunton Ranch back down to where it intersects Old Mill, which you take back down to the S/F.  Please take the time to familiarize yourself with course, before March 2027!! 

Parking/Start-Finish

The map below - also viewable via this link:  https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1PTsH-VkKRWGNaVbrUTJd4dzZkjETaG_i&hl=en&ll=39.51026639179409%2C-105.39327355691528&z=17 - Shows the location of the start finish and race HQ area.  There will be NO parking in that upper most lot (the circle) but there is plenty of parking in those longer parking areas, just below the circle.  

RUFA - Staunton - 2027: The Usual Green Event

Directions

Staunton State Park is located just 45 minutes from Denver, along highway 285, just past Conifer.  Staunton State Park is located here:  http://bit.ly/RUFA-CO20 .  There is a $10/vehicle fee for entering the park.  This fee is not part of your race registration, so we encourage you to carpool to reduce both the number of cars going to the park (we are focused on clean air, after all) and the bucks you all spend on getting in.  If you do carpool, and share with at least one other registered runner, you will not be charged the normal entry fee.  Volunteers also do not need to pay the usual park entry fee. 

This map shows the parking lot and the location of the S/F.  https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1PTsH-VkKRWGNaVbrUTJd4dzZkjETaG_i&usp=sharing

Reuseable Cups Only!

In the spirit of what this event is all about, we are doing everything we can to ensure that we minimize our - and your - footprint (pun totally intended).  To that end, we will not be offering cups to runners for hydration drink or water.  Of course, there will be hydration beverages and water available, but all runners will need to provide their own bottles or reusable cups. Thanks for helping us ensure that we are all doing our part.

Carpooling.

There is limited parking at the race site and we are always conscious of the environmental impact, especially since we are running up for cleaner air,  of all kinds of cars, so we ask that all runners please carpool.  No one should come with just a single runner in their car. 

Getting to the Park

Staunton State Park is located here:  http://bit.ly/RUFA-CO20 

Bring Friends, Save Money!

This year, yes, finally, we're implementing a new referral code program.  That means that when you register to RUFA you receive a unique code, which we encourage you to share with friends and fellow runners.  When someone else registers using your code you get credit for their registration and when 3 people sign up using your code, you receive an automatic partial refund of your registration fee. If six people sign up, you receive an even bigger refund!  Cash money, people.

Raise Dough Get Cool Swag

We encourage all of our participants to fundraise.  We do not require any specific minimum - or maximum, but we do encourage you to help us raise real dollars for the good work of our nonprofit partners - the Conservation CO Education Fund, and Western Resource Advocates, both of which work tirelessly to improve the quality of our air and water and protect/preserve our public lands.  We feel, as regular users of these special outdoor places, that we have an obligation to help protect and preserve them, something that is more important than ever.  So, please, help us raise real money.  

We will also be offering some cool fundraising incentives to help you - products from our amazing partners at each fundraising level: $250, $500 and $1000.  

Wanna run for free: If you raise 10X your registration fee, you will be refunded what you paid to run the race!

We will also have special prize packages for our 2 biggest fundraisers, thanks to the generosity of our incredible partners.  

Carpool, save $, do good.

Of course, and it should go without saying, but we do anyway, since our focus for RUFA is air quality, and all of our vehicle emissions are a significant component of poor air quality, we invite, encourage and hope all of you will consider carpooling to Staunton for the run in March.  Not only will you be directly lessening your and our carbon footprint for the day, but we'll also reimburse you for your Park entry fee (normally $10/car).  

If that works for you, either as a driver or passenger, please add your info to the sheet here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SQ6IqU2-f-KQWuwuyItxA0n_RvFB9mu631BTMhh6Now/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you.