Yes it is. The current USATF course certification number is CO 15007DCR.
Online registration for 2026 is open!
Sign up here to ensure your entry!
The Colorado Marathon is an environmentally conscious event, thus, we will only have online registration in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of paper waste and other resources. Thank you for your support.
CO-14 – Eastbound CO-14 will be closed from Stove Prairie Road to 29-C from 6:30 am – 10:00 am (or whenever the last runner passes that point). There will be temporary delays around the start of the race at 29-C westbound and Steven’s Gulch in both directions from 6:15 am – 6:45 am. Westbound will remain open outside of this time, but you should anticipate some delays. Please plan accordingly!
54G – Southbound 54G will be closed on race morning from 6:00 am – 11:30 am. The closure will be from 287 to just west of Vern’s Restaurant. Northbound will not be affected. A detour will be in place via 287 and Overland Trail Road.
Downtown Fort Collins finish area around Washington Park. No parking will be in effect from 2 am – 2 pm on Sunday, May 2, 2027. Road closures will be from 6:30 am – 12:30 pm with the exception of Howes, which will be closed until 2 pm from Maple to Laporte.
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- The northbound lane of Sherwood will be closed with no parking on the east side from Maple to Elm.
- The westbound lane of Maple will be closed with no parking on the north side from Sherwood to Meldrum.
- The northbound lane of Meldrum will be closed with no parking on the east side from Maple to Cherry.
- Cherry will be closed to through traffic from Sherwood to Mason with no parking on the south side from Meldrum to Howes.
- Both directions of Howes will be closed with no parking from Cherry to Laporte.
- Maple will be closed to thru traffic from Meldrum to Mason.
- There will be elevated sound for race announcements starting at 6:30 am adjacent to Washington Park.
The Marathon start is in the Cache La Poudre Canyon at Steven’s Gulch, approximately 17 miles up the canyon from the intersection with State Highway 287. Event-provided luxury buses will depart from the parking lot at Remington St. and Oak St. for the marathon. There is free parking in the surface level lot and also in the parking garage one block to the north at the intersection of E. Mountain Avenue and Remington Street. NO access to the marathon start is available through the Poudre Canyon. There is no parking available at the marathon start. Any runners dropped off by cars accessing the marathon start via the Canyon highway will be disqualified.
The Half Marathon start is located at the Half Marathon point for the Marathon. The Half Marathon start can ONLY be accessed by the buses provided by the race. Buses to the Half Marathon start leave from the Fort Collins Transportation Center at Mason and Laporte Streets. Free parking is available at the parking structure at the same intersection. NO access to the Half Marathon start is available through the Poudre Canyon. Any runners dropped off by cars accessing the Half Marathon start via the canyon highway will be disqualified.
The 10k will start and finish near Washington Park on N. Howes Street between Maple and LaPorte!
The 5K start is located 3.1 miles from the finish on the main marathon course and is only accessed by the event busses.
Please find more information on our Race Info page!
All aid stations will have Eldorado Springs Water and Gatorade (flavor TBD). Honey Stinger Energy Gels will be available at the Green Pipe Aid Station at mile 12.9 and the Bagel Hill Aid Station at mile 19.1. Please explore our Race Info to find more details about aid stations.
The event does not refund, transfer, or roll forward an entry fee.
Note: An entrant may not transfer their entry to another person.
We have a strict NO REFUND, NO DEFERRAL and NO TRANSFER policy, no exceptions (injury/pregnant/called out of town unexpectedly/etc.). You are welcome to pick up your goody bag and race shirt, or have someone pick those items up for you if you are not running. Our registration provider does offer a registration protection coverage during sign-up.
It is against race policy to give your bib to someone else.
Running with someone else’s bib number is a safety and liability issue for race staff and medical personnel, unfair to those who didn’t get to sign up before registration closed, and alters race results, sometimes depriving a deserving award winner of their medal. Anyone running under an incorrect number will be disqualified from the race and may be banned from future Colorado Marathon events.
A participant has 6 hours to complete the marathon (13:44 per mile) and the half marathon (27:28 per mile). Walkers are welcome if the course can be completed on time. Additional cutoffs for the marathon are as follows:
13.1 miles – 3:15 (9:45 am) at the half marathon point
Ted’s Place (~mile 17) – 4:15 (10:45 am)
Cache LaPoudre Middle School (~mile 21) – 5:15 (11:45 am)
No baby strollers or wheeled conveyances are allowed, except in the 10k.
For information on lodging, click here.
Numerous affiliated hotels offer special rates, and you can explore these hotels by visiting the lodging section of our website.
Please refer to our Race Info or your race packet for details.
All but the last 5 miles of the course is accessible by car prior to race day (please note, no cars will be allowed in the canyon on race day). To drive the Marathon course, head north on College Avenue (this is also highways 287 and 14). The road will turn west as it leaves Fort Collins. Follow it for about another mile until you come to the Highway 287 fork (it turns to the northwest in a gradual right turn).
Stay on Highway 287 until you reach the left turn (to the west) for Highway 14 and the Poudre Canyon. This corner is, roughly, the 17 mile mark of the marathon. Proceed up the Canyon to both the Half Marathon start (at Gateway Park) and to the Marathon start (at Steven’s Gulch). If you look carefully, mile markers should be visible as painted numbers on the north side of the road. To return, retrace your route to the corner of Highways 287 and 14 (the 17 mile mark), and to see the rest of the course turn right (south) on Highway 287.
The course then follows Highway 287 to the intersection with County Road 54G, approximately 1.3 miles. Take a right (south) and follow the county road up and over the course’s only hill. Follow the road into the City of Laporte to Cache La Poudre Middle School. From this point it is approximately 5.5 miles to the finish line. The course follows the Poudre Poudre River Trail (running on the west and south side of the school, then southeast following the Cache La Poudre River) to Lee Martinez Park (mile 25) near downtown Fort Collins. The last 3/4 of a mile of the course leaves the bike path through the parking lot at Lee Martinez park and turns south on Sherwood St., then east on Maple St., north on Meldrum St., east on Cherry St. before turning south toward the finish line on Howes St. The finish line is adjacent to Washington Park.
Altitude and Running: What You Need to Know
Human physiology varies greatly, and so does individual reaction to altitude. While everyone will run a bit slower at 6,000 feet due to reduced oxygen, the impact depends on personal factors like lung capacity, oxygen exchange rate, heart size, and muscle composition.
Good News for Runners
Our course is designed to be fast. The downhill sections will help mitigate altitude challenges, and many runners actually achieve better times than they would at lower elevations.
Altitude Running Tips
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking fluids is crucial at altitude. Use replacement fluids with electrolytes before, during, and after the marathon. Our race provides water and replacement fluids along the course.
- Manage Anaerobic Stress: Run at a comfortable pace and avoid pushing too hard. Our course is mostly downhill and flat, with only one moderate hill, making this easier.
- Prepare Physically: Arrive well-rested with good aerobic fitness. Focus on hill training, maintain a healthy diet, and get adequate sleep in the weeks leading up to the race.
- Combat Altitude Sleeplessness: Consider taking an aspirin before bedtime to help with potential sleep disruptions.
- Race Strategy: Run the downhill sections at an easy, relaxed pace to conserve energy for the later miles of the course.
We look forward to seeing you in Fort Collins and hope you have an amazing race experience!
We will have pacers for both the full and half marathons. Times are subject to change based on pacer availability.
Full marathon pace groups: 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00
Half marathon pace groups: 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30
Overall and Masters awards will be based on gun time. Age Group awards will be based on chip time.
Marathon:
Top 5 Male/Female overall, Top 3 Male/Female Masters;
Top 3 in following age groups: 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
All Marathon finishers will receive a finisher medal and a collector’s finisher print.
Half Marathon:
Top 5 Male/Female overall, Top 3 Male/Female Masters;
Top 3 in following age groups: 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
All Half Marathon finishers will receive a finisher medal and a collector’s finisher print.
10k:
Top 3 Male/Female Overall and Top Master Male/Female;
Top 3 in following age groups: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
All 10k finishers will receive a collector’s finisher print.
5k:
Top 3 Male/Female Overall and Top Master Male/Female.
All 5k finishers will receive a collector’s finisher print.
Non-Binary Awards:
To ensure fair and meaningful competition, the Non-Binary awards division will be officially scored and awarded when there are at least five (5) registered participants in the category for a given race distance.
If fewer than five participants are registered in the Non-Binary category:
- Participants will still be fully recognized as Non-Binary in race results.
- Finish times and placements will be published.
- No separate award prizes or podium awards will be issued for that distance/category.
Yes it is. In fact, all marathons that have a certified course are Boston qualifiers. Our course happens to be one of the most successful at providing qualifying performances. The Colorado Marathon has qualified roughly 16-18% of all entrants each year.
For the safety of our race participants, the entry numbers will be capped to control the numbers at the Half Marathon and Marathon starting lines. We would love to be able to let everyone in, but safety requires that we limit the field. The number of participants is capped at 1,800 for the Marathon, 1,700 for the Half Marathon, 700 for the 10K, and 300 for the 5K. Register early to ensure a spot.
The Colorado Marathon is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants. Athletes may register in the gender category that best aligns with their gender identity, including Male, Female, or Non-Binary.
Non-Binary Category
The Non-Binary category is available for all race distances and is intended for participants who do not exclusively identify as male or female.
Awards Eligibility
To ensure fair and meaningful competition, the Non-Binary awards division will be officially scored and awarded when there are at least five (5) registered participants in the category for a given race distance.
If fewer than five participants are registered in the Non-Binary category:
- Participants will still be fully recognized as Non-Binary in race results.
- Finish times and placements will be published.
- No separate award prizes or podium awards will be issued for that distance/category.
Competitive Integrity
The race organization reserves the right to review and update this policy as participation evolves and best practices within the running industry continue to develop.
We believe all runners deserve respect, recognition, and a positive race experience, and we are committed to fostering an event that reflects those values.
Individuals are responsible for confirming their registration matches their identified gender. All changes need to occur prior to bib assignment. There will be no changes after bib assignment.
All competitors in the Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K MUST ride the buses. No parking is available at the starts. Any runner being dropped off via the canyon highway will be disqualified.
Please visit our Race Info page for all the details.
There will be 12 marathon aid stations roughly every other mile. There will be water, Gatorade, port-o-lets and basic first aid kits at each one. Two aid stations will have Honey Stinger gels and chews. There will also be HAM emergency radios or cell phone communications for emergencies at each station.
Please find aid station details on our Race Info page.
In order to protect the safety of race participants, Phones, iPods, or other devices used with headphones are highly discouraged. Participants who choose to wear such devices assume all risks associated.
Hydration packs, vests and handhelds are allowed and can be refilled at the aid stations as needed.
If you are already registered for a race you are allowed to switch to a different distance. For example, a marathoner is permitted to switch to the half marathon, 10K, or 5K. This difference in race fees is non-refundable.
The option to change your race distance is available by logging into your RunSignup account and changing to a different event. Here is a guide on how to switch within RunSignup.
A $20 change fee will apply for all distance changes after February 15th.
The Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K will have a bag checks. We’ll do the best job we can to see that your bag is safely returned to you at the finish line. However, we strongly suggest that you bring nothing breakable or valuable with you to the start. We are not responsible for anything that you check as we have 2,500 bags to move in only a short time. Small bags would be appreciated. Please make sure you attach the tab from your bib to the bag so that we can identify it as yours after the race. Clear plastic bags will be provided at the expo, but you are welcome to use any bag that works for you.
The bag check will take place after departing the bus at the starting area but before the race starts. For the half and full marathon, Uhaul trucks will be in the start area and you can toss your bags into the truck before lining up for the race. For the 5k, we will have a pickup truck to toss your bag into before walking over to the starting line.
Any clothes not put into checked bags will be collected and donated to Goodwill.
The parking structure adjacent to the bus loading area is convenient for participants and spectators. It’s located at the corner of Mason and Laporte Streets. If you’re coming from outside Fort Collins, take the highway 14 (Mulberry St.) exit (#269) and travel west to College Avenue. Turn right (north) on College Ave and proceed 1/2 mile to Laporte Street. Turn left (west) and go one block. The parking structure is on the southeast corner of the intersection. Additional parking and other parking structures can be found throughout downtown but this parking structure is convenient both to the bus loading area and the finish line. Parking is FREE on Sundays.
Check out all the parking details on our Race Info page.
The Colorado Marathon apparel is available at the expo on race weekend and through Runners Roost afterwards.
Race Day Traffic and Spectator Information
Important Access Restrictions:
- No vehicles will be allowed in the Cache La Poudre Canyon during the race, except for local residents
- Safety restrictions prevent spectators from accessing the first 15 miles of the Marathon course and first 5 miles of the Half Marathon course
- No parking is permitted at the intersection of Highway 287 and County Road 54G
Recommended Spectator Locations
Ted's Place (17-Mile Marathon Mark)
Located at the corner of Highways 14 and 287. To reach this point:
- Head north on College Avenue (Highways 287 and 14)
- Follow the road west for about one mile
- Stay on Highway 287 at the gradual right turn
- Turn left onto Highway 14 toward the Poudre Canyon
- Limited parking available on the northwest corner of the intersection
- Be cautious of runners on the south side of the road
Cache La Poudre Middle School (21-Mile Marathon Mark)
To access this location:
- From Highway 287, turn onto County Road 21 (North Overland Trail Road)
- Turn right at the traffic light onto County Road 54G
- Proceed west through Laporte for about 400 meters
- The school will be on the south side of the road
Taft Hill Road and Poudre Trail (23-Mile Marathon Mark)
To reach this location:
- From Laporte, follow Highway 14 east to Taft Hill Road
- Turn south on Taft Hill Road
- Continue for just over a mile, crossing the Poudre River
- Trail parking will be on the east side of Taft Hill Road
- Expect heavy car and pedestrian traffic
Finish Line Location
Located on Howes St. between Maple St. and Laporte Ave., adjacent to Washington Park. Access from the parking structure near the Half Marathon/5k bus loading area by walking west on Laporte St. and then north on Howes St.
