These races run gamut

For marathoners, Colorado schedule has enticing array

Mark Dragotta, Special to the News

Published May 13, 2006 at midnight

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A few years ago, a man from California, running his 100th marathon, couldn't drag himself up and back the breathless face of Pikes Peak, which was the first race he ever failed to finish.

For the Steamboat Marathon, a local Colorado family, the Fletchers, set up an aid station at the end of its driveway.

Actually, out of the 14 aid stations, about half are run by local people such as the Fletchers.

In October, the aid workers along the route of the Durango Marathon, one of Colorado's more runner-friendly marathons, will dress in Jimmy Buffett beach gear.

In the sweaty, breathless spectrum of Colorado marathons, there are trail marathons and road marathons, city marathons and rural marathons, dirt marathons, gravel marathons and paved marathons.

There are marathons that challenge convictions, and others that roll along like silky summer evenings.

There are some, you run from one point to another or in a loop or up a mountain only to rubber- leg your way back down.

There are more marathons in Colorado than months in the year, and more variety than brands of running shoes.

But with at least 14 scheduled for this year, how are there enough interested people to drink all the Gatorade?

Just close your eyes and imagine your ideal marathon.

Got it?

Short of running along a beach, Colorado probably has exactly what you're looking for. And if you don't know what you want, here's a cross-section of characteristics from which to choose.

Drawn to Durango

Matt Kelly, events director of the Durango Marathon, said they have "crafted themselves to be a destination marathon," which seems to be a common link between many Colorado marathons.

Take a long weekend, run 26.2 miles and enjoy Colorado.

Last year, the Durango Marathon drew runners from 38 states, Canada and Mexico.

Said Kelly: "It's a race that's as runner-friendly as possible."

The road course starts on College Mesa over Durango, then drops 360 gentle feet.

The rest of the course is either rolling hills or flat, and you finish at a block party in the middle of Durango.

Jody Anagnos, special-event director for the Steamboat Marathon, said if you're looking for a more intimate, scenic marathon, try Steamboat on June 4. This road course starts in Hahns Peak Village and continues through the Elk River Valley, which turns into Highway 40 pushing right into downtown Steamboat. Although most of the course is downhill, there are a few painful climbs, specifically about mile 20. Adding to the aesthetics in past years, Anagnos said, you're running by pastures speckled with cows, horses and stilled tractors.

On Sept. 24, Boulder Backroads is another cow pasture- type marathon. It starts at the Boulder Reservoir and proceeds through Boulder County countryside on mostly soft-packed dirt roads. There are some rolling hills as you pass farms, cattle, horses, cottonwood groves and ponds, according to the official Web site. Last year, 767 runners enrolled, race director Lesley Kinder said, which makes it one of the largest marathons in Colorado.

Clocking in as another of the larger marathons, the Pikes Peak Marathon on Aug. 20 has an elevation gain of 7,815 feet over 13.32 miles. And yes, you should be afraid. This year, it goes international as host to the third World Mountain Running Association Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, which helped fill the 800-person enrollment cap in 23 hours.

Started as a competition between smokers and nonsmokers in 1956, Pikes Peak is the oldest continuous marathon in the country. The course starts in Manitou Springs before joining Barr Trail leading up the face of Mount Manitou. Then it levels for a teasing moment before climbing again, along a forest trail, up Pikes Peak to join the rocks and dirt above treeline.

Said Ron Ilgen, president of the marathon: "At the top, you're almost on all fours climbing over boulders."

And then it's time to run back down.

Participation varies

On average, Colorado marathons have an enrollment of 150 to 800 challengers, with two glaring exceptions: the Danielesque Marathon, Oct. 7, and the Silverton Alpine Marathon, Aug. 27. The Danielesque can accommodate about 75 runners, and for the Silverton, expect about 60. Both are trail races.

The Silverton claims a distance of 26.2 "mountain miles" with 3,800 feet of climbing and descent.

The Danielesque, named after Colorado extreme-sports local Daniel Rosenfeld, is 27.6 miles of circular trail in the White Ranch Open Space Park. According to the Web site, the definition of Danielesque is: "Charging up some monstrous hill in the midst of a blizzard," among other things, which included adding 1.4 miles to the traditional marathon distance.

Finally, two new urban marathons are at the starting gate this year: the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon on May 21 and the Denver Marathon on Oct. 15. Both aim to highlight or help revitalize specific aspects of the Denver metro area.

The Colfax Marathon is a point-to-point race that traces the length of Colfax Avenue from Aurora to Colorado Mills in Lakewood.

The Denver Marathon is a loop course starting in front of the Capitol and following a course past the Public Library, through LoDo, Cheesman and Washington parks, past the art district on Santa Fe Drive and finishing in Civic Center Park.

With all this variety, it shouldn't be too exhausting finding something that fits exactly what you're looking for. So, climb a mountain, meet the Fletchers, experience Danielesque for yourself or just enjoy that silent country morning.

A few upcoming Colorado marathons

Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon

• When: 6 a.m. May 21.

• Where: Begins in the Sports Park in Aurora and finishes at Colorado Mills in Lakewood.

• Cost: $90 before Wednesday; $100 after Wednesday. No race-day registration.

• Information: www.Colorado ColfaxMarathon.com

Steamboat Marathon

• When: 7:30 a.m. June 4.

• Where: Begins at Hahns Peak Village, finishes at the courthouse in downtown Steamboat Springs.

• Cost: $60 before Monday; $70 after Monday but before June 3.

• Information: www.SteamboatMarathon.com

Durango Marathon