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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

The Colorado Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Fort Collins
US

Hustvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0FaceMePLS from The Hague, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0

Race date in 200 days: May 2, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Fort Collins · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km +1 more events
Entry fee: $45Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenWed, July 1, 2026 ~ Sat, May 1, 2027See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 14, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Held in Fort Collins, Colorado, in May.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

Eric GarRan in 2022 · Finish time 2:59:59

“Official: 2:59:59.”

The runner's legs felt heavy after 20 miles at the Colorado Marathon in Fort Collins, but the runner sprinted through the final corners to achieve a sub-3 with an official time of 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds.

Read the original on Eric Gar

coloradokeithRan in 2014

“This race seamed right up my alley.”

At the Colorado Marathon in Fort Collins, this runner took on a point-to-point course descending alongside the river for a first full marathon. Friends cheered the runner to the finish, and receiving finisher medal brought immense joy.

Read the original on Colorado Keith

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

The Colorado Marathon 2023: New Course Record

The Colorado Marathon

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

5K

Entry cost $45

until Oct 31, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 06:30

Event	Start
Marathon42.195km	06:30
Half21.0975km	06:30
10K10km	07:00
5K5km	07:00

START

301 Maple St., Fort Collins, CO

Start · Google Maps

Cache la Poudre Canyon, high-altitude start with a net-downhill course

Marathon·Half Marathon·10K·5K events are held together.

Start line is located at 301 Maple St., Fort Collins, CO, with a local start time of 6:30 a.m.

Course is a point-to-point course with a different start and finish.

Typical race-season temperature: around 13°C (56°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Medical support

Marathon

Restrooms

Marathon

Water stations

Marathon

Aid stations

Marathon

Finisher medal

Marathon

Event T-shirt

Marathon

Start shuttle

Marathon

Race expo

Marathon

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Bib pickup

Friday 15:00–19:00, Saturday 10:00–18:00 · Drake Centre (802 W. Drake Rd) · $20 extra for race-day pickup

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNone — Poudre Canyon start has no public transit; reachable only via mandatory organizer bus from Fort…
Getting to the finishFort Collins Transportation Center (Laporte Ave & Mason St), serving local Transfort buses — near the finish

Source · checked Aug 23, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

None — Poudre Canyon start has no public transit; reachable only via mandatory organizer bus from Fort Collins Old Town Square

Full marathon starts at Stevens Gulch in Poudre Canyon; mandatory bus boarding 4:00-4:45am at the south edge of Old Town Square, East Mountain Ave, Fort Collins. Half marathon starts near Gateway Natural Area; mandatory bus boarding 4:15-5:00am at the Fort Collins Transportation Center.

Point-to-point Poudre Canyon course has no public transit; organizer shuttle is the only way to the start. The full marathon and half marathon·5K runners must travel to the start only on the official shuttle buses; using any other transport results in disqualification.

Full marathon runners board at Old Town Square, while half marathon·5K runners board at Fort Collins Transportation Center.

Map

Getting to the finish

Fort Collins Transportation Center (Laporte Ave & Mason St), serving local Transfort buses — near the finish

Finish is in Downtown Fort Collins on Howes St. between Maple St.

and Laporte Ave., adjacent to Washington Park, close to the Transportation Center.

Map

Start shuttle

Organizer bus is mandatory for all runners to reach the start; no alternative transportation is permitted.

Source · checked Aug 23, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Registration opens every year on July 1 via RunSignup, with the marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K all opening at once;

due to high popularity, the marathon and half marathon reportedly often sell out well ahead of race day.

The "race day packet pickup" option, which lets you receive your bib on race day, can be added for an extra $20 at registration.

Course is considered a net-downhill course that starts in the high-altitude Poudre Canyon,

above 6,000 feet, and gradually descends in elevation along the Cache la Poudre River.

Since it starts at high altitude, it's a good idea to pace yourself and prepare for the temperature swings in the canyon in the early morning hours.

Times are local to Fort Collins. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Edwards House

Hotel · 382m

9.5/10(37)

View on Booking.com

Fort Collins car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Denver: RiNo Arts District Walking Food Tour

$82

The Colorado Marathon

About The Colorado Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run

The Colorado Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

See it on video,feel it through their stories.

The Colorado Marathon 2023: New Course Record

How to enter The Colorado Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —start with what fits you.

5K

The Colorado Marathon course map and elevation

Your 42.195km

301 Maple St., Fort Collins, CO

Participant benefits

Medical support

Restrooms

Water stations

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Start shuttle

Race expo

Where and when to collect your The Colorado Marathon race bib

To the start line,step by step.

Bib pickup

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Getting to the finish

Start shuttle

From race morning to after the finish.

The race is one day,the trip can be longer.

Edwards House

Fort Collins car rental (EconomyBookings)

Denver: RiNo Arts District Walking Food Tour

Fort Collins Ghost Tour

The Armstrong Hotel

Fort Collins Car Rental (Qeeq)

Denver Downtown Small-Group Food Tasting Tour

Hotels near the The Colorado Marathon start line in Fort Collins

Hotels that make race morning easy

Edwards House

The Armstrong Hotel

The Elizabeth Hotel, Autograph Collection

Garden Level Apt Mtn Ave - 8 min walk to Old Town!

Historic Mountain Ave Bungalow - Walk Everywhere!

Old Town Loft Oasis With Amazing Rooftop Deck!

The Cottage! Chic Bungalow Near Old Town Square!

Time for you, before and after the finish

Fort Collins car rental (EconomyBookings)

Fort Collins Car Rental (Qeeq)

Denver｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Denver International Airport

Rocky Mountain National Park: Guided Stargazing Hike

Rocky Mountain National Park: Stargazing Tour

From Denver: Rocky Mountain National Park Winter/Spring Tour

Denver CityPASS®

Fort Collins Historic Settlement/Village Start (Horseback Riding Tour)

Colorado: Rock Climbing Experience for Beginners

Fort Collins: Guided Electric Bike City Tour of Local Highlights

Near Morrison: Guided Goat Hike with Snacks and Water

Denver Red Rocks & Dinosaur Ridge E-Bike Tour

Where runners eat in Fort Collins

Eating well is part of the trip

Denver: RiNo Arts District Walking Food Tour

Denver Downtown Small-Group Food Tasting Tour

Denver: 16th Street Downtown Street Food Tour with a Local Guide

What to see in Fort Collins after the race

Seeing Fort Collins with the medal on

Fort Collins Ghost Tour

Denver RiNo Art District, Downtown & Red Rocks Day Tour

Red Rocks and Golden Private Tour from Denver

Denver History & Highlights Tour

Half-Day Small-Group Tour of Denver's Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

Total cost and budget for The Colorado Marathon

Trip prep too,light and in one place.

Runner stories and questions about The Colorado Marathon

With runners who dream ofthe same start line.

Frequently asked questions about The Colorado Marathon

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

To the start line,
step by step.

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

With runners who dream of
the same start line.