June can get really hot in Denver. How about an escape to the mountains?
Of course, Colorado weather is as unpredictable as who will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos this coming season, but anyway….
While we love all things in Denver and running related, we love to leave the front range heat behind and Run to the Hills (thanks, Iron Maiden).
Here are our four favorite mountain getaway running events this June.
June 11 Meeker, Colorado
1. The Park to Art 10K has small town charm, scenery, music, and an amazing food festival: Meekerpallooza. This is an inaugural 10K, which means a course PR for all! “Why, YES – sign me up!” Run in the morning and celebrate your new course PR the rest of the day. Plus, they have a Metal Art Competition and you get some awesome swag!
June 18th Salida, Colorado
2. FIBArk stands for First in Boating Arkansas River. This long-standing weekend festival is filled with music, whitewater competitions including the ever-popular Hooligan race, great food, and a fantastic festival with all the trimmings. The best part? Even those of us who swim like rocks can get in on the action. Three land events keep you fit and challenged. First up is the Tenderfoot Hill Climb up S-Mountain. The goal is to run up and down as fast as you can- there is no course. The weekend also includes a road 10K/5K and a 10K trail run. You can run one… or conquer all three events for a triple crown.
June 18th and 19th Estes Park, Colorado
3. Estes Park Marathon and related events. There are some imitation events, but this is the original and best, and is produced by the Estes Park Running Club. It is simply majestic! Events range from the Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K and a Marathon Relay for teams of up to 5 people. Elk sightings guaranteed. No June would be complete without running around the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Our national parks celebrate their 100th anniversary this year- you’re welcome: you will know that for the next game of trivial pursuit you play.
June 19th Glenwood Springs, Colorado
4. The 39th Annual Strawberry Shortcut 10K/5K and family run is a great escape for the weekend with something for everyone, including Strawberry Days. (We are quite sure there will be some sort of frozen adult beverages available, too). Come up for the festival, run the next day, and celebrate with pints of strawberries. You get to drive through the spectacular Glenwood Springs Canyon, and nowhere else can you soak after the race in the world’s largest outdoor hot springs pool.
Well, I know where I will be this summer. We hope to see you around at some of these summer events. We know there are many, so let us know what your favorite is too.
Happy June!
Lonnie
Of course, Colorado weather is as unpredictable as who will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos this coming season, but anyway….
While we love all things in Denver and running related, we love to leave the front range heat behind and Run to the Hills (thanks, Iron Maiden).
Here are our four favorite mountain getaway running events this June.
June 11 Meeker, Colorado
1. The Park to Art 10K has small town charm, scenery, music, and an amazing food festival: Meekerpallooza. This is an inaugural 10K, which means a course PR for all! “Why, YES – sign me up!” Run in the morning and celebrate your new course PR the rest of the day. Plus, they have a Metal Art Competition and you get some awesome swag!
June 18th Salida, Colorado
2. FIBArk stands for First in Boating Arkansas River. This long-standing weekend festival is filled with music, whitewater competitions including the ever-popular Hooligan race, great food, and a fantastic festival with all the trimmings. The best part? Even those of us who swim like rocks can get in on the action. Three land events keep you fit and challenged. First up is the Tenderfoot Hill Climb up S-Mountain. The goal is to run up and down as fast as you can- there is no course. The weekend also includes a road 10K/5K and a 10K trail run. You can run one… or conquer all three events for a triple crown.
June 18th and 19th Estes Park, Colorado
3. Estes Park Marathon and related events. There are some imitation events, but this is the original and best, and is produced by the Estes Park Running Club. It is simply majestic! Events range from the Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K and a Marathon Relay for teams of up to 5 people. Elk sightings guaranteed. No June would be complete without running around the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Our national parks celebrate their 100th anniversary this year- you’re welcome: you will know that for the next game of trivial pursuit you play.
June 19th Glenwood Springs, Colorado
4. The 39th Annual Strawberry Shortcut 10K/5K and family run is a great escape for the weekend with something for everyone, including Strawberry Days. (We are quite sure there will be some sort of frozen adult beverages available, too). Come up for the festival, run the next day, and celebrate with pints of strawberries. You get to drive through the spectacular Glenwood Springs Canyon, and nowhere else can you soak after the race in the world’s largest outdoor hot springs pool.
Well, I know where I will be this summer. We hope to see you around at some of these summer events. We know there are many, so let us know what your favorite is too.
Happy June!
Lonnie
June booked? See our Denver Race Calendar for other runs.
We’re thrilled that this community has been adding a lot of races to the race calendar but there could be some we haven’t heard about yet. If you know of an event that hasn’t made it to the calendar, add it here!