One of America's most scenic marathon courses! Runners enjoy our new road course that is surrounded by glorious 360 degree views of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Starting with an inspiring 6.5 miles, 1,500 foot descent, runners will find their rhythm and strong pace for an exceptional marathon race. As with all great journeys, the mountainous beauty will encourage you to overcome the physical and psychological challenges of the climbs and feel the thrill of several scenic downhills. Share the celebration and joy of running with us!
Runner's World magazine recommends this destination race, for a reason!
The long climbs and high elevation (all above approximately 7,500 feet) makes the Estes Park Marathon one of the most challenging marathons in the United States.
I really enjoyed the scenery of this race. The people were friendly and the fueling stops were great. There was one legs that seemed far between stops. I ran low on water before getting to the last stop.
This is a small market marathon, so don't expect to have large cheering crowds and a highly produced finish line. This race is for people intent on doing a high elevation marathon in a beautiful location. It is great for runners who like solitude and just enjoy running.
Race Tips
Though, I was not fully prepared for this race, I really enjoyed the course and the people. The race begins by boarding a bus which takes you to the start at 9,200 feet above sea level. It's hard not to make a few friends along the way up. The race starts at sunrise and after a short up hill warm-up , you begin your descent down towards town. The first 1/3rd of the race is mostly down hill, so be prepared for that. You can really upset your quads if you are not used to running downhill. There is very little spectator involvement, so if you like solitude between stops, this is your race. It will be you and the runners around you for most of the course. after running downhill you circle the town lake an somewhat busy walk/bike trails on which you will return to the finish later in the day. Watch out for the Mamma Elk though! the back half of the race contains some rather log stretches of gradual climbs and descents until you return to town and run by the Historic Stanley Hotel (think The Shining). There is a small leg buster hill near the finish to reach the High School track where the finish is.
There are lots of great small hotels around Estes Park. I would make sure to book early as they do fill up during the summer months. The best places to look are up along the rivers south (Thompson) and west (Fall) of town. There are some great places nestled among the cliffs and the pines, with Fall River being preferred over the Big Thompson. Antonio's Pizza, Sweet Basilico and Grubsteak are some of our favorite restaurants. Though, Mama Rose's and Poppy's Pizza & Grill are also pretty good. There are others that a also good, there's just not enough time to eat at the all. Make sure that you leave time to go into the National Park. RMNP is one of the best around with lots of wildlife and scenic views. There a a lot of good hikes there too, if you still have the legs afterward.
