Races Marathon · Aspen, USA
Aspen Valley Marathon
Aspen Valley Marathon is a hilly marathon in Aspen, USA, held each July. A point-to-point run from Wagner Park in Aspen down the valley to Basalt, mostly following the Rio Grande Trail. It loses about 445 m and climbs only about 40 m, so the strain is on the legs and the altitude. The 06:00 start is cool, around 5 to 10°C, and it warms to roughly 20 to 25°C by late morning in July. Respect Aspen Valley Marathon's profile: pace the climbs conservatively and practise downhill running — quads fail before lungs here.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
July
every year
Course
hilly
Marathon
Conditions
The 06:00 start is cool, around 5 to 10°C, and it warms to roughly 20 to 25°C by late morning in July.
Racing this course well
A point-to-point run from Wagner Park in Aspen down the valley to Basalt, mostly following the Rio Grande Trail. It loses about 445 m and climbs only about 40 m, so the strain is on the legs and the altitude.
Respect Aspen Valley Marathon's profile: pace the climbs conservatively and practise downhill running — quads fail before lungs here.
Getting a place
Official Aspen Valley Marathon site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Start time
- 06:00
- Time limit
- 8 hours
- Also on the day
- half-marathon, 5k
The course in numbers
The descent from about 2,410 m at the start to roughly 1,980 m by mile 20 does most of the work, then the road rolls to the finish at Basalt. The steepest climb is in mile 24.
- Layout
- Point-to-point
- Total climb
- 40 m (130 ft)
- Total descent
- 445 m (1,460 ft)
- Start altitude
- 2,410 m (7,910 ft)
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
Worth knowing
- The marathon starts at 06:00, ahead of the half marathon at 07:30 and the 5k at 10:30.
- Bib pickup is at W Aspen the evening before the race.
Pick your goal for Aspen
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common marathon goals:
We don’t hold a confirmed date for this edition, so any countdown comes from the date you enter here.
Build your training around Aspen Valley Marathon.
RunV works backwards from race day to today. Your plan adapts when life interrupts, and you approve every change. It does not adapt to this specific course — the pacing guidance above is where the course knowledge is.
Everything above stays free and complete — this is an optional next step, not a paywall.
Asked often
- When is the Aspen Valley Marathon?
- It is held each July in Aspen, USA. Check the official Aspen Valley Marathon site for the exact date and entry windows.
- Is the Aspen Valley Marathon course flat?
- A point-to-point run from Wagner Park in Aspen down the valley to Basalt, mostly following the Rio Grande Trail. It loses about 445 m and climbs only about 40 m, so the strain is on the legs and the altitude.
- Is the Aspen Valley Marathon a Boston qualifier?
- Yes. The Aspen Valley Marathon is run on a certified course, so a time set here can be used to apply for the Boston Marathon.
- How should I train for the Aspen Valley Marathon?
- Build for the course you'll actually race at the Aspen Valley Marathon: hilly terrain, July conditions. RunV Premium builds a training plan around your goal time and race date, and lets you adapt it when life interrupts the Aspen build.
Not sure what to target? Predict your marathon time from a recent race →
More marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Aspen — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in July — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
