Races Marathon · Fort Collins, USA
Colorado Marathon
Colorado Marathon is a rolling marathon in Fort Collins, USA, held each May. Point-to-point from Steven's Gulch in the Poudre Canyon down to Fort Collins. Downhill and flat for most of the way, with one moderate hill near mile 17 and a finish on the Poudre River Trail. Early May in the canyon and Fort Collins is cool to mild, typically 3 to 18°C, with a chance of spring showers. Fort Collins's rolling course rewards effort-based pacing — hold steady effort on the rises and let the pace return on the descents.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
May
next: Sunday 2 May 2027
Course
rolling
Marathon
Conditions
Early May in the canyon and Fort Collins is cool to mild, typically 3 to 18°C, with a chance of spring showers.
Racing this course well
Point-to-point from Steven's Gulch in the Poudre Canyon down to Fort Collins. Downhill and flat for most of the way, with one moderate hill near mile 17 and a finish on the Poudre River Trail.
Fort Collins's rolling course rewards effort-based pacing — hold steady effort on the rises and let the pace return on the descents.
Getting a place
- Does it sell out?
- YesThe organiser states the 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 races sold out quickly.
Official Colorado Marathon site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Next race
- Sunday 2 May 2027
- Time limit
- 6 hours
- Pacers
- Pace groups from 3:15 to 5:00 in 15-minute steps, subject to pacer availability
- Also on the day
- half-marathon, 10k, 5k
The course in numbers
The canyon section drops steadily for the first half. One moderate hill comes at about mile 17.
- Layout
- Point-to-point
- Surface
- Mostly paved road, with the final stretch on the Poudre River Trail
- Start altitude
- 1,830 m (6,000 ft)
- Course status
- USATF certified (CO 15007DCR)
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
Worth knowing
- Runners start at Steven's Gulch, about 17 miles up the canyon from Highway 287, and must take the event buses.
- The race hosts the RRCA Colorado State Marathon Championship.
Getting there
- Nearest airport
- Denver International (DEN)
Pick your goal for Fort Collins
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common marathon goals:
The date shown is the one the organiser has announced. Change it if yours differs.
Build your training around Colorado 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 Colorado Marathon?
- The next Colorado Marathon is on Sunday 2 May 2027 in Fort Collins, USA. It is held each May.
- Is the Colorado Marathon course flat?
- Point-to-point from Steven's Gulch in the Poudre Canyon down to Fort Collins. Downhill and flat for most of the way, with one moderate hill near mile 17 and a finish on the Poudre River Trail.
- Does the Colorado Marathon sell out?
- Yes. The organiser states the 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 races sold out quickly.
- Is the Colorado Marathon a Boston qualifier?
- Yes. The Colorado 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 Colorado Marathon?
- Match your preparation to Colorado Marathon's profile and the May weather, then protect consistency — with RunV Premium you can adapt your plan to fit your week, so one bad week never derails the block.
Not sure what to target? Predict your marathon time from a recent race →
More marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Fort Collins — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in May — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
