Races Half marathon · Fort Collins, USA
Horsetooth Half Marathon
Horsetooth Half Marathon is a hilly half marathon in Fort Collins, USA, held each April. A point-to-point course along Horsetooth Reservoir on Centennial Drive, with a steep climb near mile 1.7 and more hills after, then a downhill run on the Poudre River trail into Old Town. Mid-April in Fort Collins is changeable, with cold starts and sometimes snow or wind, typically around 0 to 15°C. A course as hilly as Horsetooth Half Marathon must be trained for specifically — long-run routes should mimic its climbs and descents.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
April
next: Sunday 18 April 2027
Course
hilly
Half marathon
Conditions
Mid-April in Fort Collins is changeable, with cold starts and sometimes snow or wind, typically around 0 to 15°C.
Racing this course well
A point-to-point course along Horsetooth Reservoir on Centennial Drive, with a steep climb near mile 1.7 and more hills after, then a downhill run on the Poudre River trail into Old Town.
A course as hilly as Horsetooth Half Marathon must be trained for specifically — long-run routes should mimic its climbs and descents.
Getting a place
- How you get in
- Open entry: first come, first served
- Price
- Tiered from $45 for the first 50 entries up to $115 in April
- Places
- 2,600 runners
Official Horsetooth Half Marathon site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Next race
- Sunday 18 April 2027
- Start time
- 08:00
The course in numbers
A climb of nearly 500 ft to a high point called Monster Mountain by mile 1.7, then North Dam Hill and Bingham Hill, before the downhill trail finish.
- Layout
- Point-to-point
- Total climb
- 280 m (920 ft)
- Total descent
- 350 m (1,150 ft)
- Start altitude
- 1,585 m (5,200 ft)
Worth knowing
- The 2027 race is billed as the 54th running.
- The finish party is at New Belgium Brewing in Old Town Fort Collins.
- The prize purse is listed as $12,000.
Pick your goal for Fort Collins
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common half marathon goals:
The date shown is the one the organiser has announced. Change it if yours differs.
Build your training around Horsetooth Half 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 Horsetooth Half Marathon?
- The next Horsetooth Half Marathon is on Sunday 18 April 2027 in Fort Collins, USA. It is held each April.
- Is the Horsetooth Half Marathon course flat?
- A point-to-point course along Horsetooth Reservoir on Centennial Drive, with a steep climb near mile 1.7 and more hills after, then a downhill run on the Poudre River trail into Old Town.
- How do I enter the Horsetooth Half Marathon?
- Open entry: first come, first served. Price: Tiered from $45 for the first 50 entries up to $115 in April.
- How should I train for the Horsetooth Half Marathon?
- Match your preparation to Horsetooth Half Marathon's profile and the April 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 half marathon time from a recent race →
More half marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Fort Collins — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in April — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
