While many avid runners bundle up and brave the cold to participate in winter races such as Turkey Trots, the Hot Chocolate 5K and Yeti Chase, spring brings the beginning of the race season for most athletes who enjoy running 5K’s and 10K’s, half- marathons, marathons and even some ultra-marathons. The beginning of spring also rouses many college students out of their winter quarter hibernation and inspires new dedication to exercise and the outdoors. Luckily, as a hub for athletic and outdoorsy individuals, Denver boasts an abundance of organized races, one being the Colfax Marathon coming up in May.
One group at DU is already preparing for the race as a relay team. In the music school, a team has already been set up by Jazz Professor Donna Wickham, who puts a team together annually, according to sophomore Brendan Schuster, a vocal jazz major from Golden, Colo. Schuster ran the relay marathon with Professor Wickham last year as well.
“It was a ton of fun. It was beautiful out … It was super nice so I thought I’d do it again this year. I love to run and I thought it’d be a good opportunity,” said Wickham.
The event will take place May 17-18, with races that suit every type of runner.
While the more experienced and ambitious participants can run in the full marathon of 26.2 miles, there will also be a half marathon of 13.1 miles, an Urban 10-Miler and a five-person relay marathon will all occur on May 18. The Colfax 5K will take place on Saturday, May 17.
Each race takes a slightly different course through Denver. Marathoners will enjoy running around Sports Authority Field, past the Cherry Creek and Platte Rivers, Sloan’s Lake and through Downtown Denver. This race is a Boston Marathon qualifier.
The half-marathon is the only race that will take a one-mile trip through the Denver Zoo. Racers who set a new event record will win $1,000, while those who set a new state record will receive an additional $1,000, in both the marathon and half marathon, according to the Colfax Marathon website.
The Urban 10-Miler will race through Downtown Denver, including areas such as Confluence Park, Cherry Creek and all the way to City Park. The top 10 racers will receive an unannounced prize. The 5K Saturday will take a trip around City Park in Downtown Denver.
Racers who are looking to try something a little different from the traditional race experience or would like to participate with their friends should sign up for the Colfax Marathon Relay; the race has five legs varying in distance from 3.7 to 6.4 miles.
The unique perk of the relay race is that the top three winners have the opportunity to choose a charity from over 100 options to donate their winnings to. Charities include the Special Olympics Colorado, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Animal Rescue of the Rockies. If racers do not have fully formed teams yet, they can still sign up and add additional racers up until the race date.
“People should definitely do it, it benefits something, it’s always nice out and it’s a great place to run,” said Schuster.
For more information on the Colfax Marathon, to register and for daily training tips visit their website.
For runners who do not want to wait for the Colfax Marathon to start their race season, the Graffiti Run takes place April 27 at Sloan’s Lake Park, and the Wings For Life World Run will be happening May 4. The Boulder Bolder will take place after the Colfax Marathon on the weekend of May 24 – 26.
