Colfax Marathon Race Report – Jennifer S

Race: Colfax Marathon

Runner: Jennifer S

Race Date: 05/20/2018

Location: Denver, CO

Results: 4:21

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Flat, local/convenient (for me), some good highlights of Denver.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Poor crowd turnout (not a lot of spectators), much of the course is run in areas that are not likely to be visited by spectators and there’s not much to look at. Would have preferred course to be through the neighborhoods.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Nothing I can recall. Pretty straightforward.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Enjoyed the weather – cool and overcast.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Come for a long weekend and explore the city because the best parts of the city are not necessarily on this course.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Begins and ends at City Park, which would be an Uber ride or long walk from downtown hotels.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Not particularly. Some areas are nice (City Park, Sloan’s Lake); others… not so much (West Colfax)

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Not particularly – it’s at 5000′, but it’s a flat course.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well organized.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I’m so slow I have no idea who’s running up front.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I’m local so didn’t need to deal with hotels, but Denver is a popular city so I’d book as early as possible. I was pleasantly surprised that there was a fair amount of parking at the start/finish area (City Park).

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Stations were placed approximately every 2 -3 miles – water and Gatorade. Two stations had gels.

Weather and typical race conditions

This year was cool (50s) and overcast/sprinkling. I believe last year was sunny and very warm. It’s May in Denver, so it could be 80 degrees or snowing. Check the forecast before you visit.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nope. I didn’t even carry water since there were so many aid stations.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

There were plenty of places for spectators to watch the race, but unfortunately, it was a pretty poor turnout.

How’s the Swag?

Minimal. Just a shirt, sticker and finisher’s medal.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

3/5 stars. Not sure I’d run it again, but I’m a local so maybe it wasn’t so exciting to be in Denver. If you’d like to visit Colorado it may be really fun.