Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Race Report – Lon Welsh

Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Race Report – Lon Welsh

Race: Garden of the Gods

Runner: Lon Welsh

Race Date: 06/11/2023

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Results: 56:30

Strava Activity Link: https://strava.app.link/tpzKnATiBAb

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

  • Scenery
  • Great hill training (660′ climb)
  • Great, enthusiastic volunteers

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

  • 5 bathrooms at start line (1800+ runners) = massive lines
  • There were lots of bathrooms at the end. Odd.

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

Unusual geology. Pretty.

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

I wasn’t pushing hard and still was within 2 minutes of PR 10K time, even with big elevation climb. Bolder Boulder = 220′ climb by comparison.

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

VIP parking saves a tiny amount of time up front and takes a bit more time after race; the breakfast is super basic; not sure I’d do it a 2nd time.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Train for hills!

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

10/10

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Yes, it’s a challenge. That’s what I wanted!!

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

It’s well organized other than the bathrooms.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

85%+ are just from CO Springs; balance seemed to be mostly from Denver or CO.

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.

Easy to register for this.

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

There were plenty. they are trying to get to cup free, so bring a cup or water bottle if you can. They did have some paper cups

Weather and typical race conditions

A+. 52 degrees, light wind and sunny.

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

Water, see above.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Some spectators, not a lot. I think they were turned off by climbing the hills!

How’s the Swag?

Good. Typical.

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

If you like mountain scenery and hills, this is a great choice.