Denver Colfax Marathon 2026
26.2 miles through the Mile High City. Five race distances, one iconic course on America's longest commercial street. Interactive route maps, mile-by-mile breakdowns, and everything you need for race day.
May 16–17, 2026
Race Weekend
5 events
Distances
5,280 ft
Elevation
25,000+
Runners
Choose Your Distance
Five events, one weekend. Each distance has its own course, start time, and personality.
Full Marathon
The flagship USATF-certified, Boston-qualifying out-and-back course along Colfax Avenue. Run through Empower Field at Mile High, past Sloan’s Lake, and finish at Ferril Lake in City Park.
- Boston Qualifier (USATF certified)
- Run through Empower Field at Mile High
- Honey Stinger gels at miles 6 & 20
$130–$160
6 hours
Half Marathon
The eastern course through City Park, past the Denver Zoo, and along East Colfax through Capitol Hill. Highlights include a fire station run-through and the famous Zoo Mile.
- Fire station run-through
- Famous Zoo Mile past Denver Zoo
- Honey Stinger gels at mile 8
$100–$130
3h 25m
10 Miler
Starting from RMCAD, the western loop heads through downtown, past Empower Field at Mile High, and along Sloan’s Lake with Rocky Mountain views. Features the signature stadium run-through.
- Starts from RMCAD (staggered waves)
- Run through Empower Field at Mile High
- Sloan’s Lake with Rocky Mountain views
$80–$100
2h 30m
5K
A Saturday morning loop through City Park — dog-friendly and stroller-friendly. Perfect for first-time racers, families, and runners looking to set a PR at altitude. Girls On The Run wave starts at 10:30 AM.
- Saturday race (May 16, not Sunday)
- Dog-friendly — run with your pup!
- Stroller-friendly wave available
$45–$60
1h 30m
Marathon Relay
The full marathon course split into 5 legs for teams of 5 runners. Open division welcomes all teams including corporate, running clubs, and charity groups. Over $150K in charity awards.
- 5 runners, ~4–6 miles each
- Open division for all teams
- $150K+ in charity awards
$300–$400/team
6 hours
Course Overview
The Denver Colfax Marathon is an out-and-back course centered on East Colfax Avenue, the longest commercial street in America. The route starts and finishes at Ferril Lake in City Park, taking runners on a tour of Denver's most vibrant neighborhoods.
The course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston Marathon entry. The signature moment comes when runners enter Empower Field at Mile High and run the warning track inside the stadium. Aid stations are every 2 miles with Honey Stinger energy gels and Superganix CBD recovery zones on the marathon course.
The course ranges from 5,180 to 5,480 feet in elevation with ~700 feet of total ascent. At 5,280 feet, expect to run 1–3 minutes per mile slower than sea-level pace.
Race Day Essentials
Everything you need to know before the starting gun.
Date & Time
5K: Saturday, May 16 at 9:00 AM. Marathon, half, 10 miler, relay: Sunday, May 17. First wave 6:00 AM.
Start/Finish
Most races start/finish at Ferril Lake, City Park (2001 Colorado Blvd). 10 Miler starts from RMCAD. Parking lots open at 4:30 AM.
Packet Pickup
Colorado Convention Center. Fri 10AM–7PM, Sat 9AM–5PM. No race-day pickup.
Aid Stations
Every 2 miles with water, Gatorade, porta-potties. Honey Stinger gels at specific miles. Superganix CBD recovery zones on marathon course.
Transit
RTD light rail to Colfax/Auraria. Free shuttle from Convention Center. Free RTD rides with bib all day.
Post-Race
Finisher medals, food, and beer garden with local Denver breweries at City Park.
Best Spectator Spots
Where to cheer on runners for maximum energy.
Empower Field at Mile High (Mile 7)
The most electric spot on the course. Arrive early for the stadium tunnel entrance.
Sloan’s Lake (Mile 8.5)
Wide-open sightlines with mountain views. Drummers and dragon boat crews.
Colorado State Capitol (Mile 2.5 & 24.5)
See runners twice — once heading out and once coming home.
City Park Finish (Mile 26.2)
The final 400 meters at Ferril Lake. The most emotional moments.
Race Guides
Detailed route maps, mile-by-mile breakdowns, and course strategy for each distance.
Denver Colfax 10 Miler 2026: Route Map & Course Guide
Everything you need for the 2026 Denver Colfax 10 Miler — interactive route map, the famous Empower Field stadium run-through, Sloan’s Lake views, and race logistics.
Denver Colfax 5K 2026: Route Map & Course Guide
Everything you need for the 2026 Denver Colfax 5K — a fast, family-friendly 3.1-mile loop through City Park with a finish at Ferril Lake.
Denver Colfax Marathon Relay 2026: Route Map & Team Guide
Everything you need for the 2026 Denver Colfax Marathon Relay — 5-leg route breakdown, exchange zone locations, team strategy, and race logistics.
Denver Colfax Half Marathon 2026: Route Map & Course Guide
Everything you need for the 2026 Denver Colfax Half Marathon — interactive route map, course breakdown, altitude tips, and race logistics for 13.1 miles through Denver.
Denver Colfax Marathon 2026: Route Map, Course Guide & FAQ
Everything you need for the 2026 Denver Colfax Marathon — interactive route map, mile-by-mile course breakdown, elevation profile, race logistics, spectator guide, and FAQs.
Register for the 2026 Denver Colfax Marathon
Registration is open on Race Roster. The 5K is Saturday, May 16. All other distances are Sunday, May 17.
Running multiple races? The 5K is Saturday and all other distances are Sunday, so you can double up. For multiple registrations, email MultipleReg@RunColfax.org.
Explore More Denver Events
Denver Colfax Marathon 2026 — FAQ
Get Denver's Best Events in Your Inbox
Every Monday, we send a curated list of the best things happening in Denver. Concerts, sports, comedy, hidden gems, and more.
Join 1,000+ Denverites. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy