Colorado Runner

The hike to the top of the last remaining fire lookout in Colorado charms with its smooth, double-track path and a canopy of pine and aspen. While this hike is not difficult – you can go with the entire family – it’s a must-see. The tower’s rich history captures the true spirit of Colorado. In a quick one and a half miles, you climb 1,000 feet to reach nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. More than 20,000 people make the trek each year. The view from the top is worth it. On a clear day, you can see for 100 [...]

I woke up on Sunday morning in late July and finally decided it was time to hit the high country for altitude training. With most of my training partners getting ready for the Leadville Trail 100, I knew it would be easy to drag a few of them along with me. But, with all of our busy schedules, I knew I had to find something close. I chose Herman’s Gulch. Just a short drive up Interstate 70, this high altitude paradise is an easy 60 minute drive from Denver, but a world away. We pulled into the trailhead parking lot [...]

A run through the Paint Mines is a journey in time. Archaeologists claim that prehistoric people began living on the rolling prairie at the Paint Mines 9,000 years ago. Native Americans are known to have taken the colorful clays to produce pottery and ceremonial paint. The park is off the beaten path, but the views of red hoodoos and orange sandstone spires are worth the drive. Runners will immediately notice an unyielding wind on the quiet grassland. The park encompasses approximately 750 acres and includes four miles of trails. The trails include two loops, which can be combined to make [...]

Each morning with the sun’s first bright rays, legion’s of the fit faithful march up and down the steps at the Red Rock Amphitheater. The heart-pounding, gut-wrenching routine can leave the toughest athlete gasping for air. I have tried this vigorous workout on several occasions. Up the steps, one, two, three, twenty, thirty, forty… The sun beats down and you can always smell stale beer near the amphitheater during the summer concert season. I can’t get addicted to the stair climbing. Why run up and down concrete steps when you can sprint through dramatic 300-foot sandstone monoliths instead? I must [...]

I first conquered Mt. Sanitas when I was training for the Pikes Peak Marathon in 2003. I had heard from a friend of a friend that it was a great hill workout and that it was quick and easy to get to. I attacked the run with vigor, but the calf-grinding workout was more difficult than I expected. On the climb, I felt like I was on the stair master at the gym. I nearly lost the trail near the summit, and then I ended up scrambling on all fours during the icy descent. After one loop, I was toast. [...]

Nestled in the hills above Golden, Apex Park offers an easily- accessible retreat for metro area trail runners and mountain bikers. The park includes approximately 10 miles of trails over hilly terrain and rocky single track. The city of Golden reports that wildlife in the area can include elk, deer, black bear, coyote, fox, rattlesnake, and raptors. The 770-acre park also holds historical significance for Jefferson County. The Apex Trail follows Apex Gulch, where a stream flows for most of the year. Apex Gulch was the route of an early toll road, which took fortune seekers to the gold fields [...]

It was a cold and windy Saturday morning, which made the prospect of running a bit difficult in my current state of mind. I prefer to run when it is sunny and warm (who doesn’t) so the fact that I needed to wear pants and a jacket didn’t appeal to me. I had to think of a way to get myself out the door. I decided to drive down to Waterton Canyon and run the 17 mile loop. I like to run there because it features a wide dirt road with beautiful views and no traffic. Plus I figured this [...]

Nestled in the foothills west of Fort Collins is Horsetooth Mountain Park. Horsetooth Rock, a famous landmark visible from I-25, is the high point of this park. According to Native American legend, this rock is what remains of the heart of the Great Red Warrior slain by the Great Black Warrior in a ferocious battle. Within Horsetooth Mountain Park, there are 29 miles of trails that connect with many more trails in Lory State Park and with the trails in the Soderberg Open Space Park. The main trail coming from the Soderberg Open Space Park is the Blue Sky Trail, [...]

“I’ll pick you up at 5:15 tomorrow morning,” I told John on the phone. “We should be there by 6:30. Scott and Brian will meet us there. The plan is to go four hours.” “Cool, I’ll see you then.” That is how it started – my first real experience with the Colorado Trail, a 483-mile-long trail that connects Denver to Durango. Most of the trail is located in the rugged high mountains of Colorado. But the segment from Kenosha Pass to Gold Hill is one of the most runner friendly sections of the trail. On this day, I was meeting [...]

When looking for a uniquely Colorado trail running experience near the heart of the city, look no further than Lair o’ the Bear park. Located just four miles west of Morrison, this park offers smooth trails ranging in elevation from 6,500 feet to 7,500 feet. One of the most notable historical features of this park can be found in the northeast corner of the parking lot. Here, lilac bushes and cherry trees, along with the stone remnants of a fireplace, mark the spot of the once bustling Mountain Nook Ranch house. In 1902, John Albin Johnson and his wife, Mathilda, [...]

Winter running in Colorado can sometimes be difficult. With the cold and snow, it can be hard to find the motivation to get out the door. Sometimes, all it takes is a trip to a scenic location to get the blood and adrenaline flowing again and help brighten the spirit of even the most uninspired runner. Barr Lake State Park in Brighton is one of those inspiring places. Located just northeast of Denver off Interstate 76, the park offers the nature enthusiast remarkable opportunities to observe an abundance of wildlife while still getting in a daily workout. More than 350 [...]

March can be a tough time to hit the trail running. It’s the snowiest month of the year for the mountains and Front Range, and even if the snows don’t come, chances are the trails are still snowpacked and icy. There’s only one thing to do: head west to Fruita. Fruita (population: 6,500) sits on the Western Slope near Grand Junction in a pocket of particularly mild climate. While the mountains are still getting hammered with snow, residents in Fruita typically enjoy high temperatures that hover between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Pair that with ample sunshine and Utah-like canyon [...]

As spring bleeds into summer, Boulder’s trails become popular as ever with hikers and trail runners. Chautauqua in particular can seem swarmed, and finding parking can be a challenge before you even hit the trail. The crowds tend to stick to the front side of the Flatirons, however. Those in the know (you) head to the back side and the gem that is Walker Ranch, part of the Boulder County open space system. The ranch started back in 1882, when James and Phoebe Walker applied to homestead on 160 acres of meadow near a spring. Their self-sufficient ranch eventually included [...]