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In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Pikes Peak Marathon, I'm writing about the Barr Trail. This lung-burning trail travels from a parking lot in Manitou Springs, which is located just west of Colorado Springs, at 6,650 feet. The U.S. Forest Service trail winds up the east face of Pikes Peak in the Pike National Forest and summits at 14,115 feet. This trail is not for the weak hearted with a brutal 7,000 feet of elevation gain that covers 13 long, winding miles. It takes the average Pikes Peak Marathon runner more than seven hours to complete, top to bottom. That being said, this trail is also a Colorado favorite for so many hikers and runners that if you've never tried the Barr Trail, I consider it a must-do!

Beep Beep Beep. Slap. My hand fumbles the alarm clock off. Ugh. Why is it so early? My brain slowly processes the time of 4:30 a.m. Ring Ring Ring. The phone? What the heck? Then I remember. I am meeting my buddy for a 5 a.m. run. After we'd each missed early morning runs we decided to call each other to make sure that both parties were out of bed. I pick up the phone.

Mt. Falcon is a Jefferson County Open Space Park located just south of downtown Morrison on Colorado Highway 8. The route we are running today is the typical time trial route up the Castle Trail to the first picnic shelter, 2.5 miles and 1,600 feet away. This lung burning trail is a must for anyone training for the numerous mountain races in Colorado. However, the park has much more to offer than the Castle Trail and you would be a fool to not explore more.

Writing about the Mesa Trail is like discussing brushing your teeth… it’s really important, but no one ever talks about it, because everybody has to do it. Christmas Eve, 1999. […]

The car idled while I sat waiting to muster enough energy for my run in Lory State Park. I was feeling lethargic and running alone made the prospect more difficult. It had been a year since I had run the Arthur's Rock trail loop. But finally, I turned the car off, laced my shoes and stood up. Outside the car at the trail's terminus (5,420 feet)* my laziness left - the trail was like being reunited with an old friend. I started running.

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 […]

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.

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.

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 truly have the heart of a trail runner.

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.