Come run in beautiful Switzerland of America at the Mt Sneffels Marathon & Half Marathon, previously voted Best Get Away Weekend by Colorado Runner magazine readers!
The full marathon course will take you along our best kept secret, the scenic county roads that connect the city of Ouray, nestled in the San Juan Mountains, named for Chief Ouray of the Ute Indians, a paradise of Hot Springs, Waterfalls and Wildlife along with a Rich Mining History, to the Old Railroad and Ranching valley town of Ridgway, Gateway to the San Juans. The course wanders past beautiful ranchlands, open spaces, a small lake and the Uncomphagre River. The elevation of Ouray is 7,800 ft. and the elevation of Ridgway is 7,000 ft. The majority of the course is on dirt roads.
The half marathon starts at 7:30AM on Main St, directly adjacent to Fellin Park (aka Ouray Hot Springs Park). Half marathoners will start by running south down Main St. and then turn around at 3rd Ave. and run north down Main St. back to the Hot Springs Park where they will run a counter-clockwise 3/4 lap around the asphalt track, exit the park, and run down 2nd Street south all the way to 3rd Avenue, turn right and follow road on to Oak Street. Once the runners get on Oak Street/CR17 in Ouray, you remain on the same road (turns into CR23) for approximately 7.5 miles until you come to a “T” intersection. Turn left (note that marathon runners turn right here) and continue on CR23 all the way to Solar Ranch Park in Ridgway.
We will be providing support on the course until 1:30pm so that all the marathon and half marathon participants should have plenty of time to finish. We love our walkers and any of our participants are free to walk or run the course at any point during the race. Again, there will be plenty of race staff and refreshments at the finish line for all!
Each marathon and half marathon registrant will receive an official long sleeve race tech shirt and half price entry to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool and the Box Canyon Falls the weekend of the event.
Also, just like last year, each participant (age 21 and over, of course) will be entitled at the finish line to a free beer donated by one of our local micro-breweries. We will be checking driver’s licenses and providing wrist bands.
We will be providing snacks at the end, including fruit, bagels and cold chocolate milk.
Participants who finish the marathon and half marathon will be awarded finisher medals. Awards in gender and age categories and male and female course record awards will be presented. The awards ceremony for the money prize winners and overall winners for both the half and full marathons will be held at the Ridgway Town Park on the stage. Awards will have a local touch to make this event memorable for all!
We will again have a Kids’ Fun Run in Ridgway (near the finish line for the marathon/half marathon) that starts at approximately 10:30AM. Each Kid’s Fun Run registrant will receive a finisher ribbon.
Throughout the morning (starting from approximately 9:30 AM), bus transportation will be provided from Solar Ranches park (Ridgway) back to Ouray Rotary Park and Ouray Hot Springs/Fellin Park.
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