Trung Vo's Staging Area

Overall, I really enjoyed the Colorado Marathon and would recommend it. I did learn quite a few things that I wanted to share here:

1. The buses were coach buses. I got on one around 4:15 am and arrived at the top about an hour later.

2. Once the bus arrived at the start line, a race volunteer from the front of the bus orally shared information that I thought should have been shared earlier in an email. They weren’t as loud as they should have been. The most important thing they shared was that runners should utilize the trash cans placed along the course.

3. There were a ton of portapotties at the top and there were three volunteers directing runners to unoccupied ones, but the line still got quite long. I recommend getting in line as soon as you get off the bus and then getting in line again unless you’re okay with that first visit being your only pre-race pit stop.

4. The website mentioned drop bags but didn’t offer a ton of detail. At the expo you’ll receive a clear bag that contains your bib and a zip tie. On that bib is a tag with your bib number that you’ll attach to the clear bag with the zip tie. At the starting line staging area, you’ll find a U-Haul where you can drop off your bag. At the finish line, you’ll find an area where you can ask a volunteer to retrieve your bag for you.

5. The course comprises three main sections: the canyon where the right side of the road is closed to cars (miles 0-16), the state highways where the right lane and shoulder are closed to cars (miles 17-21), and the Poudre River Trail that is open to runners and everyone else (miles 22-26.2). Expect to run off camber for the first 21 miles because of roadway superelevation (banking). The canyon miles are mostly shaded, but the state highways are exposed and hot, and the Poudre River Trail will require navigating around other trail users or half-marathon back-of-the-packers.

6. Do not underestimate what the downhill will do to your quads. I didn’t do as much downhill-specific training as I should have, and I started feeling the muscle damage at mile 10 and couldn’t keep my pace through the pain for the final 10k. The downhill will certainly help you run fast when you’re fresh, but you need to strengthen your quads so they don’t fall apart before you finish.

Good luck and have fun!