Denver is lacing up again: the Denver Colfax Marathon is set to return for its 20th race weekend on May 15–17, bringing eight races across two days and a finish-line festival in City Park. Thousands of runners, from relay crews to nervous first-timers, are expected to tackle a Mile High route that winds through downtown, neighborhoods and several of Denver’s best-known landmarks.
What organizers are promising
The weekend runs May 15–17 and marks the marathon’s 20th anniversary, with organizers saying they expect more than 25,000 participants, according to Running USA. “This milestone year marks a historic moment in Denver,” Denver Colfax Marathon CEO Andrea Dowdy said in the announcement, per Running USA.
Weekend schedule and where to go
Packet pickup and the Cigna Health & Fitness Expo are scheduled at Empower Field at Mile High on Friday and Saturday, the Colfax 5K kicks off on Saturday, and race-day events begin early Sunday with a City Park finish, according to Race Roster. Race Roster lists the specific start times and notes City Park as the central finish and festival area for runners and families.
Expo, finish festival and course highlights
Organizers say the expo will take place in the Club Suites area at Empower Field and the big Finish Line Festival in City Park will include live music, a beer garden and a charity partner village, according to Denver Colfax Marathon. The course threads signature Mile High sites, including run-throughs at Empower Field, a stretch along Cherry Creek and the Confluence, Sloan’s Lake and a one-mile half-marathon pass through the Denver Zoo.
Drivers and transit: plan ahead
Street closures and vendor permits are handled through the City of Denver’s permitting process, and DOTI warns that special-event permits can mean no-parking zones and enforced restrictions near the route, according to the City of Denver DOTI. Past editions show Colfax and several cross streets closed for blocks of the morning and early afternoon, and local guides advise planning alternate crossings or using major arterials during race windows, as noted in a previous guide on how to navigate road closures, as per Hoodline.
Charities and local impact
Organizers say the Colfax Charity Partners program has worked with hundreds of nonprofits and generated roughly $10 million for local causes over the marathon’s history, according to Running USA. Charity tents and partner booths are a big part of the City Park finish festival, giving runners a chance to connect fundraising to their miles.
Want a quick preview? 9NEWS ran a short segment on April 16. For registration and official details, visit the event website at runcolfax.org.
