Pikes Peak country is big country. And when it comes to running and cycling, you can go big on beautiful mountain courses that make your heart thump with the joy of living while they also kick your butt. We’ve chosen some gutsy runs, rides and Colorado races for our bucket list, included some fast and fun 5Ks and tossed in a couple fun favorites.
There’s never a better time to start planning and training than now. Most trainers will tell you that putting a goal on the calendar is vital to staying motivated. Speaking of that calendar, be sure to keep an eye on those registration dates. Some of these classic Colorado Springs events fill up fast, and some are already open for registration.
Our 12 Epic Runs, Ride and Classic Colorado Races
Winter Series
Jan. 11 – Feb. 22
Four race locations
They call it “The Coolest Race in Town.” Sure, that refers to the weather in January and February, but it also captures the welcoming vibes and the camaraderie of running in the winter. You may have sun; you may have snow. Hosted by Pikes Peak Road Runners, the Winter Series consists of four races that get progressively longer. Here’s the 2025 list:
- Winter Series I, Jan. 11
5K and 10K at Fountain Creek Regional Park - Winter Series II, Jan. 25
4 mile and 8 mile at Cheyenne Mountain State Park - Winter Series III, Feb. 15
5 mile and 10 mile at El Pomar Youth Sports Complex - Winter Series IV, Feb. 22
7.5 mile and 12 mile at U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, America the Beautiful Park
Runners of all abilities are welcome, and the series is an excellent way to ramp up your fitness and distance, especially if you want to tackle one of the other longer runs in this list.
Super Half Marathon and Game Day 5K
Feb. 9
Downtown and the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail
Hit the trail before you veg out and pig out for the big game. If you’ve been running through the winter, you can go long early in the season. If you’ve recently started building your running game, you can stick to the short route. Either way, bring your fun game-face and race for paydirt in the annual Super Half Marathon and Game Day 5K. There will be school bands and cheerleaders, making a festive gameday atmosphere to cheer you on. The course is about as flat as it’s gets around here, so do a touchdown dance for that!
5K on St. Patrick’s Day
March 15 run
Downtown Colorado Springs
The start of this 5K race resembles a massive green wave crashing down Tejon Street. Expect a big crowd to lace ‘em up for this long-running race before the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The course is flat and fast, perfect for testing your physical conditioning after a long winter. Just be sure to wear green. And stick around afterward for the always-fun-to-see kids’ Leprechaun Fun Run.
Spartan Trifecta Weekend
May 31 – June 1
Fort Carson
Why just run when you can carry heavy objects, climb, crawl and navigate obstacles like barbed wire and fire? Pair the Spartan toughness with the rugged terrain and Army honor of Fort Carson and it’s easy to see why there’s a long tradition of this grueling body- and soul-testing obstacle race. How hard do you want to go? You can choose your distance with options ranging from a sprint 5K with 20 obstacles to a 50K with 60 obstacles. Or if you really want the full pain, suffering and transformation, there’s a trifecta pass for all three weekend races. As part of the Spartan Honor Series, you’ll receive a special commemorative medal and experience a special challenge honoring our courageous service members and first responders of Fort Carson and beyond.
Pikes Peak Apex
June 6-8
Various trails in Palmer Park, Cheyenne Cañon and Cañon City
The Apex has become the Springs’ biggest and one of the best Colorado races for mountain bikers. It’s a three-day endurance challenge on the slopes of Pikes Peak that showcases some of the best local trails, even while the route and featured trails change each year. The Apex also draws world-class pros as well as motivated amateurs looking for a bucket list experience.
The new Apex Gravel gives gravel riders two options to race as well. The 135-mile Queen of the Canyons option follows much of the Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway from Colorado Springs through Cripple Creek, Cañon City, Victor and back. And the “short” version, Mini Majesty, is 65-miles up Gold Camp Road and back.
Garden of the Gods 10 Mile, 10K & Trail Run
June 8
Garden of the Gods
Billed as the “Perfect 10,” it’s hard to argue. Garden of the Gods has been listed as the No. 1 Park in the country by the travel website TripAdvisor. And while most folks drive through the park, runners enjoy a more intimate experience as they gallop through a maze of sandstone towers. But don’t let the beautiful scenery fool you — the rolling hills of the Garden 10-miler, 10K and 10K Trail Run are a challenge that will redline your heart rate. The finish is worth the effort, as runners fly onto the grounds of Rock Ledge Ranch, run past barns, horses and cows, and then relax with good food, beer and music at the Race Expo.
The Pikes Peak Ultra
July 26
Bear Creek Regional Park, Cheyenne Cañon
If the peaceful pace of a 50-mile run appeals to you — meaning, you like to run all day — then the Pikes Peak Ultra is your event. The course was designed by ultrarunner and race director Justin Ricks, who wanted to “showcase some of the very best trails in Colorado Springs.” There are other options; they’re just all long: 20K, 30K, 50K and 50 mile.
The race will test the toughest runners. The 50-miler includes 11,759 feet of elevation gain on the high slopes above Cheyenne Cañon. The 50K has plenty of sting, with 8,127 feet of climbing. Both include the summit of Mount Rosa at 11,500 feet. New to long-distance running on trails? The 20K is gentler with only 2,513 feet of elevation gain. There are plenty of aid stations with experienced ultrarunners there to keep you smiling and moving forward. But there’s no way around it: Prepare with lots of trail miles that go up.
The Broadmoor Cycle to the Summit
Aug. 9
Pikes Peak Highway
Here are three words cyclists will understand when describing the Broadmoor Cycle to the Summit: “Shut up, legs!” There’s only one hill, and it’s a doozy. The distance of the ride is 12.42 miles, but be prepared because it finishes at the summit of Pikes Peak, 14,115 feet above sea level, making this one of the best Colorado races for cyclists.
A popular ride, the Cycle to the Summit is doable by reasonably fit cyclists willing to gear down and spin the pedals. Elite cyclists make it seem easy. It’s not. But once you pedal through quiet, ancient forests beneath the peak’s monolithic sun-splashed face, you’ll realize there is no rush. The course is the same used by the racecar drivers in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with a flurry of switchbacks and famous landmarks such as Devil’s Playground and Bottomless Pit.
Ready to ride? Put in the climbing work in the spring and summer, and perhaps you won’t have to have that conversation with your legs — or at least not as often.
coloradospringssports.org/cycletothesummit
Cheyenne Mountain Run
Aug. 16
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Runners and riders in the Pikes Peak area must cringe when they read the words: The trails in Cheyenne Mountain State Park are the best on the Front Range. Some secrets are best kept secret, after all. Fact is, while there is plenty of great singletrack out there, Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a special location.
And if you’re up for a good run, the Cheyenne Mountain Run is the ticket. The 25K will take runners 3,350 vertical feet to the summit of Cheyenne Mountain. Expect 9-plus miles with lots of climbing. There are 10K and 5K options, as well.
Rampart Rager
Aug. 23
Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, Garden of the Gods, Rampart Range Road
With a classic course designed by local rider and racer Jayson Middlemiss, this race is pedal-smashing fun. Beginning at the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, riders will cruise through Garden of the Gods. Then the fun begins: miles of uphill gravel grinding on Rampart Range Road. Good news, the grades are fairly gentle, and the views are magnifique. You’re going to climb about 6,700 feet overall, but the descent back down Rampart Range Road is a blast.
Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon
Sept. 20–21
Manitou Springs, Pikes Peak
There are many ways to reach the summit of Pikes Peak. But if you’re up for a lung-busting challenge, nothing tops the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent. There are two races over one weekend. Some 1,600 runners tackle the 13.32-mile ascent on Saturday. The race begins in Manitou Springs and ends at the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. On Sunday, marathoners ascend the peak, then turn around and finish in downtown Manitou Springs.
This is one of the best Colorado races around. It is revered and competed in by the world’s top mountain runners, these races will break you down — then restore you with new confidence as you run above tree line and negotiate the final steep switchbacks. And when there is no more mountain to ascend, you can see for 100 miles or more in every direction on a clear day. Oh, forget about conquering the mountain. Run this one to shush those voices that say you can’t.
Registration opens on March 1, and you’ll have to prove qualifying times. Some of these other races count as qualifiers.
Colorado Springs Marathon
Oct. 4
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Pikes Peak Greenway Trail
OK, so you’re done with the uphill grind. We understand. It’s difficult to find level ground in Colorado races. But the Colorado Springs Marathon will go easier on you. The race follows the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail as an out and back from downtown. That means the first half of the course runs slightly and gradually uphill — but slightly and gradually downhill for the second half.
The gravel surface for much of the way is easy on the body, and the finish line festivities are on point. It’s a great choice for your first Colorado marathon. There are half marathon and 5K options too, and the event supports the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
thecoloradospringsmarathon.com
This article was updated in January 2024.
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