Fun runs, marathons, multi-sports race and more from May - December
GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO (March 28, 2010)- The trails that have made Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado, world renowned for mountain bikers also are a haven for runners. From mid-May, when snows gradually begins receding to reveal a carpet of wildflowers, to early October, when the aspen have concluded their stunning fall show, trails in the area always astound with their beauty and variety. There's even a New Year's Eve resolution run.
This may be why many runners who train at the high altitudes of the Gunnison-Crested Butte valley have a strong presence in high-profile endurance races in Colorado and around the world at all levels, from prep, college and beyond. While Gunnison-Crested Butte athletes tend to take their sports seriously, there also is a sense of camaraderie in welcoming all levels of participants for running events and a desire to keep it fun.
2010 RUNNING EVENTS
Crested Butte Mountain Runners Fun Runs Gunnison County May - Sept.
3rd Annual Sage Burner 50k/25k Run Gunnison May 29
Loco-Motive Multi-Sport Race Gunnison July 3
Gothic to Crested Butte Run, Walk or Crawl 1/3 Marathon Gothic to Crested Butte July 4
MountainAir Marathon & Half-Marathon Crested Butte to Gunnison Sept. 19
Crested Butte Fall Colors Classic (1/2 marathon) Crested Butte Sept. 26
Frozen Buns Resolution Run 5k Crested Butte Dec. 31
Crested Butte Mountain Runners Fun Run Series, May - September
Crested Butte Mountain Runners typically organizes 13 morning and evening fun runs annually, from May through September, that are open to any level of runner. These are fun runs, not competitive races, and feature refreshments and socializing after each event. Most of the runs have distances for walkers and less serious runners.
A full schedule will be available in April or May. One of the local favorites is the "Grin and Bear It" run that happens in July and traverses a 9-mile course from Crested Butte to Green Lake and back, gaining approximately 1,500 feet in elevation. Another favorite is the "Cart to Cart" run in June that goes from Crested Butte to Crested Butte South, covering 15 miles mostly on trails.
A $25 annual membership in the Crested Butte Mountain Runners includes entry into all runs, with a few exceptions such as "Grin and Bear It." Non-members pay $5 per fun run. For details about all the 2010 fun runs, including meeting points and carpooling, visit http://www.cbmountainrunners.org/ in the near future. For questions call Martin Catmur at (970) 349-5326.
Sage Burner Trail Race, Gunnison, May 29
The third annual Sage Burner Trail Race is set for May 29 and features 50K and 25K races at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area, both starting at 7:30 a.m. The cost to pre-register is $55 for the 50K and $45 for the 25K, or add $10 to register the day of the race. For information and registration, visit www.western.edu/sageburner. Proceeds will benefit programs at Western State College of Colorado and Gunnison Trails.
Loco-Motive Multi-Sport Race, Gunnison, July 3
At this second annual race, athletes of all calibers will test their meddle with 8 miles of paddling, 25 miles of mountain biking and 10 kilometers of trail running as they embark on an incredible journey on Gunnison area rivers and Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area trails. The Gunnison Loco-Motive can be done as a solo or team race, and a half course also will be offered. The competitor categories include 19 and under, 20 - 39, and 40 - Over. Teams can be all male, all female or coed. For more information and cost, contact Ben Johnson at bjohnson@western.edu or Luke Mehall at lmehall@western.edu.
42nd Annual Gothic to Crested Butte Run, Walk or Crawl 1/3 Marathon, July 4
This longtime Independence Day favorite is a fund-raiser that benefits the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL). The race begins at 8 a.m. in Gothic, winds through the aspen woods and meadows to Mt. Crested Butte and ends in downtown Crested Butte. Shuttle buses from Crested Butte will transport all participants to the starting line in Gothic.
In efforts to "go green" RMBL will have online registration for the race at http://www.active.com/ or go to the RMBL website www.rmbl.org for a registration form. Register online before July 1 and save $5 on the registration cost for adults.
Pre-registration will be held on July 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Crested Butte Visitor Center, located at Elk Avenue & Sixth Street. On the day of event, registrations will be accepted from 6 to 7 a.m. at the Visitor Center, only if the cap of 500 runners has not been met. Day-of-race registration is $35 for ages 12 and up and $10 for children ages 11 and under. For more information, contact RMBL at (970) 349-7420 or visit http://www.rmbl.org/.
6th Annual Crested Butte to Gunnison MountainAir Marathon & Half-Marathon, Sept. 19
This popular race features a downhill course complemented by amazing fall colors and majestic mountain scenery. The marathon begins one mile south of Crested Butte at 7:30 a.m. and winds through 26.2 miles of the picturesque Gunnison Valley before ending at Western State College's Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison. The route is certified by USA Track and Field.
The half marathon course begins at 9 a.m. one mile south of Almont and ends at Western State College. There also will be pre- and post-race activities for runners and their families and friends. Proceeds benefit the college's track and field programs. Registration costs are $65 for the MountainAir Marathon and $35 for the half-marathon until Sept. 1. After Sept. 1, the costs increase to $75 and $45.
For more information or to register, contact Colorado Fitness in Gunnison at (970) 641-3375 and visit http://www.runmountainairmarathon.com/.
Crested Butte Fall Colors Classic, Crested Butte, Sept. 26
The Crested Butte Fall Color Classic is a beautiful half marathon from Kebler Pass down Ohio Pass during the peak of the changing aspen leaves. This race is almost entirely on dirt road with only about 100 feet of pavement. The descent offers breathtaking views of the Ohio Creek Valley. Registration is available on http://www.active.com/ and costs $50. Shuttles will be provided to the start and from the finish, with the race beginning at 9 a.m. Please call (970) 641-0798 with questions.
Frozen Buns Resolution Run, Crested Butte, Dec. 31
The fourth annual Frozen Buns Resolution Run, a 5K organized by the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation to kick off New Year's on the right foot, starts at the Crested Butte Visitor Center at 5 p.m. and makes it way toward Peanut Lake with tiki torches, glow sticks, flashlights and alpenglow lighting the way. The resolution part of the run comes when each participant carries their personal resolution for the new year on a piece of paper to the halfway point and places it into a small cauldron of fire, where hot chocolate, cider and cookies also await. Kids can take part, too, with the "Are We There Yet?" one-mile run, also at 5 p.m. Pre-register by calling (970) 641-0798 or visiting http://www.active.com/. The cost is $25, with kids 10 and under only $5. Registration also is available on the day of the race for $30. Remember to dress warm!
Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages
To find out more about Gunnison-Crested Butte's calendar of events or to book personalized vacation packages, visit http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/. During summer and fall, air access to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is provided by United Airlines.
About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado. Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities. In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding. Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options - from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels.
Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, which offers bachelor's and master's degrees in liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional fields. Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.
Recognized as the "Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in 2008, Crested Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area's conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails.
In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country's newest national parks. Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.
Photo: Running at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area near Gunnison. Courtesy of David Kozlowski.
Running Events in Gunnison County 2010.doc (889 KB)
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