Saturday, August 20, 2022 • Rocky Ford, CO • Course Map
The annual fair this race is a part of – the Arkansas Valley Fair, a four-day event that got its start all the way back in 1878 and today is Colorado’s oldest continuous state fair – features rodeos, bike races, a flower show, a beer garden, a watermelon seed-spitting contest, live music, a demolition derby, and much, much more.
But on the Saturday of the fair, it’s running that becomes the star with four race distances for adults — 13.1 miles, 10K, 5K and a 3K — plus a 1600-meter race for kids who are too young for the 5K or the 3K.
You can register on the day of the race, but runners are encouraged to sign up by emailing race director Ron Shepherd ahead of time with your name, age, gender and T-shirt size, so you’ll have a race T-shirt waiting for you when you complete your distance.
Runners start the out-and-back course for the half marathon on the campus of Rocky Ford Junior/Senior High School, just off Washington Avenue. From there, you’ll run through the parking lot and then around Babcock Park before heading back onto Washington Avenue, where you’ll then run west.
Then, you’ll run toward Road 18, turn left and run south to Road EE, where you’ll turn right and begin a long straightaway stretch toward the turnaround at the intersection with County Road 14. After that, it’s back all the way you just ran, and back to the school’s campus for the race finish.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled within central Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley, about 95 miles southeast of Colorado Springs and roughly a 2 hour, 40-minute drive from Denver, Rocky Ford typically experiences its second-warmest month of the year in August, which typically brings around 4 days of rain each year.
- August 20 average low temp: 63ºF
- August 20 average high temp: 90ºF
Course Map
See the race route map for the Arkansas Valley Fair Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
7:00 AM
Fees
$25
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2022 running of Rocky Ford’s Arkansas Valley Fair Half Marathon, 10K, 5K or 3K race, send your info to this email address.
Official Race Website
N/A
Comments
Ever run in the Arkansas Valley Fair Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, especially if there’s anything about the course/terrain you think other runners might want to know.
