Saturday, September 28, 2019 • Boulder, CO • Course Map
The foothills of the Colorado Front Range Mountains are the backdrop along the course at this race, which takes runners on a mostly off-road course through the countryside just north of the city, along mostly dirt roads and quiet rural lanes.
Runners see farms, cottonwood groves and several ponds along the out-and-back course’s rolling hills, which starts and finishes near the Boulder Reservoir Park and Sixmile Reservoir just outside town.
Colorado’s rugged outdoors is the setting and with it comes a steep challenge for runners who take part, namely the long, steady climb in elevation from the starting line all the way up to the half-way point in the race, along North 41st Street.
The course climbs roughly 300 feet in elevation from the start to the half-way point, from an elevation of about 5,200 feet above sea level at the starting line near the reservoirs to nearly 5,500 feet above sea level at the turnaround point.
The good news is, of course, that what goes up must come down — after running a mostly uphill race for the first 6.5 miles of the course, runners get to follow a mostly downhill course on the way back to the finish line.
Be sure to bring a sturdy pair of sunglasses for this run, as the sun is often out this time of year for the race, and Colorado’s wide-open blue skies and bright sun necessitate protection during the event.
Also, because the race takes place at over 5,000 feet above sea level — and many participants train at our near sea level — race organizers encourage entrants to allow themselves a few days to acclimate to the Colorado altitude before they take part in the race.
Race Weather & Climate
Located just to the east of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, about a 30-mile drive northwest of Denver, the city of Boulder typically sees mild weather conditions as the seasons are changing from summer to fall, especially in the early morning when this race takes place.
- Sept. 28 average low temp: 43ºF
- Sept. 28 average high temp: 72ºF
Past Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the Boulder Backroads Half Marathon.
Starting Time
7:15 AM
Course Time Limit
4 hours
Fees
- $75 and up for the half marathon
- $35 and up for the 10K
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2019 running of the Boulder Backroads Half Marathon or 10K race, register online at RaceRoster.com.
Official Race Website
runboulderevents.com/boulder-backroads
Facebook Conversations
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