All information relevant to the 3rd running of the Black Squirrel Half Marathon is available on the race website.
Here are a few final details and reminders.
Currently, we’re looking at an overnight low in the mid 50s, an overcast morning, and a race-day high in the low 80s.
Please make sure you have adequate carrying capacity for your hydration needs between aid stations. Water cups will not be provided at the aid stations.
The three race aid stations will be stocked with water, V-Fuel sports drink, snacks, and fruit (Arthurs only).
Packet pickup will be available on Friday afternoon from 4pm to 7pm at Altitude Running located at: 150 E Harmony Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80525 (northeast corner of College and Harmony). Packet pickup will also be available on race morning from 5:30am to 6:45am.
The race will start promptly at 7:00am. There will be a short pre-race briefing at 6:55am. Please give yourselves an extra 10-15min to get parked and over to the start. Late arrivals may need to walk up to a half mile to the start.
Parking at the Soldier Canyon start/finish area (limited to 50-60 cars) is reserved for carpools of two or more racers. All other cars will be directed to park on the Lodgepole loop road or at the Timber trailhead lot. If you can, please arrange a carpool with friends. Please feel free to post to the Ft. Collins Trail Runners list to find people to carpool with.
Parking passes will be handed out at the park entrance when you arrive.
Bibs must be visible from the front. Please do not remove your pull tag.
Dogs are welcome on leash with family and friends at the start/finish area, but we ask that you not run with your dog on trail during the race.
Please pocket any trash and dispose of it at aid stations or at the start/finish.
Trails are open to the public. Watch for bikers and yield to horses.
We will have a free 1 mile kids race/run beginning at 10:30 from the start/finish area.
We have a great BBQ planned with burgers, veggie burgers, Whole Foods quinoa salad, Great Harvest cinnamon buns, cookies from Mary’s Mountain Cookies, chips, fruit, soda, and beer from Boulder Beer. First beer is free with the BBQ, for additional beers we ask that you make a donation ($4 suggested) to Animal House Rescue, one of the race beneficiaries. Additional meals can also be purchased at the BBQ for family and friends for a $10 donation to Animal House if not already purchased with registration.
Altra Running will be demoing shoes for runners to try out after the race, and we’ll be giving away a pair to our top male and female finishers.
In addition to finisher awards and T-shirts, we will also be giving out unique overall and age group awards to the top three (male and female) in the following categories: overall, under 40, masters (40 – 49), and grandmasters (50+).
We’ll have some other gear and goodies to raffle off during and after the awards.
Whole Foods are giving away $100 in groceries to one lucky Black Squirrel’er after the race. Follow this link to enter:
Massage and PT work will be available after the race courtesy of Kristel Liddle LMT (massage) and Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists.
Thank you to Altra Running, Colorado Physical Specialists, Justin Liddle DMD, The Hunter Team at Cornerstone Home Lending, Smartwool, Altitude Running, Countryside Animal Hospital, Sierra Trading Post, and the Fort Collins Running Club for their support in helping us make this event possible.
Thank you also to all our wonderful product supporters. Please consider supporting these businesses who support our race.
If you have questions that are not answered here or on the website, then please email us at racedirector@gnarrunners.com. We will do our level best to respond in a timely manner.
We sincerely look forward to seeing you all on Saturday morning!
Nick Clark & Pete Stevenson
