Blue Sky Marathon & Half 2024 Pre-Race Information

The 17th running of the Blue Sky Trail Marathon & Half Marathon is just a few days away, and we can’t wait to see you on the starting line.

All information relevant to the event is available from the race website. In addition, we’d like to bring your attention to a few key details.

Packet Pickup

You will have two opportunities to pick up your race packets. If you are able to, we encourage you to pick up your race gear on Friday from 4pm to 7pm at Altitude Running, (2531 S. Shields St) at the intersection of Drake & Shields.

Packets will also be available on race morning at the Blue Sky Trailhead:

  • Marathon: from 5:30am to 6:45am
  • Half Marathon: from 5:30am to 7:30am

Parking

Limited parking is available at the Blue Sky Trailhead by the race start for carpools of two or more *runners* (50 spaces, first come, first serve). Additional parking will be at the Inlet Bay Marina off Shoreline Drive, 3/4 of a mile from the start.

If you are driving solo and parking in the Marina, please give yourself adequate time to get from your car to the start. Race day parking passes will be handed out when you arrive at the Marina.

Runner Drop Off will be available at the pullout on Shoreline Drive by the fire station around the corner from the Blue Sky Trailhead. From the drop-off pullout it is a quarter mile walk to packet pickup and the start. Parking for friends and family is available at the Marina.

**Parking is not allowed anywhere on 38E, along Shoreline Drive, at the Horsetooth Tavern across the street or on any connecting residential street. Please respect the posted speed limit (30 mph) around the trailhead and parking areas.**

We will have a start/finish gear drop area if you want to avoid heading back to your car before the race starts. Bags dropped here will be available as drop bags for those running the marathon when coming back through at mile 9.2, and also as finish gear bags for both races. Bags should be labeled with your name & bib number – we’ll have duct tape and sharpies available. There are no other drop bag locations on course.

Schedule & Aid Station Details

The full race schedule is available here. The marathon will start at 7:00am. The half marathon will start at 7:45a.

For the marathon, there is a 10am cut off at the mile 9.2 Blue Sky aid station. Indian Summer South cut off times are 12:30pm outbound (15.6 miles) and 1:45pm inbound (20.3 miles).

Aid stations will be checking & recording bib numbers. Please make sure your bib is visible from the front. It would also be helpful if you could call out your number as you enter the aid station. Bib numbers are being checked for both aid station split data and runner safety.

This is a cup-less race. We ask that all runners carry a water bottle or hydration pack for refills at the aid stations. We also encourage you to carry a reusable cup for soda fills at aid stations. If you do not have one, we will have them for sale ($5) at packet pickup.

All aid stations will offer Gnarly Nutrition Fuel2O sports drink, Hammer Gels, water and soda plus a variety salty and sweet bites, and a selection of fruit.

Results and Runner Tracking

Results will be available close to real time at OpenSplitTime. If your friends and family would like to receive email or text alerts about your progress please have them do the following once the race link is live:

  1. Visit OpenSplitTime and sign up for an account
  2. Log in
  3. Find your runner and click their name
  4. Locate the box that says “Notify me” and click the email or text button

Bib numbers and the link above will be live from Wednesday afternoon.

Course Marking

The course will be well marked with pink ribbons and pink pin flags. In addition to pink flagging, key turns will be marked with directional arrows. All major intersections will also be staffed with course marshals and/or flour on the ground.

Post-Race

As always, we will be offering a post-race BBQ featuring burgers alongside vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Also look for Mary’s Mountain Cookies and New Belgium beer. If you fancy coffee pre- or post-race we will have it available courtesy of our good friends at the Bean Cycle Roasters.

The BBQ is free to all race participants. If you did not purchase extra tickets for friends and family with your registration, additional meals can be purchased at the BBQ for $10.

PT work will be available after the race courtesy of race sponsors Colorado in Motion.

Weather

The current weather forecast is showing overnight lows (Friday into Saturday) in the low 40s warming up to not much more than the low 50s during the day. There is also a chance of rain in the forecast. Winds are currently forecast to be generally light with the potential for some gusts.

Please come prepared for colder and/or hotter than forecast temperatures. The Blue Sky course is very exposed to the elements.

Trails

The trails are open to the public. Please be courteous to other users. Yield when appropriate, especially to equestrians.

If you have questions that are not answered here or on the website, then please contact us. We will do our level best to respond in a timely manner.

We can’t wait to see you all on Saturday morning!

This entry was posted in Gnews.

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