Dear Colorado 24, 12 & 6 Hour Runners –
We are looking forward to hosting you at the second running of the Colorado 24 Hour Run this Saturday, Nov 1 beginning at 8:00a.
Before we send you on your loopy way, we’d like to draw your attention to some important details for race weekend.
Packet Pickup
Packet pickup for this event is onsite only on race morning. Packets will be available from the timing tent near the start/finish pavilion from 6:30am on the Colorado Youth Outdoors Campus.
Weather
The current forecast for the weekend is showing race-start temps below freezing, warming up to the high-50s during the day and then dropping back down into the high-30s overnight. At this time there is no precipitation or significant wind in the forecast.
Please come prepared with the appropriate layering options.
Race Start & Schedule
The Colorado Youth Outdoors entrance gate will be open to runner traffic beginning at 6:30am on Saturday morning. The course will open at 8:00am with the mass start of all distances.
Please note that we have a time change occurring overnight, Saturday into Sunday. All race clocks will stay on Race Time (aka DST) until the conclusion of the event. So when the race clock reads 24:00, your watch/phone will read 7:00a.
Overall & Age Group Awards for all distances will be held shortly after the completion of each event. All participants will also receive a finisher award. Those in the individual 24hr event completing more than 100 miles will also receive a belt buckle. If you are leaving prior to the end of your event, you may pick up your award at the timing tent.
The full weekend schedule is available here.
Bib Numbers
The race will be chip timed, with chips affixed to your bib. Please leave these attached and be sure that your bib is visible from the front at all times. For relay teams, multiple team members may be on the track at a time, but the team will have one bib and only laps for the bib holder will count toward the team’s total.
Bib numbers can be checked here. We will have live tracking for all participants via RunSignup. Please use the tracking link to also sign up for runner notifications.
Course & Race Details
The race will take place on an interior loop of the Colorado Youth Outdoors property. The course loops a nature pond on a hard-packed dirt road on a route that has been U.S.A.T.F. certifiedat 1.0002 miles with an elevation variation of two feet.
For runners competing in the 12 and 24 hour races, please note that we will be changing directions every six hours. You must complete the lap you are on before changing direction.
During the race, you are permitted to leave the course at any point, but you must return at exactly the same point that you leave. Also, if you leave the course and a directional change takes place while you are off course, you must finish your partial loop in the same direction you were originally traveling before reversing.
Runners must cross the lap timing mat ONLY upon the completion of a full loop.
Also note that unregistered runners are not allowed on course for extended periods. Crew can join for a lap or two to check out the course, but we do not allow dedicated pacers.
The course will not be lit, so runners running through the night will need to bring personal headlamps.
Full race rules are available here.
Additional course details are available here.
Parking & Crew Setup
Parking will be available in a grass lot a few hundred yards from the race start/finish.
Parking is also allowed at Richardson Hall, but unless you’re planning to park at the lodge for the duration, we strongly recommend to park at the main lots and walk to/from the lodge to cut down on vehicle traffic & dust.
There will be a crew/personal aid area adjacent to the main race aid station by the start/finish. Crews and runners are welcome to set up tents in this area with a footprint of approximately 10’x10′.
New in 2025 – if you wish to unload gear next to the crew area, you may do so with the following stipulations:
- You must enter and drive most of the way around the loop in the one-way vehicle travel direction to arrive by the crew area
- 2. Be ready to unload quickly and move your vehicle as soon as possible. Unload, then park,then setup.
- 3. All vehicles must be out of the unloading area by 7:15a
You can carry gear from the parking area to the crew area at any time after 7:15.
There will NOT be parking immediately parallel to the loop. Runners may visit their vehicles mid-loop, but CANNOT set up a personal aid station in the parking lot and MUST return to the loop at the same point they left it before continuing forward.
Colorado Youth Outdoors has asked us to highlight these site-specific rules for you and your crews:
- Dogs are not allowed on Colorado Youth Outdoors campus (not even as spectators – sorry).
- Fishing or other play in the campus ponds is not allowed.
- STRICT 15 MPH speed limit on the Colorado Youth Outdoors campus. The campus is open for race traffic only.
Driving Directions
4927 County Rd 36, Fort Collins, Colorado 80528
Aid Station
There will be one aid station on course at the start/finish pavilion, available every one mile lap. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options will be available constantly. We will have a broad range of hot and cold options in addition to Gnarly Nutrition sports drink and Naak gels.
- 8a-Noon – Regular Aid fare (candy, cookies, chips, fruit, soda, etc)
- Noon-4p – Burgers & Veggie Burgers
- 4-8p – Domino’s Pizza
- 8p-Midnight – Spaghetti & Meatballs
- Midnight-4a – Soup & Grilled Cheese
- 4-8a – Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs
Hot drinks will be available at all times. Ramen, mashed potatoes/gravy, and quesadillas will be available from noon onward. Special requests are welcome but will require a lap or two to accommodate.
The aid station is also where you can enjoy a meal & drink when you finish.
Toilets & Indoor Access
We will have four portos at the start/finish and a fifth available at the halfway point on the loop. Indoor toilets will also be available at Richardson Hall.
The CYO campus lodge (Richardson Hall) will be open for those who need a respite in a heated, indoor space during the event. Located approximately 0.2mi off the course loop at the southwest corner of the campus (opposite end of the start/finish/aid), it will have space available for crews & runners. Parking in its lot and crewing in and around the building is allowed. You’re even welcome to nap inside, though we make no promises about quiet.
Unless you’re planning to park at the lodge for the duration, we strongly recommend that crew should plan on parking at the main lots and walking to/from the lodge to cut down on vehicle traffic & dust.
Fundraising
We thank everyone who has helped fundraise for Colorado Youth Outdoors as part of their race lead up.
Colorado Youth Outdoors is a nonprofit that grows relationships through teaching archery, survival skills, spin & fly fishing, fly tying and shooting sports to teens and their adults. If you would like to donate or ask friends/family to sponsor your run, you can do so here.
Gnar Runners will be donating $0.05 for every lap completed by every runner – so get your booty moving!
If you have any questions that are not covered here or on the race website, please contact us.
Thanks, and once again, we look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.
Nick Clark & Brad Bishop
Gnar Runners