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May 4, 2024

Colfax Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Colfax Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.6

Organization 3.7

Spectators 3.3

Number of comments: 87 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]

J. K. from Boulder, CO (5/20/2013) "Meh" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Colfax Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Packet pickup was horrible (on third floor of stadium, elevator access only? Really?). Expo seemed totally geared to vendors, and giving them a captive audience in a tiny space. Maybe nice for people who like that sort of thing, but I much prefer picking up my packet at my local running store. Or somewhere I can walk in and out of. No interesting swag to speak of...every half and 10K I've done has been better. Got there at 4:50AM (for 6AM start), no problems with parking, easy walk to start. The course itself was reasonably nice, especially the run around Sloane's Lake. After 20+ years in Denver, first time I've been to the stadium (not counting the expo)...you can tell I'm a sports nut. Could have done without the bit at the far end of East Colfax, since it was the anti-scenic. Aid stations seemed sparse the last four miles, i.e., when I really needed them. The medal was laughably hideous. Might give a running gangsta some sort of street cred, but a mirror-finish massive 26.2? Really? Post race food, to be frank, sucked. The 'BBQ' lunch was dry and tasteless. Lukewarm water, Pepsi, dry bagels, and bananas. In the future, I'll bring a cooler with my own post race re-fueling. I'm pretty torn on whether I'll do this race again...my thinking is that, if I only do two marathons a year, there are probably much better choices.
D. M. from Fort Collins, CO (5/19/2013) "overall good - some disappointments" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Colfax Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 +'s Nice course Neat medal Perfect weather (this time) Friendly aid stations* -'s I paid $130 and: Only 1 water stop for first 7.5 miles? (At stop #2 there were tables, cups, *friendly volunteers . . . but NO water or gatorade?) Poorly made t-shirt (fabric kind of bunches-up around seams - for this price, pls go with a good, reputable mfg) Only a bagel at the end (evidence there were bananas earlier) Personal comment - I believe they over-reacted with police support. There were scores of police on bikes in areas where there were essentially no spectators and a thin stream of runners. Most of the bike police just seemed to be visiting with each other.
J. B. from Denver, CO (1/21/2013) "Big City Race with a Small Town Feel" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Colfax Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What an awesome experience. This race is well executed and all details were handled. If you're looking to run a big city, lots of glitz, followed by a ticker tape parade kind of event then this is not your scene. If you're looking to rub elbows with down to Earth runners and get a terrific finishing time in the Mile High City, hurry and register for the Colorado Colfax Marathon.
A. H. from Denver, CO (1/21/2013) "This marathon has improved greatly" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Colfax Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 II have participated in this marathon since the first year. After 6 years, they have worked out most of the problems and put on a much improved event. The course has a few hills to climb but they are not more than a block or 2 long. The run through a fire station with the firemen cheering and through the NFL stadium (twice) add to the fun. The pacers provided by the organizers stayed on pace and the race showed off the diversity of the city. I would have liked more spectators but this is not a major marathon and the spectators were mostly family and friends of the runners. I am looking forward to running this course again in 2013 as the race continues to mature.
G. G. from Kansas City, MO (5/29/2012) "Buy your finisher shirts and bring your own GU" (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Colfax Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I signed up for the Marathon late as I had been nursing an injury and wasn't sure I'd be able to make the run. Hence, I paid the full price of $120. $120 bucks to get on the course and I then have to shell out another 25 for a finisher shirt? Sure it's customized with my bib #, but can't it be an option for those who want to buy one? The website also advertised GU miles 10 and 20. I saw no such GU. I don't depend solely on them to provide it but when it's advertised shouldn't it be there? There were some very vocal spectators and I enjoyed them. But for the most part, however, the spectators and staff posted along the route were busier speaking to each other than actually observing the racers. I've also run the Waddell Marathon in Kansas City and the spectators and staff were vocal, encouraging and terribly fun. Just my observation. Nonetheless, the weather was beautiful, I did enjoy the run and will be back.
J. E. from Kansas City (5/22/2012) "Colfax 2012" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Colfax Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I enjoyed the race this weekend - I had heard the struggles from years past so happy that there have been improvements. Aide stations need to be consistently placed along the course - there were long stretches with no water and then water stations bunched too close together. Inconsistency was bothersome towards the end. Also, when are the chip times going to be posted. So far, I'm only seeing gun times.
A. P. from Peoria, AZ (5/21/2012) "Excellent organization, course had lots to see" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Colfax Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 1st full marathon so I only have this one race to grade. Expo was very organized with fantastic event staff. Felt a bit cramped though with what seemed like a lack of space. Packet pick-up was easy. Volunteer staff and race organizers were a major highlight. Very well organized IMO. As for the course, scenery continuously changed throughout the course. Loved the Broncos stadium and fire house run through. Everything from canal to lake to quaint neighborhoods kept it fun. The hill at mile 23-24 was a cruel joke (had to smile at that one!). The starting point at the 10-miler started to cramp available space on way back in but cleared up before mile 20. Beer tent area was crowded and slow, BBQ area was very wide open. Biggest issue would be the lack of parking and congestion before the race and getting out. Overall I loved this event and am looking forward to marathon #2.
T. P. from Minneapolis, MN USA (5/21/2012) "Well-Organized Race Showcasing Denver Warts & All" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Colfax Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Colfax 2012 provided a very good medium-sized marathon experience. Course has changed every year, so unsure if critique will soon be dated. Nice combination of city, creek/lake/park paths, and neighborhoods; highlight of twice through NFL team's stadium. While not flat, upgrades were front-loaded and a gentle decline from mi 15-21 can yield a negative split if run smartly. A cruel uphill between mi 23-24. Big mile/half-marathon markers on ground, but not all mile points had upright signs. Only parts of the course were shady sun/heat can be tough on 4+ hr finishers. Race web site informative, and expo at the NFL stadium provided lots of room and a handful of vendors. Did a good job of being appealing to the spectrum of runners (local charity fundraising options, start corrals, bonus for course record). OK post-race food/drink at the finish, but beer and BBQ available beyond it (which didn't appeal to me at 10 a.m.). Racers and staff friendly. Spectators were moderately thick, but too many were mute except for 'their' runner. Marathon relay and half-marathon start concurrently, but latter splits off after first mile. 10-mile race joins course at 13, then 17-finish... might be crowded in future if all races grow and share same course, particularly the narrower-path course sections.
T. S. from Boulder, CO (5/21/2012) "Now in it's 7th year, Colfax has hit it's stride" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Colfax Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Just ran Colfax Marathon for the 4th time yesterday. The course both last year and this year was great. This year it was extra special as we got to run through Sports Authority Field at Mile High - very cool. The organizers have really worked out the kinks in this race and it has become a great race. I ran the first ever back in 2006 when it was pretty much 26 miles on Colfax, uphill from Aurora to Golden - I swore I'd never run this race again after that...and I didn't until 2010 when I'd heard the course had changed. Since then they've modified the course slightly each year, I believe trying to find the best course possible, which for 2012, I believe they did. One thing I have to say is that I think this race has the BEST volunteers ever. They are out there at the crack of dawn preparing for a 6am start time. They stay all day. They greet the runners with a smile, even when we're too tired to smile back. They've never run out of water. Really, the volunteers in past years and of most forefront in my mind, this year, have been tremendous. Thank you volunteers! You make it all possible!!
J. A. from Denver, Colorado (5/18/2011) "For a first timer awesome experience" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Colfax Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I had a blast the weather was freezing at the start only 38 degrees but made for a nice cool run. Rain was intermittent and somewhat refreshing but I think that a lot of the spectators stayed home because of it. The ones that did make it out definitely made their presence known. There was a new course record set. As a first time marathoner I didnt know what to expect so any support given was great. I especially liked both times I crossed through the relay station at INVESCO field that they called out my name and bib number that gave me a huge boost. I will be doing it again next year. My only complaint is they did not have enough GU stations other than that traffic control was excellent. Expo was lacking vendors but still had a good time.

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