The Colorado Marathon staff is happy to announce that the "mid-distance" race has returned to it's previous length of 13.1 miles. Back by popular demand, and with a brand new starting area, the Colorado Half Marathon will begin on race morning at 7am.

The bus drop off and staging area will be at the Green Pipe aid station, at approximately the 12.9 mile mark of the Marathon. Faster than the previous Half Marathon route, the new course will drop 400 feet to the finish in Old Town Fort Collins with only one small hill at the 5 mile mark.

Race Director, Brian Cathcart, is enthusiastic about the change. "We looked very hard at the starting line situation in Gateway Park, and even with the exceptional location the 15 mile distance didn't catch on the way we had hoped. The return to the 13 mile distance will be a very popular change and we believe we can make the new staging area work even better than our previous locations."

Considered one of the best Half Marathons in Colorado, the old course was used in the first 4 years. Now in it's 7th year, the change back to the original distance will place the start approximately one mile further up the Canyon than the original race, but it still follows the last half of the Marathon route.

"The new start will allow for more drop, and a faster course, which should make people very happy," adds Cathcart. "The original course had an out and back section that we've been able to eliminate, so this will be much faster and completely direct to the finish."

Visit the Colorado Marathon NEWS ARCHIVE for top stories from previous race years.