Blue Sky Trail Marathon
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Blue Sky Marathon & Half
The Blue Sky Marathon and Half Marathon take place in mid-October 2026. The marathon is held on October 17 and the half marathon on October 18. The events are trail races that explore the easternmost hogbacks of the Northern Colorado Front Range mountains, on trails between Horsetooth Mountain Park and Devil’s Backbone Open Space near Fort Collins.
The courses offer a variety of terrain, with a moderate amount of elevation gain and loss. The majority of the running is on dirt singletrack. The marathon is 26.7 miles with 3,500 feet of elevation gain, while the half marathon is 13.4 miles with 1,800 feet of gain. Elevations range from approximately 5,300 to 6,500 feet. The course is 100% on dirt, with 90% of it on singletrack. A small portion is on dirt road and gravel trail.
There is a participant cap of 400 runners for each distance. The marathon has a total time allowance of 9 hours, and the half marathon has a 6-hour allowance. The races have generous cut-offs and are designed to accommodate a range of participants, from experienced trail runners to those trying trail racing for the first time.
Aid stations provide sports drink, gels, water, soda, fruit, and salty and sweet snacks. There are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Runners receive a gender-specific race t-shirt, a finisher award, and a post-race meal. Overall and age group awards are given. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
