Grin & Bear It
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Event
The Grin & Bear It is a trail running and mountain bike event in Crested Butte, Colorado, held on July 11, 2026. The event is organized by Crested Butte Nordic and uses the Crested Butte Nordic Center as the start and finish location in downtown Crested Butte. The event includes running and mountain bike competitions and is presented in multiple distances.
Courses and logistics
- 25 km Loop run and bike course.
- 15 km Out-and-back run.
- Mountain bike route roughly 14.83 miles with just under 4,000 feet of climbing.
The 25 km loop has approximately 2,900 feet of elevation gain and loss, topping out near 10,983 feet and including a high saddle near 10,700 feet. Runners on the 25 km route follow a short spur to Green Lake (about 0.3 miles) for a checkpoint and aid; bikers do not take that spur. The 15 km out-and-back has about 1,600 feet of elevation gain and includes a self-serve water station near the Wildcat Road / Green Lake Trail intersection.
Course aid is limited; volunteers carry and filter water at aid stations. Participants are required to carry a minimum of 16 oz of water. Energy gels are provided at aid stations on the run course. There is a saddle cut-off on the 25 km route for both run and bike entries. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
