2027 Colorado Marathon - May 2 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Colorado Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Colorado Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027, with the full marathon starting at 6:30 a.m. MDT in the Poudre Canyon. Because the course is point-to-point, all marathon runners must ride the event shuttle buses up the canyon to the start — buses board early (around 4:00-4:45 a.m.) in Old Town Fort Collins, so plan to arrive well before dawn. The half marathon, 10K and 5K run the same morning.

Q: How much elevation does the Colorado Marathon course drop?

The full marathon is a net-downhill point-to-point that loses roughly 1,000 feet (about 305 m) from a start above 6,000 ft at Stevens Gulch to the finish near 5,000 ft in Fort Collins. Total descent is around 1,300 ft, offset by only about 200 ft of climbing. Because the net loss stays under Boston's 1,500-foot limit, your finish time counts toward Boston qualifying with no downhill adjustment. The steepest, fastest descent is in the first 16 miles down the canyon before the course flattens through Laporte.

Q: Is the high altitude a problem for the Colorado Marathon?

The course starts above 6,000 ft and finishes near 5,000 ft, so the air is thinner than at sea level. For most runners the net downhill more than offsets the altitude — the descent lets you run faster than your flatland marathon pace. Endurance efforts at this elevation feel slightly harder on breathing, so arriving a day or two early helps, and the main practical effect is dehydration: the air is very dry, so drink consistently and use the aid stations. Map your splits with our pace calculator.

Q: What is the time limit for the Colorado Marathon?

The official time limit is 6 hours (about a 13:44 per mile pace), which makes the course walker-friendly. There are intermediate cutoffs along the way: you must reach the half-marathon point (13.1 miles) by 3:15, mile 17 by 4:15, and mile 21 by 5:15. Plan your splits with our pace calculator to stay ahead of each checkpoint.

Q: Where does the Colorado Marathon start and finish?

The full marathon starts at Stevens Gulch high in the Poudre Canyon and runs downhill along the Cache la Poudre River through the canyon, then flattens out through Laporte before finishing in Old Town Fort Collins near Old Town Square. Because it is point-to-point, there is no race-morning driving to the start — mandatory shuttle buses carry runners up the canyon, so build the early bus boarding into your race-morning plan.

Q: How do I register for the 2027 Colorado Marathon?

Registration is handled online through RunSignUp and opens July 1, 2026. The full marathon entry is roughly $135 (around $150 with the processing fee), and prices rise as the field fills; the marathon caps its field, after which only a higher-priced charity tier remains. English-language online registration is straightforward for international runners.

Q: What is the weather like for the Colorado Marathon?

Early May in the Poudre Canyon is typically cool and dry — a race-morning low near 38-42°F (3-6°C) at the high-altitude start, warming into the 60s°F (15-18°C) by late morning at the finish. It is excellent fast-running weather, but the canyon start is genuinely cold and the high-altitude sun is strong, so dress in throwaway layers you can shed on the descent and bring sun protection.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Colorado Marathon - May 2
City	Fort Collins
Date	2027-05-02 at 06:30
Field Size	~1,162 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	America/Denver
Official Site	The Colorado Marathon
Registration	Register · 135 USD

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	10.3°C / 51°F
Humidity	49%
Wind	21.4 km/h
Rain Chance	40%
Typical Conditions	Cool, dry, high-altitude early-May morning in the Poudre Canyon — fast PR and BQ conditions

What to Prepare: The 6:30 a.m. start at Stevens Gulch sits above 6,000 ft and starts cold — expect a race-morning low near 38-42°F (3-6°C) climbing into the 60s°F (15-18°C) by midday. Wear throwaway layers and gloves for the chilly canyon start, then shed them as you descend toward Fort Collins. The air is dry and the sun is strong at altitude, so carry sunscreen and a hat.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 21.4 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	4.1°C	10.6°C	16.5°C
Dew point	-6°C	-0.8°C	3.7°C

Wet-day chance: 40% Runnability: 83/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point
Elevation Gain	62m
Terrain	Road (canyon highway and small-town streets along the Cache la Poudre River, paved throughout)
Profile	A fast, net-downhill point-to-point that descends the Cache la Poudre River canyon — Colorado's only federally designated Wild and Scenic river — into Fort Collins. The full marathon starts at Stevens Gulch above 6,000 ft and drops steadily for the first 16 miles alongside the whitewater Poudre, with canyon walls and verdant cottonwood-lined slopes rising on either side, before the course flattens through Laporte and finishes in Old Town Fort Collins near 5,000 ft. The net loss is roughly 1,000 ft (about 305 m) from start to finish — total descent runs near 1,300 ft offset by only about 200 ft of climbing — which keeps it comfortably under Boston's 1,500-foot net-loss limit, so finish times count fully toward Boston qualifying with NO downhill adjustment. That steady canyon descent plus cool, dry, high-altitude air makes the Colorado Marathon one of the most successful Boston qualifiers in the country: about 15.1% of finishers qualified for Boston in 2022 (73rd-highest BQ rate of all U.S. marathons that year); the rate varies with race-day weather, typically in the high single digits to low teens in recent years. USATF-certified (CO 15007DCR).
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Colorado Marathon - May 2

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

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Race Finish Time Calculator & Predictor — Free

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Heart Rate Zone Calculator — 5-Zone Training Guide

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Featured In

Best Marathons for a PR 2026 Easiest Boston Qualifying Marathons 2027 Most Scenic Marathon Courses in the World (2026) Best US Marathons 2026 Fastest Downhill Marathons USA

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Colorado Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2027 Colorado Marathon is on Sunday, May 2, 2027, with the full marathon starting at 6:30 a.m. MDT in the Poudre Canyon. Because the course is point-to-point, all marathon runners must ride the event shuttle buses up the canyon to the start — buses board early (around 4:00-4:45 a.m.) in Old Town Fort Collins, so plan to arrive well before dawn. The half marathon, 10K and 5K run the same morning.

How much elevation does the Colorado Marathon course drop?

The full marathon is a net-downhill point-to-point that loses roughly 1,000 feet (about 305 m) from a start above 6,000 ft at Stevens Gulch to the finish near 5,000 ft in Fort Collins. Total descent is around 1,300 ft, offset by only about 200 ft of climbing. Because the net loss stays under Boston's 1,500-foot limit, your finish time counts toward Boston qualifying with no downhill adjustment. The steepest, fastest descent is in the first 16 miles down the canyon before the course flattens through Laporte.

Is the Colorado Marathon a good Boston qualifier?

Yes — it is one of the most successful Boston qualifiers in the United States. The course is USATF-certified (CO 15007DCR) and a recognized Boston Marathon Qualifier, and its steady canyon downhill plus cool, dry mountain air help runners run fast. About 15.1% of finishers qualified for Boston in 2022 — the 73rd-highest BQ rate of all U.S. marathons that year — though the rate varies with weather and has run in the high single digits to low teens more recently. Check your target with our Boston qualifying calculator.

Is the high altitude a problem for the Colorado Marathon?

The course starts above 6,000 ft and finishes near 5,000 ft, so the air is thinner than at sea level. For most runners the net downhill more than offsets the altitude — the descent lets you run faster than your flatland marathon pace. Endurance efforts at this elevation feel slightly harder on breathing, so arriving a day or two early helps, and the main practical effect is dehydration: the air is very dry, so drink consistently and use the aid stations. Map your splits with our pace calculator.

What is the time limit for the Colorado Marathon?

The official time limit is 6 hours (about a 13:44 per mile pace), which makes the course walker-friendly. There are intermediate cutoffs along the way: you must reach the half-marathon point (13.1 miles) by 3:15, mile 17 by 4:15, and mile 21 by 5:15. Plan your splits with our pace calculator to stay ahead of each checkpoint.

Where does the Colorado Marathon start and finish?

The full marathon starts at Stevens Gulch high in the Poudre Canyon and runs downhill along the Cache la Poudre River through the canyon, then flattens out through Laporte before finishing in Old Town Fort Collins near Old Town Square. Because it is point-to-point, there is no race-morning driving to the start — mandatory shuttle buses carry runners up the canyon, so build the early bus boarding into your race-morning plan.

How do I register for the 2027 Colorado Marathon?

Registration is handled online through RunSignUp and opens July 1, 2026. The full marathon entry is roughly $135 (around $150 with the processing fee), and prices rise as the field fills; the marathon caps its field, after which only a higher-priced charity tier remains. English-language online registration is straightforward for international runners.

What is the weather like for the Colorado Marathon?

Early May in the Poudre Canyon is typically cool and dry — a race-morning low near 38-42°F (3-6°C) at the high-altitude start, warming into the 60s°F (15-18°C) by late morning at the finish. It is excellent fast-running weather, but the canyon start is genuinely cold and the high-altitude sun is strong, so dress in throwaway layers you can shed on the descent and bring sun protection.