A fun, new, winter half-marathon conveniently located on the west side of the Denver Metro Area in Arvada, Colorado. The course covers a scenic mix of road and bike path over rolling terrain, and a separate early start time for those who expect to take more than 2.5 hours to complete the course!
Your entry includes a Ralston Creek technical running shirt, finisher's medal for all finishers, great post-race food, participant goody bag, entry into the post-race drawing for some cool sponsor gear, and for those up front, a shot at some of the $1,000 prize purse!!! We hope to see you on February 12th.
COURSE:The Ralston Creek Half Marathon course follows a mix of roads and bike paths on the west side of Arvada. The opening 5 miles are fairly flat, with a barely noticeable gradual gain in elevation. Miles 5 through 6.5 are rolling, with one good climb leading to the high-point of the course atop Ralston Mesa at 7.75 miles. From there, the course is almost all downhill and flat to the finish, with the exception of a small bump around mile 8 and a very gradual uphill in the last half-mile. Click Here for a Course Map
Aid stations are located approximately every two miles throughout the course (approximate locations are: 2.25, 4.25, 5.75, 7.25, 9.5, 11.5) All aid stations will have both water and HEED energy drink. Hammer Gel will be available at miles 4.25 and 9.5.
RACE SCHEDULE
The Ralston Creek Half Marathon will offer a two wave start. Wave-1 will start at 9:00am for runners who plan to take longer than 2.5 hours to complete the course. Wave-2 will start at 9:45am for runners who plan to take less than 2.5 hours to complete the course. This start procedure is designed to improve the finish line and post-race experience for the slower runners. The 45 minute gap in start times will allow the wave-1 runners time to spread out on the course before the faster runners begin. Please be aware: runners starting in wave-1 who finish the race faster than 2:15 will be removed from the results and will not be eligible for awards.
7:30 a.m. - Packet Pick-Up Opens
9:00 a.m. - Wave-1 Start (athletes expecting to take more than 2.5 hours)
9:45 a.m. - Wave-2 Start (athletes expecting to take less than 2.5 hours)
Noon - Awards Presentation*
*Awards time may be moved a bit depending on weather and number of athletes still on course
INFORMATION: Most questions are answered right here on the race website. If you have a question that isn't answered here, call Darrin or Jill at 303-642-7917, or shoot us an email at darrin@racingunderground.com
REGISTRATION
Entry is limited to the first 500 registrations. Once the race has filled, we cannot accept any additional entries.
Your entry fee includes entry into the race, a Ralston Creek Half Marathon technical shirt in men's and women's sizing, a finisher's medal (for those who complete the course), fun music, a racer goody bag, hot cocoa and tasty post-race food, entry into our sponsor merchandise drawing, and if you are one of the speedy guys or gals up front, you may take home a bit of cash!!!
Registration is now CLOSED. The race has SOLD OUT.
ENTRY FEES:
Early Bird Special - $45 through November 15
$50 November 16 through January 31
$60 February 1 - February 11
Race Day Registration Will Not Be Available
Participants may withdraw from the race and receive a partial refund (entry fee minus $10) until 30 days before the event, or until the event has sold out - whichever comes first. No refunds will be issued fewer than 30 days before the event, or after the race has sold out. Refund requests must be made in writing or by email. Bib numbers cannot be transferred to another runner. The race will be held, regardless of weather conditions. We reserve the right to alter or shorten the course in the case of extreme weather. No refunds will be issued if the race is shortened or cancelled due to weather.
PACKET PICK-UP & DIRECTIONS
PACKET PICK-UP: All packets will be picked up on race morning - this includes your bib number, timing chip, goody bag, and race shirt. Packet pick-up will open at 7:30am immediately adjacent to the start & finish line. You must wear your timing chip in order to receive a finish time and place. All timing chips must be returned at the finish line. If you decide not to finish, please stop by the finish line and turn your chip in at the exit to the finisher corral.
DIRECTIONS: The Ralston Creek Half-Marathon is conveniently located on the Arvada's west side. From Highway 93 (between Golden and Boulder), turn east on the 64th Ave Parkway. Drive east on 64th for approximately 3.5 miles. As you pass the Arvada West shopping center (on your left) you will turn left onto Gardenia. Take Gardenia 2 blocks to W. 65th Way. The race staging area will be to your right.
***For directions from your house, just click the "View Larger Map" link below the map to the right. Click "Directions" on the left side of the larger map page, and you can enter your home address for turn-by-turn directions.
We'll have plenty of hot cocoa and tasty post-race food at the finish line to warm you up and fill your belly, including breakfast burritos from El Senor Sol Mexican restaurant! And hopefully you'll also be one of the lucky participants who walks away with some sponsor schwag in our post race drawing!!!
RESULTS: Race results will be posted on this website on the afternoon of the race. Participants must wear their timing chip and cross the timing mat at both the start and finish lines in order to receive an official time. Runners who start in Wave-1 will be removed from the results and will not be eligible for awards if they run faster than 2 hours 15 minutes. All timing chips must be returned at the finish line to avoid a lost chip charge. Results will only be edited (for mispelled names, etc.) for two weeks following the event.
AWARDS: The top-3 male and female finishers will take home cash awards in the amount of $250, $150, and $100. The top-3 finishers in each age group will also win an award. Cash winners will be excluded from age group awards.
