Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
Race Date: Sunday february 15, 2026
Arvada, Colorado
The Ralston Creek races feature a fun winter half-marathon and 5K run conveniently located on the west side of the Denver Metro Area in Arvada, Colorado. The courses covers a scenic mix of road and bike path over rolling terrain, and an optional early start time for half-marathon runners who expect to take more than 2.5 hours to complete the course!
The race also serves as the third event in our three-race Winter Running Series which takes place in three communities just a short drive west of Denver!!!
course description
HALF-MARATHON 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 9 and a very gradual uphill in the last half-mile. Click Here for a
Half Marathon Course Map
Half-Marathon aid stations are located approximately every two miles throughout the course (approximate locations are: 2.25, 4.25, 6.5, 9.5, 11.5) All aid stations will have both water and Hammer HEED sports drink (Hammer HEED is a "healthier", subtle-flavored alternative. They use a more stable energy supply than most. It has complex carbohydrates (a hallmark of Hammer), a balanced electrolyte profile, and essential nutrients to balance blood sugar, buffer lactic acid, and ensure long-lasting energy.). Various flavors of Hammer Gel will be available at miles 4.25 and 9.5.
5K COURSE: The Ralston Creek 5K Run course follows a mix of roads and bike paths on the west side of Arvada. The route starts with a slight downhill in the opening mile, a flat second mile, and a very gradual uphill in the final mile. A single aid station will be located at approximately halfway into the 5K run. Click Here for a 5K Course Map
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7:30 a.m. - Packet Pick-Up Opens
9:00 a.m. - Wave-1 Start (half-marathon runners expecting to be on the course longer than 2 hours 45 minutes)
9:45 a.m. - Wave-2 Start (half-marathon runners expecting to take less than 2 hours 45 minutes)
10:00 a.m. - Wave-3 Start (all 5K runners)
10:45 a.m. - 5K Awards Presentation*
11:30 - Half-Marathon Top-3 Overall Awards Presentation*
1:30pm - Finish Line Cutoff
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PACKET PICK-UP: We will be offering two packet pick-up options
EARLY PACKET PICKUP will be held at Runners Roost Lakewood on Friday February 13th from noon until 6:30pm. Runners Roost will have some great deals during packet pickup, so come ready to shop!!! Friends or family members will be allowed to pick up for you at early packet pickup as long as they have a signed note from you allowing them to pick it up on your behalf.
RACE MORNING PACKET PICKUP: You may also pick up your packet on race morning immediately adjacent to the finish line beginning at 7:30am. Race morning packet pickup will remain open until 9:45am.
Your packet will include your official Ralston Creek bib number with timing chip attached and a race shirt.
Your timing chip will be attached to the back of your bib number. You must wear your bib number VISIBLY on the FRONT in order to receive a finish time and place. If your bib number is under your clothing you may not receive a finish time. Also, please DO NOT FOLD OR CRUMPLE YOUR BIB NUMBER. If the attached timing chip is damaged, it will not work.
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race schedule
The Ralston Creek races have three start waves. Waves 1 & 2 are for the half marathon runners. Wave 3 is for 5k runners.
Start Procedure & Cutoff Times: Racing Underground utilizes a 2-wave start procedure for its half marathon distance events - the 'Official' start time, and an optional 'Early' start time for athletes who will take more than 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the course.
The Official start time for the Ralston Creek Half Marathon is 9:45am. The optional Early Start time is 9:00am. All runners and walkers must complete the course by 1:30pm. This means early starters have 4 hours 30 minutes to complete the course, and 9:45am starters have 3:45 to finish. All official finishers, regardless of wave, will be listed in the official results and will receive a finisher medal.
Why do we do this? There are two reasons why we use this two wave start procedure. First, the early start allows our slower runners to enjoy a better finish line experience, with more spectators on hand to cheer them in. The second reason is for course logistics.
There are no requirements to enter the official 9:45am start, except that you must finish faster than 3 hours 45 minutes. If you are a 3:30 half marathon runner and you would like to start in the 9:45am wave, then you are welcome to start in the 9:45am wave.
Though the 9:00am Early Start is for runners who will take longer than 2 hours and 45 minutes, we allow a 15 minute buffer in case you are having a great day! If you finish faster than 2 hours 30 minutes, however, you will be disqualified and will not appear in the results or receive a finisher medal. If there is even a small chance you will run faster than 2:30, then you should start in the 9:45am wave. Early starters who run faster than 2:30 will be disqualified.
A 2:30 half marathon time is roughly an 11-minute and 30 seconds per mile pace.
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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. Parking will be to your left.
***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.
PARKING: Follow the directions above. Parking for the race will be in designated lots as well as on side streets and also in the shopping center lot just a few minute walk south an west of the start/finish line. The lot that we have used in previous years has been leased by a large church that has moved into the area, and we no longer have access to that lot. Please do not park in business lots that have been coned-off. We do not have permission to use these lots.
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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 quesadillas and Jill's famous home baked banana chocolate chip bread!
The party will continue at the nearby Colorado Tap House located on Ralston Creek trail at 14982 W.69th Ave where you can show your race bib any time on race day and receive a BOGO (Buy One Get One) deal on any beverage with the discount applied to the less value item purchased at the same time. With 30 taps there are plenty of beer options, but also cider, seltzer, wine and cocktails. They serve coffee drinks, kombucha, CBD Cider, N/A Beer, Root Beer and soft drinks. They serve small food items and the food truck of the day rolls up at noon!
AWARDS
5k Overall Awards will be based on GUN TIME. An awards presentation for our top overall 5k finishers will take place at 10:45am.
5k Age-Group Awards will be based on NET TIME. They will be presented immediately following the presentation of awards to our top overall finishers.
Half Marathon Overall Awards will be based on GUN TIME. An awards presentation for our top overall Half Marathon finishers will take place at 11:30am.
Half-Marathon Age-Group Awards will be based on NET TIME. Following the presentation of awards to our top overall finishers, age group awards winners may stop by the awards tent to pick up their awards as category awards have been confirmed. The awards tent will receive updated awards lists throughout the morning.
AWARDS: The top-3 male and female finishers in the half-marathon and 5K will be determined by gun-time. Overall winners will be determined by gun time (first three across the finish line are our top-3) and will excluded from age group awards.
Age Group Awards will be presented to the top-3 finishers in each age group in both the 5k and the half marathon. Age group placing is determined by net time (each runners time starts when they cross the start mat and ends with they cross the finish mat).
5k Age Groups are 12 & under, 13-19, then 5-year age groups from 20-24 through 85-89, and 90+.
Half Marathon Age Groups are 19 & under, then 5-year age groups from 20-24 through 85-89, and 90+. We have also added a non-binary award category to the 5k and half marathon.
The top-3 overall non-binary finishers in each distance will take home an award.
*** The scheduled time for the awards presentation may be moved a bit depending on weather and number of athletes still on course
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RESULTS: Race results will be posted on this website live during the race. Participants must wear their bib and timing chip visibly on the front and cross the timing mat at both the start and finish lines in order to receive an official time. Runners who start in the early start wave will be removed from the results and will not be eligible for awards or finisher medals if they run faster than 2 hours 30 minutes. Results will only be edited (for misspelled names, etc.) for two weeks following the event.
2025 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2024 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2023 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2022 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2020 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2019 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2018 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2017 Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5k
2016 Ralston Creek Half-Marathon & 5k
ENTRY FEES
Your entry fees include a Ralston Creek shirt in gender specific sizing, finisher medals for all half marathon finishers, free race photo downloads, live online results, quesadillas fresh off the griddle!, and of course, Jill’s world famous home-baked banana chocolate chip bread!!!
ENTRY FEES: Ralston Creek 5k or Half
Registration site will show total price including online processing fees
5K Run
$30 through Sep. 15th
$35 from Sep.. 16 - Dec. 31
$40 from Jan. 1 - Feb. 5
$45 from Feb. 6 - Feb. 14
Youth age 12 & under pay just $25 pre-reg. for the 5K
RACE DAY REGISTRATION: $50
Half Marathon
$65 through September 15
$70 from Sep. 16 - Oct. 31
$75 from Nov. 1 - Dec. 31
$80 from Jan. 1 - Feb. 5
$90 from Feb. 6 - Feb. 14
RACE DAY REGISTRATION: $100
Refund and Cancellation Policy: We will make all efforts to hold the race, regardless of weather conditions, however we reserve the right to alter or shorten the course, or cancel the event in the case of extreme weather. We also acknowledge that changes in COVID (or some other public health emergency) restrictions may force the cancellation of the event. You may cancel your entry and receive a 75% credit (excluding online processing fees) until 30 days before the race. Credit will be good through 2027. Refunds or deferrals will not be issued for any reason. Entries can be transferred to a friend until 15 days before the race. No transfers of entry will be allowed fewer than 15 days before the race. If the race is cancelled, all in-person entrants will be moved into the virtual category for their distance and will receive a $10 credit which they may use for any Racing Underground owned event through 2027.