On Sunday I will be running in the Colfax Denver Urban 10 Miler. I chose this race because I could combine it with a visit to see my daughter and because it sounded so unique. Unlike most of my races, I really have no idea what I am getting into!
For this week’s Friday Five link up at Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness I’m sharing five things I don’t know about the Colfax Denver Urban 10 Miler.
What I Do Know About The Urban 10 Miler
First, I’ll share what I do know about the Colfax Denver Urban 10 Miler:
Run the final 10 miles of the Colfax Marathon course! The Urban 10 Miler features an epic Mile High Stadium run-through. Downtown Denver. Confluence and Cherry Creek, 17th Avenue to City Park – and one big after party. Sleep in, because you get a later start time – and it’s a staggered start from Rocky Mountain College of Arts and Design (RMCAD), filtering runners one by one into the ongoing marathon. If you’re looking for a challenge at a shorter distance, this is the race for you.
Basically, runners are fed into the last 10 miles of the marathon course on a streaming basis. I hope the marathoners don’t hate us–and our fresh legs–too much!
What I Don’t Know About The Urban 10 Miler
1.How I will get to the start. We usually rent a car when we visit my daughter, but since we’re staying in downtown Denver, and because the Westin charges $40/night for parking, we’re going to try taking the new train from the airport into the city and let my daughter drive us around. For the NYC Half, I stayed walking distance from the start, but although the Westin is the official race hotel, it’s not that close. Will I take a taxi? An Uber? I still haven’t figured it out!
2. My start time. The Urban 10 Miler has a rolling start spanning from 8:00 to 9:30 am. When I registered they told me I should have an early start time based on my predicted pace, but I don’t know my start window yet–I’ll get that information when I get my bib number.
3. How the elevation will impact my running. One reason I chose the Urban 10 Miler instead of the Half Marathon was concerns over how the elevation will impact my running. While the course itself looks pretty flat, they don’t call Denver the “mile high city” for nothing. I’ve been fine on shorter runs when I visit my daughter, but I’ve never tried to push my pace or run 10 miles–let alone both at the same time!
4. How my husband will find me. The day before the NYC Half, we did some reconnaissance along the race course and finish area to figure out where my husband could watch for me and meet me. I’m not as familiar with Denver as I am with NYC, so we will have to get my daughter to drive us along the course and to City Park so we can get the lay of the land.
5. How I will manage on the flight home. The NYC Half was my first destination race, but this will be my first race that involves a long flight home after the race. I will have to do better about eating right after the race to fend off post-race GI issues, and bring a lacrosse ball to use on the plane.
[Tweet “Questions about the @runcolfax Urban 10 Miler #runchat”]
Since this is a race I truly am running for fun, I’m not stressing over these details, although I hope most of my questions are answered before Sunday!
Have you done any of the Colfax Denver races?
Have you done a race without knowing much about it?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I have done a lot of races without much knowledge of the race itself or the area. For me, I kind of like the unknown because then I don’t have the pressure of “expectations” to cloud my enjoyment. Good luck!!!
I’m looking forward to no expectations, but still wish I had a better handle on the logistics!
Yay, 2 destination races in one year!
I didn’t know you had a daughter. This will be a great trip!
Yep! She’s 26, and has been in CO since college. It’s been a great visit already. 🙂
I would be worried mostly about the altitude! But be sure to pack compression socks for the flight home. Have fun and show those Denver folks who’s the boss!
yes, one pair for racing and one for the flight home!
I’ve done many races without knowing much about them! I find those that you travel to the most stressful but always end up being so easy to navigate once you get there. All the best!
Ugh, this one is not going to be easy to navigate, but I’m trying not to stress over it. TG for Uber.
I’ve done a few races without knowing the race course – sometimes it’s nice to have a “surprise” but other times, not so much, lol. Destination races are fun but like you, I also worry about travel. I think that your plan for the airplane sounds good. Maybe also wear a pair of compression socks on the flight to help with circulation too!
Yes, I have compression socks and a lacrosse ball ready for the flight home!
What fun! I generally know little about a race…I just sign up and go! How nice that your husband and daughter will be there to cheer you on!
I have not done any of the Colfax Denver races but the 10 miler sounds interesting – you are fed into the marathon course, while there are still runners out… that’s different! I’ve never heard of a race like that! I’m a Type-A, I need to know all of the things and usually spend months planning out things ahead of time. It takes a little bit of stress out of the race morning for me.
The uniqueness intrigued me. We’ll see how it goes!
My BRF lives in this area and I’ve raced there a few times but not this particular one. I think you’ll enjoy the area. I definitely felt a little winded running in Denver at 6,000 ft but it was nothing compared to races I’ve done at 8,500 and Leadville at 10,000ft. Remember to hydrate really well (more than usual) and drink more during the race too.
Thanks for the reminder on hydrating – I’ve made an extra effort all weekend!
Are you flying in today? You just missed a major spring snow storm yesterday. It should be all melted by Sunday.
Flew in Friday! Thank goodness Denver’s not snowy anymore!
It looks like you have everything planned out for your race! I love running races for fun and not setting a time goal. I usually surprise myself. I hope you have a great race and enjoy it!
Thanks! No time goal for sure for this one – too many unknowns!
Oh man… all this uncertainty is making me nervous. !!!
But I’m sure you’re going to figure it out and be just fine. 🙂
Sounds like good training in being adaptable and figuring things out on the fly. Have a good run! I’m in downtown Denver right now. I hope it warms up before you get here, it’s been snowing the last couple of days! Good thing I brought a fuzzy fleece for the plane!
Oh, wow, we got in Friday too! It has gotten a bit warmer since then, luckily!
I am sure you will have all the answers soon! Have fun! I am anxious to hear what you thought about the elevation. I am a few weeks out to Utah! Enjoy !
I like the idea of a rolling start time actually. Isn’t it snowing in Denver?
It was snowing! Luckily it warmed up *a bit*.
That sounds really neat! I haven’t heard of this race, but I love the sound of it, at least based on what you know.
I am pretty obsessive about researching races. I will sometimes register without knowing much, but once I am signed up, I will do plenty of research to make sure I am as familiar as I can be with the event. Sometimes, I think it’s good to be surprised, though.
Best of luck to you!
Looks like you got some good advice here already so I will just wish you well and say that I hope you have a wonderful time in Denver!
Thanks! It’s already been a good time with my daughter!
Hey, Coco, good luck in your race today! I just replied to your comment on my blog, but wanted to make sure you saw it. Destination Races does have a Wine Country Half in Loudoun County, VA, which I think is about an hour outside of DC. If you are interested, here is the website: http://destinationraces.com/runvirginia/ The race is June 3 this year, so that may be too soon unless you don’t mind a little last-minute planning! You can use my promo code DRAMBJUR for $10 off, so share it with your local running community!
Looks like it’s gonna be a great race. I don’t have a lot of experience with destination aces, but I have run
Virginia Beach and then drove 8 hours home, it fun.
I hope that despite all of the unknowns that the race went well for you. Can’t wait to read the recap!
So fun that you get to to combine the visit with a race.