Garden of the Gods Ten Mile Run [Course]

Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run^®
June 10, 2012 @ 7 a.m. – Manitou Springs, Colorado
1st leg of the Triple Crown of Running
Garden of the Gods Ten Mile Run

2008 race start: Men and women get a separate lane for the first 1/2 mile

Garden Course—Big Hills, Awesome Rocks, All Challenge!

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The Garden of the Gods Ten Mile Run^® has always had it all—a spectacular setting, a physically demanding course, competition in almost every age-group, excellent runner support, unique awards and great shirts. Simply, this is one of the most beautiful and challenging road race venues anywhere!

And while any run through the Garden is an awesome run, the race course was designed to take you into the heart of what the Garden has to offer, including the most famous rock in the area—the Balanced Rock. After your race you can relax and enjoy the awards ceremony in Manitou Springs Memorial park located next to Fountain Creek which is perfect for soaking your tired feet!

Running on the walk-way system in the Garden of the Gods Ten Mile Run The course is a loop-back through the incredible Garden of the Gods Park which lies between Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. The course elevation ranges from 6,210' up to 6,530' and back down and up and down and over and around all over again. The race is run primarily on asphalt roads, with the exception of a 3/4 mile section run on the breathtaking concrete walk-way system (far wider than a simple sidewalk) that winds its way through the heart of the Garden’s most amazing rock formations. Indeed, the formations are so amazing they bring visitors from around the world!

Clear, dry weather is the norm with temperatures at the start usually is in the low 60’s. Once in the Garden, the temperature can quickly rise into the 70’s and low 80’s due to the large rock formations and lack of shade. There are eight aid stations on the course so you can get water and/or Gatorade at almost every mile. After you finish, the Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy will provide you with a free post-race massage:-) And did you catch that bit about the creek for soaking your feet?

The race is run under a special use permit from the Parks and Recreation Department which means the park is closed to vehicles and cyclists so you can enjoy the magnificent surroundings without concerns for your safety! However, we must be out of the park by 9:30am to allow visitors and their vehicles to again have access to the park. Please train accordingly and plan to complete the race under the 2h30m cut-off. After 9:30am any runners remaining on the course will be “on their own.”

Course Map
A larger version of the course map is also available as a more printer friendly PDF file.

The race start/finish is at the 2nd telephone pole from the southwest corner of Memorial park across from the driveway of 514 El Paso Blvd.