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Running season is officially here in Northern Colorado, with this weekend's Horsetooth Half Marathon the first of many big road races in Fort Collins this spring and summer.
This year marks the 52nd running of the Horsetooth Half. The popular annual event is owned and operated by the Fort Collins Running Club.
The race is a Colorado favorite, offering scenic views of Horsetooth Reservoir just west of Fort Collins before a finish-line party at New Belgium Brewing.
Here's a quick guide to the 2025 edition:
The race begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 13.
The top runner is typically done within about 70 to 75 minutes. Live music begins at 9:30 a.m., awards will be presented at 11 a.m. and most participants should finish by 11:30 a.m.
Yes, online registration is open through 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 11, at horsetooth-half.com/registration/. The cost through that time is $122 (after fees).
In-person registration will still be available Saturday and even race morning Sunday. You can sign up during packet pickup from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Raintree Athletic Club, 2555 S. Shields St., or at the starting line Sunday from 6:30-7:45 a.m.
Registration is capped at 2,600 participants.
It was a unique year for winners, with a husband-and-wife duo sweeping last year's overall and women's titles.
Kenyan-born David Bett won the 2024 Horsetooth Half in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 7 seconds. Shortly after, Betty Sigei took the women's title with a new women's course record of 1:14:08 as the duo embraced after the finish line.
According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for Sunday morning in the Fort Collins area calls for mostly sunny skies with temperatures starting around 50 degrees at 8 a.m. and steadily rising to about 70 degrees by noon.
However, it is expected to be a breezy day, with winds forecasted above 15 miles per hour on Sunday.
The Horsetooth Half Marathon course is keeping its classic route for 2025.
Per usual, runners will begin along Dixon Canyon Road (Larimer County Road 42C) near the old Hughes Stadium site and quickly climb up along Horsetooth Reservoir and Monster Mountain.
They'll run along Centennial Drive next to Horsetooth Reservoir until Bellvue, where they'll meet the Poudre River Trail that takes them all the way to Linden Street in Fort Collins and the finish line near New Belgium Brewing.
The 13.1-mile course features plenty of uphill running early but is entirely downhill along the Poudre River Trail after runners crest Bingham Hill. Total cumulative elevation change is minus 237 feet.
Vehicle parking is at the Holiday Twin Drive-In off Overland Trail.
Those coming from the north will be required to drive down to Cottonwood Glen and turn around to approach from the south. Plan on arriving from the east via Drake Road and turning north onto Overland Trail Road if you're parking at the drive-in.
Runner drop-off will be on Dixon Canyon Road, by the race start, and is available until just before 8 a.m. There will also be a shuttle bus available after the race for runners to return to their vehicles.
For cyclists: Ride your bike to the start and Recycled Cycles will transport it to the finish for you to ride home. The drop-off location is at the Aggie Greens Disc Golf Parking Lot on Dixon Canyon Drive, a quarter mile east of the race start. Bike retrieval will be on the southeast corner of Linden and Buckingham, just north of the finish line.
Larimer County Road 42C to Centennial Drive will be closed to traffic for the opening 0.75 miles of the race. Runners will have a full lane closure on County Road 23E (Centennial Drive) to the Bingham Hill Road turn (mile 6.5).
Bingham Hill Road will be closed to westbound traffic, giving runners full use of the eastbound lane, from Larimer County Road 23E to Overland Trail.
Linden Street will be closed from Willow Street to Linden Center Drive during the race and for several hours afterward to accommodate post-race activities.
The race is popular with runners, but it's also a fan favorite. The course will also feature live music at several of the traditional viewing stations.
Here are some recommended viewing areas to watch and cheer on your favorite runners:
The party afterward at New Belgium is almost as much of an institution as the race itself.
Race registration includes entry into the party at the finish line at New Belgium Brewery, 500 Linden St., where participants who have the wristband showing they are 21 or older can receive a free beer.
All participants can enjoy post-race food courtesy of local staple Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, plus live music from Last Call Romance.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Horsetooth Half Marathon 2025: What to know for iconic Fort Collins race
Continue reading...
This year marks the 52nd running of the Horsetooth Half. The popular annual event is owned and operated by the Fort Collins Running Club.
The race is a Colorado favorite, offering scenic views of Horsetooth Reservoir just west of Fort Collins before a finish-line party at New Belgium Brewing.
Here's a quick guide to the 2025 edition:
When does the Horsetooth Half Marathon run?
The race begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 13.
The top runner is typically done within about 70 to 75 minutes. Live music begins at 9:30 a.m., awards will be presented at 11 a.m. and most participants should finish by 11:30 a.m.
You must be registered for see images attach
Can I still sign up for the race?
Yes, online registration is open through 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 11, at horsetooth-half.com/registration/. The cost through that time is $122 (after fees).
In-person registration will still be available Saturday and even race morning Sunday. You can sign up during packet pickup from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Raintree Athletic Club, 2555 S. Shields St., or at the starting line Sunday from 6:30-7:45 a.m.
Registration is capped at 2,600 participants.
2024 Horsetooth Half Marathon winners
It was a unique year for winners, with a husband-and-wife duo sweeping last year's overall and women's titles.
Kenyan-born David Bett won the 2024 Horsetooth Half in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 7 seconds. Shortly after, Betty Sigei took the women's title with a new women's course record of 1:14:08 as the duo embraced after the finish line.
You must be registered for see images attach
What's the weather look like for Horsetooth Half?
According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for Sunday morning in the Fort Collins area calls for mostly sunny skies with temperatures starting around 50 degrees at 8 a.m. and steadily rising to about 70 degrees by noon.
However, it is expected to be a breezy day, with winds forecasted above 15 miles per hour on Sunday.
What's the course for the race?
The Horsetooth Half Marathon course is keeping its classic route for 2025.
You must be registered for see images attach
Per usual, runners will begin along Dixon Canyon Road (Larimer County Road 42C) near the old Hughes Stadium site and quickly climb up along Horsetooth Reservoir and Monster Mountain.
They'll run along Centennial Drive next to Horsetooth Reservoir until Bellvue, where they'll meet the Poudre River Trail that takes them all the way to Linden Street in Fort Collins and the finish line near New Belgium Brewing.
The 13.1-mile course features plenty of uphill running early but is entirely downhill along the Poudre River Trail after runners crest Bingham Hill. Total cumulative elevation change is minus 237 feet.
Where can Horsetooth Half runners park?
Vehicle parking is at the Holiday Twin Drive-In off Overland Trail.
Those coming from the north will be required to drive down to Cottonwood Glen and turn around to approach from the south. Plan on arriving from the east via Drake Road and turning north onto Overland Trail Road if you're parking at the drive-in.
Runner drop-off will be on Dixon Canyon Road, by the race start, and is available until just before 8 a.m. There will also be a shuttle bus available after the race for runners to return to their vehicles.
For cyclists: Ride your bike to the start and Recycled Cycles will transport it to the finish for you to ride home. The drop-off location is at the Aggie Greens Disc Golf Parking Lot on Dixon Canyon Drive, a quarter mile east of the race start. Bike retrieval will be on the southeast corner of Linden and Buckingham, just north of the finish line.
Horsetooth Half Marathon traffic impacts
Larimer County Road 42C to Centennial Drive will be closed to traffic for the opening 0.75 miles of the race. Runners will have a full lane closure on County Road 23E (Centennial Drive) to the Bingham Hill Road turn (mile 6.5).
Bingham Hill Road will be closed to westbound traffic, giving runners full use of the eastbound lane, from Larimer County Road 23E to Overland Trail.
Linden Street will be closed from Willow Street to Linden Center Drive during the race and for several hours afterward to accommodate post-race activities.
Top spots for Horsetooth Half spectators
You must be registered for see images attach
The race is popular with runners, but it's also a fan favorite. The course will also feature live music at several of the traditional viewing stations.
Here are some recommended viewing areas to watch and cheer on your favorite runners:
- Top of Monster Mountain (mile 1.8). You can drive, bike or run into the course's high point before the race starts. Parking is at the Rotary Park day use area.
- The turn onto Bingham Hill Road (mile 6.4). This is the final climb on the course. You can drive or bike in from Bellvue on North County Road 23.
- The turn off Bingham Hill Road onto Overland Trail (mile 8.3). It's all downhill from this point, so it's a great spot to see the leaders.
- Lyons Park (mile 8.5). Spectators can park off Overland Trail Road (21C) at the Lyons Park Open Space trailhead where the bike path portion starts for the Poudre Trail finish.
- Taft Hill Road crossing (mile 10.2). This is a popular viewing spot at the trailhead right where the Poudre Trail crosses Taft Hill Road. There's ample parking here, along the street or in the dedicated lot.
- The finish (mile 13.1). The New Belgium finish line along Linden Street is where the race ends and the party begins.
Prepare for finish-line party at New Belgium
The party afterward at New Belgium is almost as much of an institution as the race itself.
Race registration includes entry into the party at the finish line at New Belgium Brewery, 500 Linden St., where participants who have the wristband showing they are 21 or older can receive a free beer.
All participants can enjoy post-race food courtesy of local staple Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, plus live music from Last Call Romance.
You must be registered for see images attach
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Horsetooth Half Marathon 2025: What to know for iconic Fort Collins race
Continue reading...
