Horsetooth Half Marathon

Horsetooth Half Marathon Enjoy the beauty of Fort Collins at this iconic and challenging half marathon on the shores of Horsetooth Reservoir, finishing at New Belgium Brewery.

04/22/2026

Still riding that race day high!

SHOUT OUT to everyone that brought the clever signs to the course sidelines 😎

04/21/2026

Fort Collins native and former CSU runner Rachael Rudel shattered the Horsetooth Half Marathon women's course record to lead the 2026 edition.

Backstage Flash with the Horsetooth Half vibes...
04/20/2026

Backstage Flash with the Horsetooth Half vibes...

It was a fast, fast day out there on the Horsetooth Half course today. Fort Collins HS and CSU alum Rachael Rudel of Fro...
04/20/2026

It was a fast, fast day out there on the Horsetooth Half course today. Fort Collins HS and CSU alum Rachael Rudel of Front Range Elite brought home a massive new COURSE RECORD (1:12:30) in the women's race. On the men's side, Loveland's Braden Nicholson (1:06:32) ran the fourth fastest time ever.

Let's hear it for our 2026 champions!!

Full 2026 results here: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/80252 -642491;perpage:100

2026 Elite Men’s Field Preview:This 53rd annual Horsetooth Half Marathon men’s elite field brings a lot of depth and tal...
04/17/2026

2026 Elite Men’s Field Preview:

This 53rd annual Horsetooth Half Marathon men’s elite field brings a lot of depth and talent, making for what should be an exciting race for the podium. We will see a number of former champions toeing the line, and will be pushed by a strong field of Olympic Trials competitors, former collegiate All-Americans, and a multi-time national trail running champion.

Andy Wacker is the top returning athlete, who was 5th in 2025. The Boulder local is a crossover athlete with impressive range on any surface, including 4 trail running national titles. Wacker holds PRs of 4:03 in the mile and 67:45 in the half.

Two-time winner Dominic Korir will be among the favorites for the 2025 title and is no stranger to the Horsetooth hills. This will be Dominic’s fifth time running the Horsetooth Half. He won the 2019 (1:07:34) and 2022 (1:06:51) races, finished third (1:07:34) in 2023 and seventh in 2025. Last February, Korir ran 2:15:59 at the Hong Kong Marathon on what is considered a very hilly course.

Two other past champions will be toeing the line on Sunday: Former course record holder Paul Peterson (2013 & 2015 champion) is back for another crack at the course. He’ll be joined by Michael Chavez (2014 champion).

Other runners who’ll be in the mix on Sunday include:

-Braden Nicholson, a recent graduate and multi-time NCAA DIII champion from the D3 powerhouse, North Central College. Nicholson recently ran 2:16 at California International Marathon and 64:50 at Indy Monumental Half.

-Bradley Makuvire a former D1 runner at South Carolina and current coach at , has ran impressive PRs of 13:49 in the 5k , 28:29 in the 10k, 64 in the half, and 2:16 in the marathon.

-Michael Jordan is a 2021 ans 2024 Olympic Trials competitor in the 3000m Steeplechase, and also represented Team USA at the PanAm Cross Country Championships in 2020. Jordan holds a 64 half marathon personal best.

-Brent Mussleman, a Virginia Tech XC and Track Alumni, recently ran a 14:32 5K in Fort Collins.

-Jayan Nitzscheis another recent college grad (Ponoma Pitzer) who ran 67:35 in Houston in January. Nitzsche holds a 14:48 5k personal best.

-Bashash Walio is a Western Colorado alumni with personal bests of 68 in the half and 2:23 in the full.

-Glen Shumaker had an impressive 2025, running 70’ in the half and 2:30 at the Boston Marathon.

The racing action starts at 8:00am on Sunday, April 19. Lead runners in the men’s race will hit the finish just after 9:00. Be there to see who takes home top honors!

The Women’s Elite Field Preview:The 2026 Horsetooth Half Women’s field features a former champion, many debuts, and a de...
04/17/2026

The Women’s Elite Field Preview:

The 2026 Horsetooth Half Women’s field features a former champion, many debuts, and a deep field.

Our top returner is Rachael Rudel, who was 6th in 2024. Rudel has been tearing up the road and trail circuits this past year, with a 1:11 half marathon PR and a 16:17 5K PR to boot. Rudel will be joined by Annmarie Kirkpatrick and both will represent the local Front Range Elite training group. Kirkpatrick has posted numerous podium finishes over the years, including the overall win in 2018.

Allie Schaich recently ran 2:35 at the Valencia Marathon in 2025 to qualify for the 2028 US Olympic Trials in the marathon. Schaich holds stout PRs of 1:13 in the half and 2:34 in the full.

Jessica Scheriff is the 2025 USATF Colorado 5k Champion and finished an impressive 7th at the 2024 Great Britain Olympic Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. Scheriff recently ran 1:15 in the Indy Monumental Half Marathon in 2025.

Sarah Biehl has had a dominant career on the trails, with multiple podiums including winning the 2022 JFK 50 miler. Biehl is no stranger to roads though, having ran 2:39 in the marathon and competed at the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials.

Sarah Anyan is a 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier with a 2:44 marathon PR. After tearing up the gravel bike racing scene the last few years, Anyan brings an added layer of aerobic fitness that will translate well to the Horsetooth hills.

Lindsey Blehm rounds out our field as the youngest of our elite competitors, having recently ran at University of Nebraska Lincoln. Blehm holds a 1:23 half marathon PR, but also shows impressive range with an 800 meter PR of 2:11.

The prize purse for the 53rd running of the Horsetooth Half Marathon is $12,000, with generous support from the Fort Collins Running Club. Payouts go 8 deep and there will be fierce competition to match.

The racing action starts at 8:00am on Sunday, April 19. Lead runners in the women’s race will hit the finish around 9:15am.

JUST 3 MORE DAYS!!Finish line stoke! Don't forget to share your stoke on Sunday and celebrate down Linden St!
04/16/2026

JUST 3 MORE DAYS!!

Finish line stoke! Don't forget to share your stoke on Sunday and celebrate down Linden St!

Parking/Race Morning Drop Off / ShuttlesPARKING!- Race parking will be at the Holiday Twin Drive-In (2206 South Overland...
04/15/2026

Parking/Race Morning Drop Off / Shuttles

PARKING!
- Race parking will be at the Holiday Twin Drive-In (2206 South Overland Trail) or on city streets north of the Drive-In.
- Important! If you are planning to park at the Drive-In, you will need to be heading NORTH on Overland Trail to access the Drive-In (right turn only). Those coming from the north will be required to drive down to Cottonwood Glen and turn around to approach from the south.
- The Drive-In is located 3/4 of a mile east of the race start. Port-a-johns, packet pickup and bag drops will all be on the private lot directly to the south of the race start. Please plan accordingly in terms of the time you'll need to get from your car to the start. We advise getting to the Drive-In no later than 7:00am.

RUNNER DROP OFF!
- If you are planning to get DROPPED OFF at the start line, you will need to approach Dixon Canyon Rd heading SOUTH on Overland Trail (right turn only).
- All runner drop-off traffic will be westbound (from Overland Tr) on Dixon Canyon Rd (CR 42C) until 8:00AM. Drop-off will be 'airport style' so please be ready to 'de-car' quickly once you arrive. There will be no U-turns on CR 42C once runners are dropped off. Drop-off vehicles will exit to the west and can circle back into town south on 38e or north on Centennial (CR 23).
- If you are dropping off a runner and would like to see the race start, please plan on parking on city streets to the north and east of the Drive-In and then walking to the start with your runner.

SHUTTLES
Free shuttle buses back to the race parking at the Holiday Twin Drive-In will be available from Linden Center Drive across from New Belgium between 9:30am and 12:30pm.

BIKE SHUTTLE
Ride your bike to the start and Recycled Cycles will transport it to the finish for you to ride home. We’ll have a drop-off location 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.

To pre-register your bike drop-off, please fill out this short for: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfp0waK2NtuSjqbvyJSqyc6vHyFhY7P7XLLXVXmifmoKV73bw/viewform

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