Posted: December 17, 2005

Athletics: Denver To Have Two Marathons Next Year

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

If you're looking to run a high altitude marathon in 2006, Denver has two marathons for you to choose from.

In the spring, the first annual Post News Colfax Marathon will take place on Sunday, May 21. The event will begin in Aurora, Colo., go through Denver and finish in Lakewood. The certified marathon course will actually gain 279 feet. Organizers hope to attract 6,000 runners, including those who would run the companion half-marathon.

On Oct. 15, the revived Denver Marathon will be held, a different race organizer announced. The race has a new urban course, and their main marketing pitch is that BAA Boston Marathon technical director, Dave McGillivray, has designed the course and will direct the race. This is probably the first instance of a race marketing itself on the strength of the race director.

"We are very proud and honored to welcome Dave McGillivray to our team to firmly establish a major marathon in Denver," said Anton Villatoro, President of Run Denver, LLC, the group which organizes the event. "Denver has so much to offer. With the management team we currently have in place I believe the City will be the true winner of this race."

The October event will include a marathon, half-marathon and a four-person marathon relay.

The respective websites for these races are www.coloradocolfaxmarathon.org and www.denvermarathon.com.