Thank you for joining us for the 52nd running of the Horsetooth Half Marathon, presented by Republic Services. We’re thrilled to welcome you on your journey from the start by the Holiday Twin Drive-In to the finish line at New Belgium Brewing.

**New this year. The race starts a half hour earlier at 8:00a**

The current weather forecast looks pretty good with race temps in the mid-50s to mid-60s, clear skies and winds out of the southwest. We’re not saying that’s what we’ll actually see on race day, but as always we hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

We have a few final details about race weekend for you. Some are new, some bear repeating, all are important for you to know.

Packet Pickup, Pre-Race Expo & ID Check

The pre-race packet pickup & expo will be at Raintree Athletic Club on Saturday, April 12 from noon until 6:00pm. Raintree Athletic Club is located on the NW corner of Drake and Shields at 2555 S. Shields St.

In order to avoid lines on race morning, we encourage you to pick up your packets on Saturday.

In addition to bibs, t-shirts and other sponsor items, we will also be handing out Enjoy Realty-Horsetooth Half commemorative pint glasses. If you cannot collect your glass on Saturday, they will be available for pickup at New Belgium during the post-race party.

If you plan to drink a beer after your race on Sunday, we strongly suggest picking up your ID wristband at Saturday’s packet pickup. 

If you are not able to make it to Saturday’s packet pickup, then we will also be offering race morning packet pickup from 6:30am – 7:45am at the race start staging location on the private lot directly to the south of the race start on Dixon Canyon Rd.

* We have less than 200 entries left. If there are entries left on Saturday, registration will be open at packet pickup. If you have friends thinking about registering, we strongly recommend doing so before Saturday. Register HERE.
** Per our race registration policies, the deadline for transfers or deferrals is midnight tonight.

Race Start 

Race veterans, please note that we have brought the race forward a half hour this year. The race will begin at 8:00am on County Road 42C (Dixon Canyon Rd) adjacent to the southwest gate of the former Hughes Stadium property, and directly under Dixon Canyon Dam. By mile 1, you will be on top of the dam (!!).

We will have a runner staging area on the private lot directly to the south of the starting line. Toilets (so many toilets), race day packets and a finish line gear drop will all be located there.

For those of you wishing to cycle to the start and have your bike transported to the finish, Recycled Cycles will be staffing a bike drop location at the Aggie Greens Disc Golf Parking Area on Dixon Canyon Drive, a quarter mile east of the race start. Bike retrieval will be just north of the finish on the corner of Linden and Buckingham.

To pre-register your bike drop-off, please fill out this short form.

Dixon Canyon Road will close to vehicle traffic at 7:30am after which the road will be fully open to runners for the race start. The race will start under the DaVinci Sign Systems Start Boom. If you are planning to be dropped off, please plan on arriving well before the road closes.

Parking/Runner Drop-Off

Parking will be at the Holiday Twin Drive-In (2206 South Overland Trail) or on city streets to the north, south and west 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 from Drake Rd to access the Drive-In (right turn only).

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). Additional parking is available on city streets directly to the north, south and west of the Drive-In.

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. Some toilets will also be available at the Drive-In concession area. 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.

All runner drop-off traffic will be westbound (from Overland Tr) on Dixon Canyon Rd (CR 42C) from 6:30am-7:30am with two lanes on Dixon Canyon for drop-off and one – the north shoulder – for thru traffic. The south shoulder will be coned for pedestrian/runner traffic. 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).

Dixon Canyon Dr & the northbound lane of CR23 will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 7:30am.

Gear Bags

If you need clothing or other gear transported to the finish, a bag drop will be available on race morning at the staging area adjacent to the start.

We will have duct tape and sharpies available to label your bag. If you can pre-label with bib number/name, that will be helpful. We will not be providing bags.

Your bag will be available for you to collect at the finish. While we will make every effort possible to ensure all bags are reunited with their owners, we strongly recommend that you not pack valuables in your gear bag.

Aid Stations

VFuel sports drink and water will be available at all five aid stations (miles: 2.8, 4.8, 8.5, 10.3, 12.1). We will also have Gu and Hammer gels available at aid stations 8.5 and 10.3. 

There will also be 3-5 port-a-potties at each aid station, in addition to a first aid kit. Additional medical coverage will be provided by UCHealth EMS.

New Belgium Post-Race Party

New Belgium will be serving beers from 3 locations on their property. Your race entry includes one free beer (ticket on bib).

You must have a wristband to be served at the post-race party. You must present an ID to get a wristband. If you plan to drink a beer after your run, we strongly suggest picking up your wristband at Saturday’s packet pickup. Race day wristbands will only be available at New Belgium – not at race morning packet pickup. No ID, no wristband, no beer.

Rapid can service will be available outside the ‘West Bar’ and will be exclusively for runners. Friends and family are welcome to purchase beer at the main bar or airstream trailer.

Post-race food will include an energy bar from Naak, fruit, bagels & cream cheese and a cookie from Mary’s Mountain Cookies. Friends and family are also welcome to purchase food from food trucks that will be on site, in addition to beer from the main bar at New Belgium.

With your race run, and food and beverages in hand, please sit back and enjoy live music from Last Call Romance.  Also, be sure to peruse the post-race expo booths and enjoy samples from vendors & race sponsors.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy the live music, race awards and vendor expo. Race awards will take place at 11:00am from the main New Belgium stage.

Busing & Bike Pickup

Free busing back to the Drive In (start) will be available from the finish area by New Belgium. Buses will be running from 9:30am to 1:30pm.

Those transporting bikes to the finish will be able to pick up their bikes on the southeast corner of Linden & Buckingham just north of the race finish.

In-Race Tracking – Two Options

For free race-day tracking and virtual cheers, carry your phone and use the RaceJoy mobile app to add to your race experience at the Horsetooth Half.

Supporters near and far can track you live in a map view as you progress along the race course. “Near Me” alerts will let on-course spectators know you’re drawing near.

Download RaceJoy, search for the Horsetooth Half and sign up to be tracked. Let your friends and family know to do the same!

For an alternative tracking method via SMS link, please have friends and family register HERE.

Race Results

Live results will be available HERE.

A link to final results alongside historical results will be posted to the race Results Page. RunSignup Results Page.

Beer Service All runners receive a free post-race beer from our host, New Belgium Brewing, with their registration.  We require ID verification for all alcohol service.  You can do this in one of two ways: Have your ID with you at the finish line (carry it, stash it in your gear bag, or have a friend/family member bring it) Bring your ID to packet pickup Saturday and visit the wristband station.  We’ll verify your age, attach your wristband then & there, and you keep it on until your finish the next day At the Finish Line Party, there will be THREE stations where you can get beer service: 1. The main bar in the Liquid Center will be full service for everyone.  All drafts available to runners, spectators, friends & family for purchase. 2. The ‘Beerstream’ trailer on the SE corner of the main lawn will similarly be open to all, serving: Mountain Time, Juicy Haze, Fruit Smash, Fat Tire, Athletic, Lemonade. 3. FOR FASTEST SERVICE, there will be an express lane outside the West Bar area of the New Belgium building.  This station is ONLY open to runners claiming their free beers and will offer cans of New Belgium’s most popular brews. Anyone looking to purchase a drink should visit either the main bar or Beerstream.  The express lane is the ONLY place for runners claiming their free beer.

Runner Pint Glasses Every runner receives a commemorative Horsetooth Half pint glass as part of their registration, courtesy of our friends at Enjoy Realty.  Past experience has taught us there’s many better ways to distribute glass objects than in the finish chute. 🙂 You can pick up your pint glass either: At Saturday’s Packet Pickup at Raintree Athletic Club At the Finish Line Party/Expo on Sunday, located on the NE corner of the lawn (just to the right as you face the main New Belgium entrance – see map above)

Additional Info

Be sure to read through the race website for additional race details, instructions, rules, and directions.

See you Sunday, and have a great race!

The Fort Collins Running Club & The Horsetooth Half Team