The Nike Boulder Backroads Marathon and Half Marathon are professionally-timed road races, held north of Boulder, framed by the majestic Colorado Front Range foothills. Runners begin at the Boulder Reservoir and travel out through Boulder County’s beautiful countryside on mostly soft-packed dirt roads and quiet rural lanes. You’ll pass farms, cattle, horses, cottonwood groves and ponds, returning to the Reservoir for the finish and post-race festivities. Runners receive support from volunteers staffing a dozen aid stations along the well-marked route. Full marathon racers start at 7:00 a.m.; half marathon racers start at 8:00 a.m.
