Horsetooth Half Marathon

The 51st Horsetooth Half Marathon will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Holiday Twin Drive In, Fort Collins, Colorado. The race will start at 8:30 am and presents breathtaking views of the Fort Collins skyline framed by the iconic peaks of Horsetooth Mountain and Arthur’s Rock. The initial five miles of the course showcase these scenic vistas along the eastern shoreline of Horsetooth Reservoir, traversing the hills of Centennial Drive.

Starting at an elevation above sea level, the race guides participants through a climb to reach the summit of “Monster Mountain” at mile 1.7. Following this substantial ascent, the course follows the eastern shoreline of Horsetooth Reservoir, passing by the ‘A’ Hill and North Dam Hill on a net downhill trajectory. Runners then head eastward toward the finish at New Belgium Brewing, concluding the course with the final climb over Bingham Hill.

Once you go up Bingham Hill, the path goes downhill along the Cache la Poudre recreational trail to The New Belgium Finish Line Party and post-race expo in Old Town Fort Collins.

The post race celebration features free New Belgium beer for participants aged 21 and over, post-race food, lively live music, and giveaways at the sponsor expo and awards ceremony. After enjoying the festivities, participants can hop on a complimentary shuttle bus back to the Holiday Twin Drive-In to retrieve their vehicles.

The race boasts a total prize purse of $12,000 distributed across various categories, with an additional $1,000 available for breaking course records. This cash purse aligns with the Fort Collins Running Club’s mission to support not only fitness and health through running but also the competitive aspect of the sport.

Horsetooth Half Marathon Packet Pickup

Pre-race packet pickup:

• Date: Saturday, April 15
• Time: Noon-6:00 pm
• Location: Raintree Athletic Club, 2555 S. Shields St. (NW corner of Drake and Shields)
• Option to show proof of age for +21 wristband at pickup for New Belgium Post Race Party
• Online bib number lookup available beginning race week to speed up check-in process.

Race day packets and registration:

• Available at packet pickup location, south of the start line
• Time: 7:00 am – 8:15 am
• Strict cut-off at 8:15 am for packet pickup
• Race starts at 8:30 am

Note: Parking at Holiday Twin Drive-In is 3/4 mile from the start, so plan for a 15-minute walk. Arrive early to account for this.

Parking, Runner Drop-Off and Shuttle Service

Parking at Holiday Twin Drive-In:

• Location: Off Overland Trail Rd.
• Entrance: South only (right-hand turn).
• North approach: Drive down to Cottonwood Glen and turn around to approach from the south.
• Recommended arrival route: East via Drake Road, turn right onto Overland Trail Road.
• Distance to start: Approximately 3/4 mile.

Runner Drop-off:

• Location: Dixon Canyon Rd (CR 42C), by the race start.
• Approach: From the north (right-hand turn) to avoid Holiday Twin parking traffic.
• Continue west after drop-off (no U-turns).
• Drop-off is available until 8:00 am.
• After 8:00 am, Dixon Canyon Dr will be fully closed to vehicle traffic.
• Recommended for those dropping off after 8:00 am: Park on city streets to the north and east of the Drive-In, then walk to the start with the runner.

Shuttle Service:

• Free shuttle buses back to the race parking at the Holiday Twin Drive-In.
• Location: Linden Center Drive, across from New Belgium.
• Time: Available between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Horsetooth Half Marathon Course Map

Elevation

Aid Stations

Water and VFuel Endurance Drink will be available at aid stations, along with first-aid kits and porta-potties. There are a total of 5 aid stations along the course:

• Mile 2.8 (Mid-Reservoir)
• Mile 4.8 (Reservoir Ridge Trailhead)
• Mile 8.5 (Lyons Park on Overland Trail)
• Mile 10.3 (Taft Hill Road Crossing)
• Mile 12.1 (‘One To Go’ at Lee Martinez Park)

Horsetooth Half Marathon Registration Information

To register, visit the official website of the Horsetooth Half Marathon. The registration fees are as follows:

Jan 2 – Apr 12 – $99.00
Packet Pickup & Race Morning (Apr 13-14) – $110.00

Your race entry will include:

• Premium race tee shirt
• Finisher medal
• Horsetooth Pint Glass
• Complimentary beer from New Belgium Brewing
• Delicious post-race food, beverages, and vendor expo
• Convenient bus shuttle back to the start
• Incredibly scenic race course