Colorado 24 Hour Run

The Colorado 24 Hour Run uses a supported one-mile dirt loop at Colorado Youth Outdoors’ Swift Ponds Campus in Fort Collins. Participants select 6, 12, or 24 hours, running solo or on a relay team. The early November timing positions it as a timed ultrarunning event, not a fixed-distance race. The loop is at 4,826 feet, consists of 100% dirt road, and offers a straightforward objective: complete laps, receive aid each mile, and accumulate distance before the time limit. The event is suitable for novice ultra runners, individuals aiming for personal bests in marathons or 50Ks, and relay teams seeking a shared effort without one person bearing the entire load. Relay teams can have up to six runners, with a household discount available for families. Gnar Runners manages the event, and a cap of 300 participants prevents the loop from becoming crowded. A unique aspect for the 24-hour race is that when Daylight Saving Time ends, the official race clocks continue until all participants finish. Wildlife commonly seen around the ponds includes raptors, cranes, geese, ducks, bass, catfish, perch, and bluegill.