Emerald Mountain Epic

Emerald Mountain Epic takes place on August 1, 2027, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on mountain trails. Three distances are announced: 52 miles (83.7 km), a trail marathon (26.2 mi) and a trail half marathon (13.1 mi). Start times and elevation gain are not listed in our records.

Steamboat sits near 6,700 feet and the trails climb from there, so every distance here is run in thin air on ground that rarely levels out. Add at least a third to your usual road time, walk the steep pitches from the first climb rather than the last, and arrive several days early if you live at sea level — at this altitude that preparation is worth more than any training block.