Fruita Trail Half

The Fruita Trail Half takes place in Fruita, Colorado, in early May, and the description refers to it as the Rabbit Valley Half Marathon. It is a 13.1-mile trail race through the desert landscape along the Kokopelli Trail, where runners meet a wide variety of terrain.

Be ready for all of it: steep, demanding climbs, rock gardens and tricky sand traps. Desert trail running slows everyone down, so measure effort rather than pace, carry enough water for the stretches between aid, and wear sun protection. Shoes with solid traction and a toe guard make a real difference on the rocks.