Steamboat Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K

The Steamboat Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K takes place in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in early June. The marathon (26.2 miles) begins at about 8,130 feet at Hahns Peak, follows the Elk River and finishes in downtown Steamboat Springs, roughly 1,400 feet lower. The half marathon (13.1 miles) starts at the marathon's halfway point.

The whole course is on country roads, with views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. A net downhill route can be tough on quads, so train with some downhill running. Start times were not available in the listing, but starting high in the mountains means cold mornings, so bring warm clothes for the start and take altitude into account if you come from near sea level.