The Bear Chase Race

The Bear Chase Race is a two-day trail running weekend in Lakewood, Colorado, held on October 3–4, 2026. The ultras run on Saturday, October 3: the 100K (62 miles) starts at 5:30 AM, the 50-mile race at 6:30 AM and the 50K (31 miles) at 7:30 AM. Sunday, October 4, is for the shorter distances, with the half marathon (13.1 miles) at 7:00 AM, the 10K (6.2 miles) at 8:00 AM and the 5K (3.1 miles) at 8:30 AM.

Six distances over two days make this a rare event where a whole household can race the same weekend. The Sunday races suit families and first-time trail runners, while the Saturday ultras cover the full progression from first 50K to 100K. Lakewood sits at over 5,000 feet, so runners coming from lower elevation should expect a slower pace and pay attention to hydration. For the 5K to half marathon, 8 to 12 weeks of regular running with some hills is plenty; for the ultras, plan a 16-to-20-week build with back-to-back long runs and a rehearsed fueling plan. The early starts on Saturday mean a headlamp for the first miles.