Marathon Dress Rehearsal 30K/20M Spring Fire Relief Race

If you are like so many who need a bridge between the half marathon and your marathon goal, this race was designed for you - with the option of running 30K (18.6 miles) or the standard 20 mile longest training run leading up to the big challenge of 26.2. The course is essentially the same used for our successful Bears vs. Bulls Spring Fire Relief Race held on August 11th although this one is basically point to point, west to east, from La Veta, CO to Walsenburg, CO, via County Roads 358 and 340. The assembly location for both the 30K and 20 mile distance is the La Veta Town Park at the intersection of Main and Ryus in La Veta, CO. Runners will be shuttled to the starting points (and back after the race) and will be accompanied along the way by support vehicles with water and sports drinks available.  A "porta-potty" will again be available at the junction of CR 358 and CR 340 which is 8 miles west of the common finish line for both the 30K & 20 mile runs. Some will treat this as a competitive event and others will consider it strictly a training run. Those participating in the Raton Basin area "RaBa Cinco" competition will score points based on their finish within their gender group. (Residents of Colfax, Huerfano, and Las Animas counties who elect not to  compete for RaBa Cinco points should alert race officials at the pre-race assembly so that their order of finish will not impact their year to date point totals accumulated.)

All entry fees and additional online donations will go directly to the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation specifically as contributions to relief efforts supporting victims of the Spring Fire which ranked as Colorado's third most expansive wildfire in recorded history.

30K COURSE:  The 30K course will begin at the intersection of Yaso Ct. and Grandote Dr. in the southern edge of La Veta in the area of a golf course that is no longer operational. The route is northbound, crossing State Highway 12 (Highway of Legends) and north on Cherry then one block west on Cascade to Oak. North on Oak, past Ryus and eastbound along the north boundary of La Veta Town Park on Moore. Moore Street then crosses Main headed east. From Moore at Main continue eastbound for 8.9 miles to the junction at CR 340 which heads west for another 8 miles to the intersection with U.S. 160 on the western edge of Walsenburg which marks the finish of both the 30K and 20 mile courses.

20 MILE COURSE: The 20 mile course begins with a down & back route before becoming identical to the 30K course. 20 mile runners will begin their journey in the southwest section of La Veta at the intersection of Cascade and Cherry St. The route heads south on Cherry and crosses State Highway 12 on Grandote Drive into the old golf course area. It takes Grandote Drive all the way to the point that it forms a loop at the top of the hill (with a stunning view of the Sangre de Cristos). Completion of the loop heads you back along the same path run to this point. From the starting point at Cherry and Cascade the route is the same as the 30K course described above. 

GENERAL COURSE NOTES:  The courses outlined have a net elevation loss of approximately 850 feet. However, there are rolling hills to contend with, particularly during the five mile stretch just east of La Veta on CR 358. From the junction at CR 340, the route is somewhat consistently downhill although there are no points that runners would describe as screaming downhill and the final 8 miles also presents the runner with a few modest inclines along the way. If you like variation without a long uphill toil this is the course for you. Let's say it was certified by the teams consisting of a half dozen Bears & Bulls back on August 11th!

The RaBa Cinco series is an initiative of LiveWell Huerfano, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization in Walsenburg, CO, devoted to healthy eating and active living.

Additional related information is available at cocorelays.net.