Race Guide: including cut off times, bib packet pick up, aid stations and more. 2022 Race Guide
Racer letter 2022
Race Start Time & Time Limit (New start location for the Marathon, Rio Grande Park )
The Marathon will start at 6:30 am at Rio Grande Park. Participants will need to finish the race by 2:30 pm (8-hour limit).
The 1/2 Marathon will start at 7:30 am near Rio Grande Park in downtown Aspen. (6-hour limit)
Race Participation Cap
The Aspen Backcountry Marathon is limited to 250 participants and the 1/2 Marathon is limited to 250 participants as well.
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search & Rescue (CORSAR) Card
Pitkin County requires that all participants obtain a valid CORSAR card for the day of the event. These are available at the Ute Mountaineer and the Tenth Mountain Hut Association. Save yourself some time and purchase online. Click here to purchase online. Cost: $3 one year card; $12 for five years.
Timing Chips
Timing Chips will be given out from 4-6pm on Friday, August 6th during packet pick-up. They will be secured to the back of your bib. All Participants must obtain a timing chip or they will not receive a finish time.
Race Packet Pick-Up
Timing Chips/Packet pick up – Friday, July 29th from 4-6pm location Rio Grande Park, Aspen. Drive through Packet Pick Up. Turn off of HWY 82 at Spring St towards Rio Grande Place in Aspen and follow to Rio Grande Park. Pull into an open parking spot and a volunteer will check you in and hand you your race bib, timing chip and race swag. We will have packet pick up at both start lines, starting an hour before race start.
IMPORTANT: If you are having someone else pick up your packet you must include this Authorization Form- signed by you – and a copy of your ID.
Aid stations and Cut off times
Marathon start 6:30am (approximately 19 min mile)
| Mile | Location | Supplies | Cut-off Times |
| 3 | Smuggler Mountain Rd | Water, Skratch | 7:30am |
| 8 | Hunter Creek Senior Lot | Water, Skratch | 10:10am |
| 11.5 | Top of Lower Plunge | Water, Skratch | 11:25am |
| 15.5 | 4 Corners | Water, Skratch | 12:45pm |
| 23.4 | Stein Park | Water, Skratch | 2:25pm |
| 26.2! | Finish Line | Water, Skratch |
Half Marathon Aid station locations and cut off times (approximately 25 min mile)
| Mile | Location | Supplies | Cut-off Times |
| 2.2 | Smugger Mountain Rd | Water, Skratch | 8:30 |
| 5 | Top of Lower Plunge | Water, Skratch | 10:50 |
| 11.5 | Stein | Water, Skratch | 12:15 |
| 14 ish | Finish Line |
If you approach an aid station after the cut off time, your race bib will be removed by the course sweep and you will be directed to walk to a location to receive a ride back to the start/finish line.
Severe Weather Alert: The safety of our athletes, spectators and volunteers is of utmost importance. The race will not be canceled due to rain alone, however heavy rain may delay or shorten the race. If severe lightning is detected in the area, racers may be held at aid stations and the race will be neutral until the race is deemed safe to continue. If trail conditions become unsafe racers will be asked to walk and timing of the event will end. If there is persistent severe weather Race officials reserve the right to neutralize, suspend or cancel the race entirely.
Race Cancellation
Every effort will be made to hold the race, but the director reserves the right to delay, shorten or even cancel the event. There will be no refunds in the event of race cancellation.
Safety Plan
Aspen Backcountry Marathon Safety Plan. This race will be a limited support race. There will be water stations, volunteer crews with EMT and First Responder experience. Please do not expect a high level of runner support like other marathons can offer. The logistics of a backcountry race makes additional support very difficult. In addition, we have to be careful about impacting the environment since it is at a high altitude, remote, and on National Forest Service land.
Cupless Race
The Aspen Backcountry Marathon and Half Marathon is a CUPLESS COURSES! We recommend participants to carry their own hydration system.
Awards
Overall winner awards will be presented once results are verified. Top finisher awards by age group will be handed out as the winners come in.
The Start/Finish of the Marathon and Half Marathon is at Rio Grande Park, located on Rio Grande Place in Aspen. To get there (from Glenwood Springs), follow Highway 82 into Aspen where it becomes Main Street. Turn left on N. Mill St, the make the first right on to Rio Grande Place. The race start/finish is at Rio Grande Park on the left.
From Snowmass: Follow Brush Creek Road from Snowmass to Hwy 82. Turn right at the light to merge onto Hwy 82 into Aspen and follow it into where it becomes Main Street. Same as above.
*Note: There is no on-street parking next to the finish. Covered parking is available near the start at the Rio Grande Parking Garage: 427 Rio Grande Place off Mill Street. Free parking is located in the west end starting at Bleeker Street and Monarch St. going west
I-70 Travel Alert: Due to the Grizzly Creek burn scar, storms may cause flash flooding and mud slides in Glenwood Canyon. Therefore, CDOT may close I-70 in Glenwood Canyon at any time for safety concerns. For those racers traveling to Aspen, please plan accordingly for potential delays or reroutes.
To view travel alerts, road closures, traffic conditions and more go to COTRIP.org (https://www.cotrip.org/travelAlerts.htm#?roadId=). In addition, you can sign up for Pitkin County Alerts, which would alert you to local highway closures and severe weather, click here https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612656#/signup or to view current Pitkin Alert notifications, click here (https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612656/weather/h_SSS7YkQ)
