8801 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Denver, Colorado, 80238 view map
Description:
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You don't want to miss this mid-summer half marathon and 5K/10K. Hosted at Central Park in Stapleton, the course takes you through the park, out along Sand Creek Regional Greenway and through Bluff Lake Nature Center. Along the east-bound portion of the course you'll experience the transition from the Stapleton neighborhood and the wide expanse of Westerly Creek to the stunning rural solitude of Denver's own nature and wildlife preserve. Coming back from atop Bluff Lake Nature Center you'll experience captivating views that blend the Downtown Denver Skyline with the front range - all against the backdrop of the Continental Divide.
This event supports Bluff Lake Nature Center, a unique urban wildlife refuge and outdoor classroom in east Denver.
Every year nearly 5,000 area elementary students visit Bluff Lake as part of one of the formal education programs.
Thousands of additional visitors enjoy Bluff Lake to enjoy a few moments walking, running and embracing the solace and connection to nature!
You can run Bluff Lake by connecting along the Sand Creek Regional Greenway from the east at the Aurora/Denver border or from the west, just northeast of Central Park at Stapleton or from.
Come join us for this phenomenal half marathon, 5K and 10K!
Event features:
T Shirt
Finisher's Medal
Goody Bag
Race Pictures
Event Timed
Post race activities:
Food and Drinks
Music
Kids' Activities
Awards
Fundraising:
Bluff Lake Nature Center is a nonprofit agency that owns and manages a unique urban wildlife refuge and outdoor classroom in northeast Denver. The refuge is home to an abundance of animals and native plants, which thrive in a variety of habitats.
Each year, nearly 5,000 area elementary students visit Bluff Lake as part of one of our formal education programs. Thousands of additional visitors come to Bluff Lake to enjoy a few moments of solace and connection to nature.
Bluff Lake Nature Center's mission is to foster lifelong learning and environmental stewardship of a unique urban wildlife refuge...Bluff Lake.
Bluff Lake Nature Center occupies 123 acres adjacent to Sand Creek on the eastern edge of the Stapleton development. It offers a variety of native habitats including a seasonal lake, wetlands, short-grass prairie, a riparian zone and wetland woodland. Thanks to its 60 year history as an airport buffer, Bluff Lake has become an urban wildlife refuge for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, songbirds, deer, fox, beaver, reptiles, amphibians and other types of wildlife that visit or live at the site.
Bluff Lake Nature Center is much more than a place for plants and animals. It is an oasis in the city where people can come to view wildlife, appreciate the peaceful sights and enjoy the sounds of nature. It is also an outdoor classroom for thousands of students each year. It is our goal to encourage children's and adults' interest in natural science and stewardship through curiosity, observation, activity and a sense of wonder.
This unique oasis in the city literally brings curricula to life as kids who seldom experience nature see, hear, smell and touch their lessons.
Fundraising Progress
$2,500(Goal)
$707 (raised)
$0
Course description:
Please click on map links to review the Half Marathon, 5K & 10K courses. The half marathon will undergo some minor changes from the inaugural 2012 course. These changes will be posted as we move into spring.
The 5K course is Central Park only. The 10K is Central Park and Westerly Creek Out-and-Back. The Half Marathon includes Central Park, Westerly Creek Out-and-Back, Sand Creek Out-and-Back, and Bluff Lake Nature Center. For more detail, please refer to course maps and the course details document.
CENTRAL PARK Central Park - 1 & 1/2 Loops around Central Park comprises the 5K Course. All runners end up doing the 5K in Central Park, although the 10K and Half Marathon SPLIT at certain points after Mile 2 and then return to the park to complete the stretch West along MLK Blvd., turning Northeast (right) toward the Finish Line.
WESTERLY CREEK OUT-AND -BACK The Westerly Creek out-and-back portion of the course adds another 5K to the Central Park portion. This portion of the course consists of an ‘out’ of approximately 1.5 miles South, a turnaround, and approximately 1.5 miles ‘back’ North. After this out-and-back, 10K runners merge back onto the Central Park course toward the Finish Line, while Half Marathon runners SPLIT off, continuing on to the Sand Creek Out-and-Back.
SAND CREEK OUT-AND-BACK The Sand Creek out-and-back portion of the course includes a stretch of about 1.5 miles North and then East along the Sand Creek Regional Greenway. Half Marathon runners SPLIT off from the North end of the Westerly Creek portion of the course, heading ‘out’ on Sand Creek to Bluff Lake, where they complete a little more than 4 miles, then returning to Sand Creek Regional Greenway for the 'back' portion, heading back to Central Park toward the Finish Line.
BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER The Bluff Lake Nature Center portion of the course is where we will implement changes in the half marathon course. There will be one entrance into Bluff Lake Nature Center and then the course will extend out along Sand Creek Regional Greenway to the east, turning back and then exiting Bluff Lake Nature Center.
The Start/Finish Line for all events is at Denver's Central Park at Stapleton, 8801 E. Martin Luther King (MLK) Blvd. The intersection is MLK & Xenia Street. Xenia Street is located between Quebec and Havana.
Parking:
There are several parking lots for Central Park along MLK Blvd. and there is some parking available at the recreation center at the East end of Central Park. Ample parking is also available in several locations to the South of Central Park along MLK and in the adjoining neighborhoods.
Awards info:
Awards for overall winners in each event in addition to age group awards in ten year increments.
Additional Info:
Course Time:
Half Marathon - 4 Hours
10K - 2 Hours
5K - 1.5 Hours
Bluff Lake Nature Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Raise pledges for Bluff Lake and take home some cool schwag and great benefits including pens, shirts, camp discounts, water bottles, and more!
Packet pickup:
Stay connected to learn more about Sports Authority packet pickup locations and times!
