Long View Marathon & Half
About this race
A point-to-point road race that runs city-to-city from Fort Collins to Loveland along the interconnected Front Range bike paths and trails, including the Long View Trail. Held the second Saturday of October — a paved, net-downhill course finishing at Fairgrounds Park in Loveland.
Choose your distance
Marathon
What's included in your entry
- High-quality long-sleeve gender-specific shirt (sizing guaranteed with early reg)
- Unique finisher's award / medal
- Post-race food, beverages and vendor expo
- Aid stations with water, sports drink, select gels and snacks
- Free shuttle buses from the finish back to the start lines
- Gear check / bag transport from start to finish
The course
Marathon (26.2 mi): a paved point-to-point from Fort Collins to Loveland via the Spring Creek, Fossil Creek, Long View and Front Range bike paths, the Loveland–Greeley Canal and Boyd Lake, finishing at Fairgrounds Park. 625' gain / 631' loss (net 6' down).
Half (13.1 mi): starts at Fossil Creek Park and follows the same southern path into Loveland — 479' gain / 443' loss (net 36' up).
5K (3.1 mi): a paved loop within Fairgrounds Park and Rivers Edge Natural Area, essentially flat. All runners are strongly recommended to carry personal hydration.
Race weekend timeline
Aid-station cut-off times
| Marathon · Fossil Creek (mi 13.4) | 10:30 am (3:00 elapsed) |
| Marathon · Finish | 6 hours |
| Half · Finish | 5 hours |
If you're not leaving an aid station by its cut-off you'll get a ride back to the finish. Sweeps leave at cut-off, taking course markings with them.
Getting there & lodging
Directions
- Marathon start — Edora Pool Ice Center, 1801 Riverside Ave, Fort Collins (park in the west lot).
- Half start — Fossil Creek Park, 5821 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins (lots off Lemay).
- 5K start & all finishes — Fairgrounds Park, 700 S Railroad Ave, Loveland. Free shuttles run finish→start lines 10:00 am–2:00 pm.
Good to know
- October Front Range weather is unpredictable — lows in the mid-30s, highs in the 60s, but prepare for anything.
- Registrations are non-refundable; you may switch distances (no refund when downgrading, pay the difference to upgrade). Military & first responders get a $10 discount.
- Bib on the front, visible at all aid stations. No dogs on course (leashed dogs welcome at start/finish). Gear check: label a small bag with name and bib for transport to the finish.
Awards
Marathon & Half: top 3 male/female in Overall, 29 & under, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60+. 5K: top 3 male/female Overall and Masters (40+). All finishers receive a finisher's award.
Discounts, deferrals & transfers
Plans change. Discounts, deferral windows, and bib-transfer rules are the same across every Gnar Runners race — see the details on our Discounts & Deferrals page.
Who puts this on
Directed by Gnar Runners (Fort Collins) & Sweetheart City Racing (Loveland). Questions? Email racedirector@gnarrunners.com.