Tortoise & Hare Series
About this race
The Tortoise & Hare (T&H) is a low-key handicap series of seven races run monthly from October to April, on the first or second Sunday of the month. Computer-predicted times let runners of all levels compete equally — runners start at staggered intervals so the Hares chase the Tortoises and everyone finishes together.
Choose your distance
6 handicap races (4K–12K)
The course
Rolland Moore 4K (2.5 mi): starts by the soccer fields, running Spring Creek east and west, split into two directions by 30-second waves.
Spring Canyon 5K, Spring Park 6K, Fossil Creek 5K, Edora Park 8K, Lee Martinez 10K and Cottonwood Glen 12K round out the series — each a local Fort Collins park on the Spring Creek and Poudre trail systems.
Race weekend timeline
Good to know
- Scoring: the top 20 non-first-time runners score 25 points down to 6; first-timers, other finishers and non-running volunteers get 5. Your best five tallies count toward the standings.
- Season-end top five overall receive checks (payable to a local running store): $100 / $75 / $50 / $35 / $25.
- FCRC members only and free to run; first-timers (or anyone who hasn't run T&H in two seasons) enter a predicted time. Pre-registration only — no race-day registration.
- A reusable timing bib is bought once and kept for all future T&H races. You can't change your start time. Strollers welcome; no pets.
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 Fort Collins Running Club — Nick Clark (RD since 2007). Questions? Email info@fortcollinsrunningclub.org.