17th Denver Colfax Marathon Welcomes Record Number of Runners to the Mile High City

May 26, 2023

Denver /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Denver Colfax Marathon, presented by Cigna, welcomed a record 21,000 runners to its annual spring marathon weekend this year. Denver’s largest running event and only marathon weekend took place May 19-21, 2023.

“There was an undeniable energy surrounding each race this year,” said Andrea Dowdy, CEO of the Denver Colfax Marathon. “We want to congratulate every runner that participated in this historic weekend.”

The Denver Colfax Marathon weekend featured eight races over two days. For the first time in its 17-year race history, the marathon, half marathon and urban 10-mile race sold out before the race weekend started. Colorado runners swept the podium this year, winning the top spots in each of these race categories. The event also welcomed more marathon runners this year than ever before.

In 2023, The marathon partnered with title sponsor Cigna Healthcare, for a second year. The collaboration elevates the race’s profile nationwide and keeps health and wellness in focus. The marathon weekend had 49 states represented in the races with West Virginia being the only state without a runner in the Mile High City.

“The fact that a record number of runners showed up to the marathon races is a true testament to the vitality and resilience of the Denver community,” said Brett Winingham, Market Growth Leader for Cigna Healthcare Mountain States. “We are truly proud of what each and every runner accomplished.”

The Denver Colfax Marathon race weekend is one of the top 25 marathon weekends in the country. The marathon prides itself on having a picturesque race route for its runners, along with unique entertainment. There were more than 30 entertainment acts on the course this year, including lion pole dances, an Elvis impersonator, a dragon boat festival, and firefighters from the Colorado Firefighters Calendar.

Runners start and finish the race lakeside in Denver’s City Park, which is surrounded by spectacular mountain views. The racecourse takes runners by 7 miles of water, past the city’s most iconic landmarks and alongside dozens of animals at the Denver Zoo. The marathon and half marathon are the only races in the country to run through a working fire station.

The Finish Line Festival welcomed 50,000 people to Denver’s City Park on Sunday, for a post-race beer and bratwurst lunch. Runners were treated to complimentary Colorado beer and locally made brats fresh off the grill. A live band kept the party going into the early afternoon.

The Denver Colfax Marathon is a nonprofit that gives back to hundreds of charities every year. This year, the marathon had 140 different charities involved in its race weekend. Thousands of runners ran to raise awareness and funds for a specific cause. The Denver Colfax Marathon will award $100,000 to charities in June at its annual awards evening in Denver.

The 2024 Denver Colfax Marathon weekend will take place May 17-19, 2024. Registration begins in August.