Marathon Welcomes Over 27,000 Runners to Denver’s Largest Running Event
DENVER, CO – The 20th Denver Colfax Marathon, presented by Cigna Healthcare, is set to make history as Denver’s largest running event ever, with more than 27,000 runners expected to participate. Taking place May 15–17, 2026, the race week is already off to a strong start as the half marathon and urban 10‑mile races have officially sold out. Several of the weekend’s other races are almost at capacity.
“A 20-year milestone deserves a big celebration,” said Andrea Dowdy, CEO of the Denver Colfax Marathon. “This race weekend will be filled with surprises and more energy than ever before. There is so much excitement in the city right now and we are grateful to our runners and our community for growing this tradition into Denver’s biggest running weekend of the year.”
To amplify the energy of the race for its 20th year, the marathon and half marathon courses will feature a new experience: WOW at Every Mile. Runners will be treated to something uniquely entertaining at every mile to make them say, “WOW!”. With over 40 attractions through both courses, the ‘WOW at Every Mile’ will create an unbeatable experience for each runner. Runners will not only run through a working Denver fire station and alongside animals at the Denver Zoo, but they will also experience high-energy celebrations of aerial acrobats, Indian mudra dancers and movie themed moments to name a few.
“Our scenic course of mountains and historic landmarks has always given runners their own personal tour of the city in their race,” Dowdy said. “This year, we’re taking the energy to a whole new level.”
The Denver Colfax Marathon race weekend features a distance for every level of runner. The Saturday morning 5K kicks off the weekend of races in City Park, along with the Girls on the Run 5K. Sunday races include the marathon, marathon relay (four divisions), half marathon and urban 10 miler. The Sunday races end in City Park with runners greeted by a finish line festival. Runners, family, and friends are invited to a lakeside party with a live local band, beer garden, and a grilled lunch.
Race weekend events are spread over three days and begin on Friday with the Cigna Denver Colfax Marathon Expo. The expo is on Friday and Saturday, and is expected to welcome 45,000 runners, family, friends, and the public. The expo features over 100 vendors for guests to shop for new sports gear, Colfax-branded merchandise, receive health/wellness tips and free health screenings from Cigna Healthcare.
“Cigna Healthcare is thrilled to sponsor the Denver Colfax Marathon’s landmark 20th year,” said Brett Winingham, General Manager and Growth Leader for Cigna Healthcare Mountain States. “This incredible event is more than a race—it’s a testament to Denver’s spirit, vitality, and the power of community. Every stride brings us closer together, inspiring us to live stronger, connect deeper, and celebrate the amazing city we call home. We can’t wait to see everyone out there, making memories and achieving new goals!”
The Denver Colfax Marathon is a nonprofit (501c3) with a yearly goal of giving back to local charities. Partnering with over 150 nonprofits, the marathon has one of the largest Charity Partner Programs in the country. Nonprofits keep all of the money they raise through the free program, and the marathon also awards money to local nonprofits every year. The marathon will award over $175,000 back to local charities this year at its annual awards evening in June.
As the largest marathon weekend in the 8-state Rocky Mountain Region, the Denver Colfax Marathon has evolved significantly since its inaugural race in 2006. The first marathon hosted 4,000 runners and the 20th year will be the biggest event yet. Online race registration closes at 11:59pm on Wednesday and runners can register in person at the expo on Friday and Saturday. For more information, please visit www.runcolfax.org.