Vasque Golden Leaf Half Marathon
Presented by Ute Mountaineer & City of Aspen Parks & Recreation
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Voted by Colorado Runner as the Best Half Marathon & chosen by Trail Runner Magazine as one of "America's 14 most scenic races" and Colorado Runner Magazine as the "Best Half Marathon", the Golden Leaf is one of the most beautiful foot races in the Rockies. This 13.3 mile half marathon traverses from Snowmass Village to the heart of Aspen on mountain trails and roads at the height of Colorado's breathtaking fall colors.
Maximum Race Participation: TBA
Wave Starts:
In an effort to reduce congestion on the race course, wave starts will be introduced for 2009. Wave placement will be based on historical and estimated finish times. You can determine which wave you are in when you pick up your bib-the wave number will be written on the bib. If you do not provide a time, you will be placed in wave 4. The waves will start 5 minutes apart: Wave 1 @ 8:30, Wave 2 @ 8:35, Wave 3 @ 8:40, Wave 4 @ 8:45.
Cost and Registration
TBA
Lodging
https://specialevents.bookaspensnowmass.com/ OR 1-877-831-5645
Race Packet Pick-up
TBA
Timing Chips
Timing Chips will be given out at the race start from 7am-8am. Lost chips will be charged $50. All Participants must obtain a timing chip or they will not receive a finish time!
Race Cancellation
For the first time in 28 The Golden Leaf was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. In our research of weather patterns over the last 5 years there is no strong indication that this cancellation due to weather will become a trend. Under such conditions, every effort will be made to hold the race, but the director reserves the right to delay, shorten or even cancel the event. There will be no refunds in the event of race cancellation.
Aid Station
Aid stations with medical assistance and beverages will be available for the running race at approximately 1.5, 5.5 and 9 miles. These aid stations will be closed at approximately 1 hr, 1hr 45 min and 3 hrs after the start of the race respectively. We cannot stress enough that this is not a walking race and that participants should factor that into their decisions to participate in this race.
Course Description
The Golden Leaf starts on Fanny Hill just off the pedestrian mall in Snowmass Village at an elevation of about 8650ft. The course climbs up a ski area access road along the Dawdler run for about 1 mile until a "T" in the road. Turn left and follow this road a couple of hundred yards to a pond where there is a fork in the road. Take the right fork (the pond will be on your left)and ascend to the 1st aid station at about 1.5 miles (elevation approximately 9620 feet) The Government Trail intersects the road at this point and will cross under the Burlingame chair lift. The Government Trail is a single track that contours the mountainsides between Snowmass and Buttermilk before descending to the outskirts of Aspen. The trail is dirt with some obstacles (rocks, roots, etc.) and the terrain is hilly aspen forests and meadows. The first section is a rolling descent across Snowmass Ski Area. At about 2.25 miles, the trail merges with a dirt road. Proceed downhill on this road and look for the trail to your right after 100 yards. Just after the three mile mark the trail merges with an abandoned work road. Follow this road to the left and slightly downhill until you see the trail resume again on your left. Follow the trail down a steep hill, cross the Elk Camp road and continue down a long gradual hill to a meadow. Just before the five mile marker, there is a significant hill climb of about 300ft. (elevation approximately 9400ft.) Shortly after, at about 5.5 mi., you are rewarded with an aid station followed by some relatively flat to declining terrain.
The next landmark is a Forest Service gate followed by a very rocky flat section (approximately 7 mi.). Subsequently, the course begins a gradual descent across Buttermilk. Just before 8 miles, the trail begins an extended steeper descent into Maroon Creek. One section of the downhill is a power line cut followed by an intersection with a service road. Abandon the trail and follow the road for about 400 yards, even though the trail falls steeply off to the left. The 10 mile aid station is on this short road section. The trail from the aid station diagonals across the ski slope following first a double track then a single track until it
leaves the eastern margin of the ski area. The trail then winds down to the Tiehack road which is followed to the north until taking a hard right onto the Terral-Wade bridge. After crossing the bridge the route leaves the asphalt, taking a trail to the left (thru the Moore Property). After about a mile running in the sage the route leads out onto the Maroon Creek Pedestrian bridge, takes a left onto the bike path and takes the next left onto the Castle Creek Pedestrian bridge. On the path leaving the bridge where it takes a hard left the route takes a hard right instead. Follow a single track by a pond on the right. The path goes left here and diagonals to the community garden across the parapet/hanglider landing zone. The route goes right where the access to the garden is on the left and follows double tracks to the bike path leading over the
Marolt bridge. Taking a left off of the bridge onto 7th street the route leads to Hopkins Ave. where it follows the adjacent bike path a few blocks until the turn up to Little Cloud Park. After taking this turn, a hard left is taken onto the dirt path on the old train right of way. The path is followed a few hundred yards to the finish line.
FOR PAST RACE RESULTS CLICK HERE
2009 Race Results -
Overall Results
Class and Gender
Overall Results by Gender
Contact Information:
Phone: 970-429-2093
Contact: Sandy Doebler
E-Mail: sandrad@ci.aspen.co.us
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