Virginia Canyon is for Lovers

This Valentine's Day, grab your favorite human and join us for a partner race celebrating love in all its forms: true romance, bromance, or simply a love for running! The course is an out-and-back on Virginia Canyon road, because in Clear Creek County, Virginia Canyon is for Lovers!

Race Details

• Saturday, February 14, 2026

• Start/Finish in Courtney Ryley Cooper Park, 2350 Colorado blvd, Idaho Springs, CO

• Race starts at 10am, check-in begins at 9:30am

• The course is a ~12 mile out-and-back on Virginia Canyon road: Course map here

The Rules of Love

• This is a 2-person team race

• Partners can be romantic, platonic or purely athletic

• Each runner must register individually

• You'll provide the name of your partner and share your love story below

• You're a true lone wolf? Don't have a partner? No problem! Sign up solo, but you'll be trusting us to play matchmaker!

Race Format

• Each runner completes the entire out-and-back course

• You will receive a stamp at the turnaround

• Each runner earns an individual time

• Team time = Runner A time + Runner B time

• Run together, run apart, sprint the finish hand-in-hand, it's up to you!

Awards

• The team with the lowest combined time wins: Overall Power Couple!

• The fastest couple who sticks together from start to finish wins the: Get-A-Room award!

Additional awards will be given to the couple with the:

• Best love story

• Most dramatic love story

• Best bromance

Categories may evolve depending on the love stories we receive... so don't hold back! Give us all the lovey details!

What to know

Gold Roots races are backyard-style events. Your official time is recorded by our eyes on the clock as you cross the line, and we'll check for your turnaround stamp too. The course will not be closed to traffic, so please be mindful of your safety at all times. At Gold Roots, we're about community, connection and sharing joy on trail. All running levels welcome! Grab a partner and come see why Virginia Canyon is for Lovers!