17 running, walking, and fun run events in Arvada, Colorado
From big races to Saturday morning group runs—find running, walking, and fun run events and connect with the local endurance sports community.
Arvada
17 events in Arvada-
Sun, Feb 15, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
The Ralston Creek races feature a fun winter half-marathon and 5K run conveniently located on the west side of the Denver Metro Area in Arvada, Colorado. The courses cover a scenic mix of road and bike path over rolling terrain, and an optional early start time for half-marathon runners who expect to take more than 2 hours 45 minutes to complete the course!
Half-Marathon entry is limited to the first 650 registrations. 5K registration is limited to the first 350 entries. Once a distance has filled, we cannot accept any additional entries for that distance.
Your entry fee includes entry into the race, a finisher's medal (for half-marathon runners who complete the course), FREE race photo downloads, fun music, hot cocoa and tasty quesadillas fresh off the grill!!!
Long sleeve adult tech shirts will be included with all half marathon entries. 5k entries will come with a short sleeve t-shirt or an upgrade to a long sleeve tech shirt for $5.
The post-race festivities will continue at the nearby Colorado Tap House located just above our 2 & 11 mile aid station on Ralston Creek trail (14982 W.69th Ave by car) where you can show you race bib any time on race day and receive $2 off a beverage item of your choice. With 30 taps there are plenty of beer options, but also cider, seltzer, wine and cocktails. They serve coffee drinks, kombucha, CBD Cider, Tommyknocker N/A Beer, Root Beer and soft drinks. They also serve small food items and the food truck of the day rolls up at noon!
This is also the final race in the Racing Underground Winter Running Series. The three-race series includes the Stocking Run 5K in December, the Yeti Chase 5K/10K in January, and the Ralston Creek Half-Marathon & 5K in February. Choose from the 5K-5K-5K series or the 5K-10K-Half Marathon Series.
WINTER RUNNING SERIES
Series Finisher Awards to all runners who finish all three series races, and Overall Awards to the top series finisher in each age category!
December 13, 2025: Superior Stocking Run 5K (Superior, Colorado)
January 25, 2026: Yeti Chase 5K/10K (Lakewood, Colorado)
February 15, 2026: Ralston Creek Half Marathon & 5K (Arvada, Colorado)
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Sat, Mar 07, 2026 at 10:00 AMSee full details
Join us for our take on the Beer Mile and/or the Donut Hole Mile to be held as part of our 4th Year Anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 7th, 2026!
In the spirit of a traditional Beer Mile format, you'll have to drink one 12oz beer before running each quarter mile. Since we don't have a track at the Tap House, our course will be a quarter mile out and back loops alternating directions (starting eastbound) along Ralston Creek Trail. If you are looking to break the Guinness World Record you will need to look elsewhere ... but if you are the top male individual finisher, top female individual finisher or top team finisher, you will earn your spot on the Tap House Wall of Champions plaque! If your beer mile training level isn't quite there yet, grab a partner and sign up as a 2-person team and enjoy half the beer with twice the fun!
But first, we'll start with our family friendly Donut Hole Mile! Run in the same way as a Beer Mile ibut you eat progressively more donut holes before on each leg... 1 donut hole before the 1st quarter mile, 2 before the 2nd, 3 before you run your 3rd quarter mile and, of course, 4 right before you head out for the last leg of the mile for a grand total of 10 donut holes! Each runner will consume 5 glazed and 5 chocolate donut holes.
Due to congestion in the transition area, no strollers or dogs are allowed.
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Sun, Mar 22, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
From the base of Table Mountain and Colorado's spectacular foothills, All-Out Multicourse presents our 13th annual Spring Fever from Jefferson County's NAAC Stadium… easily accessible from several nearby highways. Along with its Endless Series sidekick in October, Kooky-Spooky, these 5K, 10K & Half Marathon courses will hug the shores of Arvada's Blunn Reservoir via the Ralston Creek Trail and will challenge the beginner and veteran athlete alike!
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Sun, Apr 12, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Welcome to the SPRING FLING Prairie Dog Half, part of the Prairie Dog Half Race Series. This spring-time event also features 10k & 5k distances!
If you're looking for race day info (including, schedule, course, packet pick up, etc) navigate to the menu under "race info" at the top!
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Sun, May 17, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
This family friendly event begins and ends on the track at the North Area Athletic Complex (NAAC) in Arvada with a scenic trek along the Fairmount Trail in the middle. Following the 5K there is a 50-yard Jordyn's Adaptive Dash where children with disabilities will show off their speed using adaptive equipment to walk, roll or ride to the finish line. This special event is a huge hit with spectators and participants alike.
We know you love your pooch and we're sure we would as well, but only service dogs with proper documentation are allowed inside the stadium at NAAC. For this reason, we ask that you leave your four-legged friends at home.
Packet pick-up is available on Saturday, May 16 from 3:00-5:00 at Barquentine Brewing Company at Edgewater Public Market. You may also pick up your packet on race morning from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at NAAC.
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Sat, Jun 13, 2026 at 7:00 AMSee full details
Join us for our 14th annual Summer Breeze, benefiting the Food Bank of the Rockies! This event features 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon courses that meander along the Van Bibber Creek Trail, offering breathtaking views of Arvada's open spaces and Table Mountain. The courses are relatively flat, so prepare for a personal record! And continue your achievements with its endless series counterpart, Polar Prowl.
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Sun, Jun 21, 2026 at 7:30 AM
It's an annual Fathers Day tradition in Arvada! All are welcome - walkers, joggers and speed demons, too! Swag includes t-shirts for ALL participants! The Fun Run is an un-timed 1 mile out and back run/walk and the MANLY MILE is open to men and is a TIMED race!
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Sat, Aug 08, 2026 at 7:00 AMSee full details
As the summer mornings start to cool, join us for a fantastic end-of-season celebration at our 14th annual Runapalooza! From our new venue at Colorado Tap House, you'll have the chance to tackle relatively gentle 5K and 10K courses that go along the acclaimed Ralston Creek Trail, taking you through shady, creekside beaty along Arvada's picturesque open spaces and charming golf course communities. Or our challenging half marathon course that combines the beauty of the Ralston Creek Trail with the challenging Blunn Reservoir loop with its gorgeous Denver and Front Range views. This event, paired with its Endless Series' counterpart Mardi Crawl, offers a can't-miss opportunity to experience the best of what Colorado has to offer!
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Sat, Sep 05, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Lace up your shoes and join us for the Demon Dash at its new course at the NAAC! We're excited to bring this course its new home and onto dirt! Whether you are a runner or walker, this will be a fun community event for all.
This year's race will follow the high school races at the Demons Invite, so make plans to come on out early to support them before you race. High school races start at 8:15am.
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Sat, Sep 19, 2026 at 8:00 AMSee full details
The race benefits THE United States Marine Corps Memorial dedicated "to all Marines for all time" to "Honor Marines and remember all who serve". Lives are changed when veterans visit the Memorial - learn more on the web site at Https://USMCMemorialFoundation.org Funds help maintain flags, lights, and what we have until funds can be raised to remodel the memorial.
Race Location:
Colorado Tap House
14982 W 69th Ave, Arvada, CO 80007
Parking:
There will be specific parking for the race - follow the signs
Course:
This is a very simple 5K and trail is well marked. There are a couple of streets to cross and guards will assist with that.
Walking and kids are welcome…
Awards
Top 3 male and top 3 female runners
Top 3 male and female in following age brackets: 20 & Under, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61 & Over
Those who finish the race receive a collectible dog tag as they cross the finish line from a veteran volunteer!
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Sat, Oct 24, 2026 at 4:00 AMSee full details
Voted Best of the Best in Arvada for Non Profit Events by Colorado Community Media! Join the Apex Foundation for the 6th Anniversary Trick or Trot 5K, presented by Intermountain Health! Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are all welcome to join us for this Halloween celebration. Dress in your Halloween best for a chance to win prizes for the costume contest. Contest categories include Best 12 & Under, Best Couple, Best Group, Best Homemade, and Best Pet costumes.
There will be a separate 1-mile Trick or Trot Candy Hunt for kids 12 & under. Kids can grab candy at our designated trick or trot stations along the 1-mile course. Participants will need to register for this event specifically, as it is separate from the 5K race. Kids registered in the 5k race receive automatic entry to Halloween Hunt. One parent/guardian is encouraged to join but does not need to register. Course giveaways will be available for registered participants only.
Registered 5K participants will receive an event giveaway item, swag bag, and a chance to win great prizes!
Proceeds from this event benefit the Apex Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose purpose is to support Apex Park and Recreation District’s efforts to deliver quality community recreation. https://foundation.apexprd.org/who-we-are/
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Sun, Nov 01, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
From the base of Table Mountain and Colorado's spectacular foothills, All-Out Multicourse presents our 15th annual Kooky-Spooky from Jefferson County's NAAC Stadium… easily accessible from several nearby highways. Along with its Endless Series sidekick in March, Spring Fever, these 5K, 10K & Half Marathon courses will hug the shores of Arvada's Blunn Reservoir via the Ralston Creek Trail and will challenge the beginner and veteran athlete alike! Of course, we'll still be celebrating the Halloween spirit so re-use your Halloween costume for our official costume contest. And especially revel in the extra hour of sleep you get as Nov. 1 is the end of daylight savings time!
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Sat, Nov 21, 2026 at 8:30 AMSee full details
This is not your run of the mill 'Turkey Trot.' This is the Turkey TREK! Are you up for the challenge? Run a steady uphill climb to the summit of the course at the 3 mile mark. Poised at the top of the hill is the infamous EGG NOG CHUG Challenge where racers (have the option) to chug 5 oz of eggnog. (Those who 'chug' are entered to win a new pair of shoes!) It's windy and wild at the top and the limitless views are UNMATCHED. Run the ridge for a mile before starting the more gradual, yet still winding, descent down the east side of the mesa. Once down the hill, racers encounter a relatively flat straight-away peppered with HAY BALES for the hay bale hop challenge. Continuing the clock-wise loop back into the park, runners find the final challenge - just one kilometer from the finish: Fill Your Pie Hole Challenge. A fresh portion of holiday pumpkin pie awaits racers there. Once the pie is 'down the hatch', the joy of the finish line isn't far away. Is this a course on which to set
a personal record? Hah! This is the course to BRAG about completing - with ALL of its holiday-themed challenges. Are you ready to conquer it?
We know that some of you require a bit more training before attempting the 10k loop. 5k and 2k distances are also offered, with a small 'taste' of the full course of challenges!
For those of you who eat hills for breakfast and wash them down with egg nog on the daily, a bigger challenge is offered at the 2025 event. New this year, the HALF TURKEY!! The HALF TURKEY visits all the challenges offered to the 10k Trek runners, and adds some mileage to get you to the 13.1 mile distance. HALF TURKEY finishers receive a MUG at the finish line to commemorate their accomplishments!
RACE LOCATION:
LONG LAKE REGIONAL PARK, ARVADA. CLICK HERE for DRIVING DIRECTIONS.
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Fri, Jan 01, 2027 at 10:00 AMSee full details
The Resolute Runner 5K is the KICK OFF PARTY OF THE YEAR! It's time to be RESOLUTE, to retroactively earn your pumpkin pie and chocolate truffles, and to start the new year on the right foot, literally!
The course starts at Johnny Roberts Memorial Park in Arvada, CO, and winds through the beautiful Ralston Creek Trail. It really is quite a scenic race! As you run, all of your fans will be able to see you from the start line, then walk less than 1/3 of a mile to see you at two different points before cheering on your finish. This is a very spectator friendly venue and a great way to kick off the New Year!
Be a part of our community-based race as we partner with Community Table to restock their cupboards after a busy holiday season.
Join a team of 5 or more and everyone saves $5! See our FAQ page for more info!
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Sat, Jan 09, 2027 at 9:00 AMSee full details
Join us for the 14th annual Polar Prowl at the Stenger Sports Complex in Arvada, CO! As the first Denver-area half marathon of the year, this event features 5K, 10K, and half marathon courses that meander along the Van Bibber Creek Trail, offering breathtaking views of Arvada's open spaces and Table Mountain. Because the courses are relatively flat, it is the perfect opportunity to chase a personal record or secure a qualifying time for the BOLDERBoulder. We are proud to support Penguins International with this event, and we invite you to join our penguin costume contest. The layout is incredibly spectator-friendly, featuring a viewing area just a short walk from the venue where fans can cheer on half marathoners three times and 5K or 10K athletes once before they hit the finish line.
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Sat, Feb 06, 2027 at 9:00 AMSee full details
Get ready for the 11th annual Mardi Crawl, where we blend a wonderful winter run with a festive Mardi Gras celebration, Colorado-style! Starting from the amazing Colorado Tap House in Arvada, you can choose your challenge: relatively gentle 5K and 10K courses, or a more challenging half marathon course. All races take you along the acclaimed Ralston Creek Trail, featuring shady, creekside beauty through Arvada's picturesque open spaces and charming golf course communities. Mardi Crawl is also an official BOLDERBoulder Qualifying event! Use your finish time from any distance in this race to qualify for BOLDERBoulder's qualified waves. This event also is part of the endless series with Runapalooza. This is a can't-miss opportunity to experience the best of what Colorado has to offer!
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Sat, Feb 13, 2027 at 10:00 AMSee full details
Are you a Heart Throb? Grab your best running buddy and come on out to Johnny Roberts Memorial Park just down from Olde Town Arvada. Celebrate the ability to get your heart pumping by cruising through this flat and fast 5k run (or walk!) Many participants choose this event to 'earn' the rich foods they will consume on Valentine's Day! You don't have to be fast to get that heart churning. Be a Heart Throb! Sign Up today!