2027 The Choice City Running Event

Fort Collins, Colorado, is a running town, and the Human Race Half Marathon is its late-summer celebration. The half marathon starts at 6:30 a.m., ahead of the 10K and 5K, sending runners through the city's flat, fast streets. With negligible elevation change, the course is built for quick times—the kind of race where personal bests happen. The field is intimate: about 130 finishers in a typical year, with runners traveling from as far as 11 states. Roughly one in five returns, a sign of quiet loyalty. The race is part of a weekend that includes the Jane Welzel Mountain Avenue Mile, a point-to-point downhill mile with waves from kids to elites. That mile brings a dash of speed and spectacle, but the half marathon remains the centerpiece—a low-key, locally flavored event where the competition is honest and the support is genuine. If you're chasing a fast time or a Boston qualifier, this flat course and small field offer a clear shot. And if you're looking for a race with small-town warmth and big-time potential, Fort Collins delivers.