A race should be a celebration of sorts for the place in which it is held. A showcase of the location for the riders or runners who often travel long distances just for that event. Most races are based around the city or place where it is held - The Seattle Marathon, the Tour de France, the Bolder Boulder and so on. Ideally, the race route rises to the occasion, providing a challenging race while at the same time giving its participants a reason to come back year after year.
This is of course my ideal race, and thanks to the persuasive abilities of Max, I headed up to Aspen for the Golden Leaf Half Marathon to race in, what is now, by far, the best race setting I have experienced (although the Seattle Marathon and the Shamrock Run are both fantastic as well). The race starts at the base of Snowmass Mountain with a 1.5 mile climb up access roads to the beginning of Goverment Trail. This is a serious climb, gaining almost 800 feet before the trail cutoff. It fractured the entire pack of runners almost immediately. 
Thankfully, after the first section, the race turns down onto the singletrack and heads slightly downhill for most of the race. The trail is narrow, strewn with rocks and branches and passing people was difficult. However, the race runs through meadow after meadow full of Aspens that have already turned for the Fall. With my eyes constantly on the ground in front of me to prevent myself from tripping, I couldn't help looking up toward the trees and trying to take the whole scene it.
After the race winds through both Snowmass and Buttermilk it dumps you into the Maroon Creek area, where it picks up the bike path, and a dirt path through a meadow, before eventually winding into the streets of Aspen, where it finishes at Koch Park, at the base of Aspen Mountain. The finish area added icing to the cake. Great food, lots of water, and a raffle that gives a way a ton (as in, so much that Max said that almost everyone gets something. Except for me). And all of this for only a $35.00 registration fee. It was incredible, and made me want to move up to Aspen even more. The whole vibe was very inclusive and community oriented. Definitely my new favorite race.
Thankfully, after the first section, the race turns down onto the singletrack and heads slightly downhill for most of the race. The trail is narrow, strewn with rocks and branches and passing people was difficult. However, the race runs through meadow after meadow full of Aspens that have already turned for the Fall. With my eyes constantly on the ground in front of me to prevent myself from tripping, I couldn't help looking up toward the trees and trying to take the whole scene it.After the race winds through both Snowmass and Buttermilk it dumps you into the Maroon Creek area, where it picks up the bike path, and a dirt path through a meadow, before eventually winding into the streets of Aspen, where it finishes at Koch Park, at the base of Aspen Mountain. The finish area added icing to the cake. Great food, lots of water, and a raffle that gives a way a ton (as in, so much that Max said that almost everyone gets something. Except for me). And all of this for only a $35.00 registration fee. It was incredible, and made me want to move up to Aspen even more. The whole vibe was very inclusive and community oriented. Definitely my new favorite race.
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