Three Creeks Half Marathon

Runners get the chance to follow a beautiful and mostly flat course along the winding trails of Denver’s Cherry Creek State Park at this race, which features a combined total elevation gain of just 291 feet over the course of the entire 13.1 miles of the half marathon — which means it should feel largely flat the whole way through. You’ll start the race at the Hobie Hill parking lot just off Dam Road inside the 4,000-acre park, which is open year-round and well-known for its huge lake and plentiful trails through its woodlands, where you can take in views of the Rocky Mountains in the distance. From there, the course heads south and east along the Cherry Creek Trail, staying close to the lake for the first couple of miles. Later, you’ll run along stretches of the Cottonwood Creek Trail and the Windmill Creek Loop Trail. Organizers note that you’ll encounter a combination of running on roads, paved trails and dirt trails, including stretches through the wetland preserve inside the park.