The Steamworks Half Marathon is always one of the biggest hits of the year for Durango’s avid running community, and the 2019 edition, which is set for Saturday, will be no different.
The half marathon is one of the most popular races in Southwest Colorado, and while it is smaller than most races – the race is capped at 300 runners – the atmosphere always lives up to the billing.
The race raises more than $5,000 for the Fort Lewis College Scholarship Fund and is always a big hit for runners.
“I’d say the reason why it’s such a popular race is because of how small it is for a half marathon,” race director Matthew Krichman said. “It’s almost intimate. The runners come back every year, they know each other and see familiar faces. There are always a few contenders, but in this race, there are so many first-timers who are trying their first half marathon ever, and who I’d call the ‘middle of the pack’ people who complete it and aren’t necessarily going for a record, they’re just trying to accomplish something.”
Krichman always asks runners if it is their first time attempting a half marathon. He says he gets around 30 to 40 hands raised, which is about 15 percent of the field.
“A big reason why it’s so popular with first-time half marathoners is because it’s a gentle course,” Krichman said. “It’s fairly flat, there are some rolling hills in the second half, but it’s manageable. It’s a race where it’s easy to get into a gentle rhythm and keep it going because it’s such a small race and the course is filled with people who are pushing you on. It really is a special one for doing your first half marathon.”
There will be two starts staggered 45 minutes apart on Saturday. The main field will hit the pavement beginning at 8 a.m. at Bakers Bridge, while the other start begins at 7:15 a.m. to get a head start. Krichman said about 20% of participants choose this option.
“Personally, I’m not aware of another half marathon that does an early start, and it allows the walkers and slower runners to not be left out, so to speak,” Krichman said. “The reason we cap it and do the early start is for the benefit of runners. We care about every single competitor, and really, everybody matters in this race. We want them to have a great time and finish it, and if they need a bit of a head start, that’s great.”
Krichman said looking at the roster, he was surprised to see that last year’s men’s winner, Ian Huang, who also won last year’s Thirsty 13 Half Marathon and the Durango Turkey Trot in November, was not registered for the race.
“Ian is an incredible runner, and I think I’ll have to give him a call to see what he’s up to this weekend,” joked Krichman. “One thing I can tell you who I expect to be up there at the front of the pack will be Maggie Yount and her husband, Sam. They’re both unbelievably talented. But with our defending champion not entered, it really leaves the field wide open.”
Yount and Huang finished the local 2018 races undefeated, as Yount also won both the women’s races in the Thirsty 13, Steamworks and the Turkey Trot.
“Maggie doesn’t know the definition of a fun run; she’s so strong in these long-distance races,” Krichman said. “Assuming that something doesn’t happen between now and Saturday, if all goes as planned, I think she’s going to be very tough to beat.”
The race, which will be primarily run on County Road 250, should not affect traffic, but Krichman added that cars should be aware of the race and should be considerate when driving past runners.
The final leg of the race, a tenth-of-a-mile on Florida Road, will have a police officer directing traffic for runners to cross the street. Drivers should be aware of the finish, which should happen around 10 a.m. as runners head across the street to the finish line at the Durango Sports Club.
At the Sports Club, Steamworks will have beer, food and a massage table for runners, and there will be a pool party following the race.
“There’s nothing better than finishing that race and jumping into the pool with a beer in your hands knowing you completed a half marathon,” Krichman said “It’s going to be a perfect race day, and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”
The 13.1-mile race will have six aid stations scattered throughout the course, starting at mile 2½ and roughly every 1.8 miles after that.
Krichman added that while the Steamworks Half Marathon is at capacity, there are still some spots left for the Thirsty 13 in August, which draws 700 runners and is the most popular half marathon in the region.
“Durango runners tend to sign up at the last minute, but we’re almost sold out already,” Krichman said. “This is going to be our sixth year doing that race, and every year it sells out sooner than the previous year. If you missed out on the deadline for the Steamworks, you can still sign up for the Thirsty 13, but it really is almost sold out, so don’t delay if you’re considering competing in it.”
bploen@durangoherald.com
If you go
WHAT:
Steamworks Half Marathon
WHEN:
7:15 a.m. Saturday
WHERE:
County Road 250, finish line at Durango Sports Club, 1600 Florida Road
For more information, go to:
http://bit.ly/2WFBAkV.
