We’ve brought you information about bike races and motorcycle rallies in the Four Corners region, and now we’re letting you in on some foot races in the area.
Some of these races are short 5K or 10K fun runs and some are marathon races, half marathons, or 10-mile runs. Put on your favorite running shoes and sign up for a foot race in one of these exciting running races in the Four Corners.
Whichever race or races you choose to participate in, you’ll need some great running shoes. Brown’s Shoe Fit in Farmington has the right shoe for every event, including running shoes, perfect for any of these foot races.
Foot Races Near Farmington, New Mexico
Dash to the Draft
Date: April 20, 2024 Time: 5 p.m. Location: Youth Center, Shiprock, New Mexico Registration fee: $20
This popular race is held in Farmington every April. It’s a 5K walk or run event. Everyone who registers gets a free beer, a commemorative pint glass, and a T-shirt.
Shiprock Marathon 5K Fun Run
Date: May 3, 2024 Time: 4 to 7 p.m. Location: Youth Center, 4198 US-491, Shiprock, New Mexico Registration fee: $40
This 5K race is the lead-in event to the Shiprock Marathon and Half Marathon events that take place the following day. Runners will cover the Blueberry Hill course, starting and ending at the Youth Center in town.
Shiprock Marathon Half Marathon and Marathon
Date: May 4, 2024 Time: 7:30 a.m. to midnight Location: Shiprock High School, Shiprock New Mexico Registration fee: Half marathon: $75; Marathon: $95
The marathon kicks off at Shiprock High School (adjacent to the football field), circling completely around Shiprock Pinnacle before concluding at Diné College. The half marathon starts at the high school and finishes at Diné College.
Southwest Series — Day 1: Farmington, New Mexico
Date: November 10, 2024 Time: 7 a.m. MST Location: Berg Park River Trail Registration fees: Marathon: $110; Half Marathon: $95; 5K: $45
This race has something for everyone, including a 5K, 13.1-mile half marathon, and 26.2-mile marathon. It’s one of several marathons that make up the Southwest Series of Marathons, and this race in Farmington gets the series going.
All of the Southwest Series races have a “no runner left behind” policy, which means that no matter how long it takes you, someone will be waiting for you at the finish line.
The race course, a mix of gravel, pavement, and a section with pavers, is a loop consisting of 12 laps for the marathon. Because the course is a loop, there’s only one aid station that you can visit on each loop, but it has everything a runner could need, from sandwiches to jelly beans, along with the race standards of granola bars and bananas. There’s even a mobile kitchen! With no motorized vehicles in this race, it should be a pleasant run on a beautiful spring day.
As a runner considering these races, you know how important proper footwear is. That’s true for whatever you’re doing, but it’s especially important for an endeavor as demanding as a marathon. It’s great to know that Brown’s Shoe Fit in Farmington has a full line-up of running shoes that will see you through any race. Stop by and pick out your next pair.
Foot Races Near Durango, Colorado
Southwest Colorado FCA 5K
Date: April 20, 2024 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Durango Recreation Center Registration fee: $30
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosts this 5K, and all proceeds go towards summer camp scholarships for FCA high school athletes. The trail is an out-and-back run on the river trail.
Vallecito Lake Heavy Half
Date: May 11, 2024 Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MDT Location: Vallecito Lake, near Bayfield, Colorado Registration fee: $70
The Vallecito Lake Heavy Half Marathon offers a breathtaking route around Vallecito Lake in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. This unique course, approximately 13.8 miles, circles the Vallecito Reservoir and includes a stretch over the Vallecito Dam. It presents a rare opportunity to circle the lake, including a section through private lands usually closed to public access.
Following the race, participants can enjoy an exceptional post-race meal courtesy of Rocky Mountain General Store and Meats, offering ample vegetarian options as well. This event is not just a race but also a social gathering in the stunning Vallecito Valley and serves as a fundraiser for local nonprofits.
Due to its growing popularity, the race should reach its 200-runner limit quickly in 2024, so early registration is advised. A waitlist will be available once it sells out. Durango Running Club members enjoy a 10% discount.
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Narrow Gauge 10 Mile
Date: May 26, 2024 Times: 10-mile race starts at 8 a.m. MDT; 5K starts at 8:10 a.m. MDT Location: Santa Rita Park, Durango Registration fees: 5K: $35; 10-mile: $65
This is the longest continuously run race in Colorado! This Memorial Day tradition dates back to 1978 and takes place at Santa Rita Park. It includes a 10-mile race, a 5K, and a free 1-mile fun run for kids. Participants receive a T-shirt and a pint glass.
Steamworks Half Marathon
Date: June 8, 2024 Time: 7 a.m. MST Location: 1600 Florida Rd., Durango Registration fee: $79
The Steamworks Half Marathon is set in the San Juan Mountains at 6,500 feet above sea level. This challenging 13.1-mile race is a point-to-point course certified by the USATF. Participants will run down County Road 250 beside the stunning Animas River, concluding the race at Durango Fitness Club on Florida Road. Post-race festivities include a pool party at the Durango Fitness Club featuring food and drinks provided by Steamworks Brewing and Homeslice Pizza. With a limit of 300 runners, participants are encouraged to register early to secure their spot.
Kennebec Mountain Run
Date: April 3, 2024 Time: 8 a.m. MST Location: County Road 124, Hesperus, Colorado Registration fee: $40 for early registration; $59 for late registration.
The Kennebec Mountain Run features a 15-mile trail through the La Plata Mountains in southwest Colorado, with proceeds supporting La Plata County Search & Rescue. This stunning route climbs up La Plata Canyon, passes through the Cumberland Basin and the “Notch,” crosses the southern pass of Snowstorm Peak, and descends through Columbus Basin, concluding with a return down the Canyon Road to the starting point at elevations of 9,600 feet. Participants will navigate rugged, rocky mountain trails throughout the course.
You’ll definitely want trail running shoes for this race. Brown’s Shoe Fit in Farmington has a good selection of shoes that work well on rough, unpaved trails, ensuring a good grip as you move across rocky surfaces and uneven areas like the terrain in the Kennebec Mountain Run.
Thirsty 13 Half Marathon
Date: August 24, 2024 Time: 8 a.m. MST Location: 225 Girard St., Durango Registration fees: Just the race, no Brewfest ticket: $85; Race plus Brewfest: $115
Kick-off at a church and cross the finish line at a brewery! This race, celebrated for its scenic beauty and swift course, begins at Hesperus Church, weaves through the stunning Wildcat Canyon, skirts picturesque Lake Nighthorse, and culminates in the beer garden at Ska Brewing. The route is mostly downhill, with a 1,400-foot drop in elevation from start to finish.
At the finish line, officials greet runners with a Thirsty 13 finisher’s mug, which you can take straight to the bar for a complimentary Ska beer. The awards ceremony starts at 11 a.m.
Valkyrie Multisport Relay
Date: September 14, 2024 Time: 6 a.m. MST Location: Santa Rita Park, Durango Registration fees: Fees vary depending on the events.
Hosted by CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital, the Valkyrie Multisport Relay is a remarkable showcase of athletic prowess and team spirit set against the stunning backdrop of Durango, Colorado. This event brings together a diverse mix of 7 thrilling sports into one team relay, including road running, trail running, mountain biking, stand-up paddle boarding, open water swimming, road cycling, and canoe/kayak paddling, all within the convenience of the town’s limits.
Bayfield Heritage Days 5K
Date: September 28, 2024 Time: 8 a.m. MST Location: Santa Rita Park, Durango Registration fees: Check for registration information closer to the date of the event.
This event might be the most unusual one on the list. The Lasater family started this annual event in 2000 when they chose to include the town in their annual sheep movement. The sheep come home from the high country to the valley and walk through town. Although the Lasaters no longer participate in the event, the Brown family continues the tradition. Proceeds go to the local 4H club.
This event, along with a 5K fun run, is part of the annual Bayfield Heritage Days event, when ranchers honor the rural lifestyle of the surrounding area. The day starts with the 5K run, and the sheep stroll through town while onlookers watch them go by. While your dog might love this event, for the safety of dogs and sheep, they are not allowed.
Southwest Series — Day 2: Durango
Date: November 11, 2024 Time: 7 a.m. MST Location: Riverwalk Trail Registration fees: Marathon: $110; Half Marathon: $95; 5K: $45
Day two of the Southwest Series Marathon starts at the fairgrounds near the Riverwalk Trail. In this race, runners head off and then make a semi-circle loop back to the main path, mostly paved with a short gravel section.
Runners will start at the fairgrounds near bleachers and baseball fields, then head out into open spaces. The great thing about this race is that the track is a footpath with no motorized vehicles.
Foot Races in Utah
Southwest Series — Day 3: Bluff, Utah
Date: November 12, 2024 Time: 7 a.m. MST Location: Stage at the Community Center Registration fees: Marathon: $110; Half Marathon: $95; 5K: $45
Day three of the Southwest Series Marathon starts in the town of Bluff, Utah, and goes through parts of a neighborhood before runners are out in the country with views of bluffs and desert scenery. The race path is paved in some portions and gravel in other sections.
Foot Races in Arizona
Louis Tewanima Footrace
Date: September 3, 2024 Time: 7 a.m. MST Location: Second Mesa Baseball Field, Second Mesa, Arizona
This one is worth mentioning because there’s a Native American connection. The race occurs every Labor Day weekend in the heart of Hopi country in Second Mesa, Arizona. It features a 10K and a 5K race. The registration fees for the 2024 races have not been determined yet.
According to Johnathan Thompson, who wrote an article about the race after participating one year, “But this race is special, and not just because of the spectacular location. It is a memorial to Louis Tewanima, a Hopi who won the silver medal in the 10,000-meter run at the 1912 Olympics, becoming the only American to medal in the event until 1964, when Billy Mills, a Sioux, won gold. It’s part of a long Hopi tradition of running for ceremony as well as competition, and it gives racers and spectators a chance to enter the hidden world of a famously reserved people.”
Southwest Series — Day 4: Flagstaff, Arizona
Date: November 13, 2024 Time: 7 a.m. MST Location: Buffalo Park, 2400 N. Gemini Rd. Registration fees: Marathon: $110; Half Marathon: $95; 5K: $45
The Southwest Series Day 4 takes place in Flagstaff. It features an out-and-back path, and runners repeat that route for 12 laps. Participants run on a footpath amongst pine trees and beautiful mountain views.
If you want to participate in day five or day six, you’ll have to head to Nevada and California for those races.
