I recently ran the Steamboat Marathon on June 1st 2008. This was my 5th marathon and it was the most scenic to date. Others I have run include LA, San Diego, Chicago, and Pikes Peak.
To start the race, we were bussed 26.2 miles out of town where they dropped us off around 6:30am. The total amount of runners was between 400-500. The temperature was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the sun was shining. With the race starting at 8,192feet and ending at 6,687 feet, the temperature became warmer as we descended and by the end of the race, the temperature reached 75 degrees for me. I ran a 3:32, so it was a little warmer towards the end for others running at a slower pace.
The reason I am writing this story is because this was one of the most amazing sceneries I have seen in a race. With all the snow Steamboat received, the mountains and valleys were so green, I felt like I was back on the east coast. There were also many sections of the race where you ran alongside a roaring mountain stream that helped keep your mind off the run and kept you mind in awe of how lucky I was to be in such a beautiful place.
I do have to give my shout out to Team in Training who I trained with. This group is a great place for beginners to get into endurance sports and raise money for a great cause at the same time. Coach Jenn especially helped out and she paced me in the last 1/2 mile and the other 40 runners! (Thanks Jenn!)
Overall, if you are looking for a scenic race in the Spring and can handle the elevation, I would like to offer my two thumbs up for the Steamboat Marathon.