Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — It's an annual rite of passage for local runners and it will happen this Sunday in Hayden.

The 8-mile-plus trek from the Hayden Town Park, up the grueling Cog and then back is a regular on the Clif Steamboat Springs Running Series calendar. This year's edition of the Hayden Cog Run will be no exception

Event coordinator Debbie Alpe said she expects about 100 runners to compete in the weekend's events which includes the 8.4 mile run, as well as the 10- and the 5- kilometer events.

The centerpiece of the weekend, however, will be the notorious Cog Run.

"Lots of locals come out for this one just because they want to add their name to the list of runners who have completed the Cog," Alpe said.

All three of the events will begin at 10 a.m. at the Hayden Town Park. The runners will finish in the same place a little later that morning.

The Cog will test runners with steep climbs and some of the most challenging terrain in any event this summer. The 10K and 5K runs will take place on the rolling hills around Hayden.

Alpe said runners can preregister at the Hayden Town Hall or at the Christy Sports in Steamboat Springs for a reduced cost of $12. Runners can also register the day of the race for $15 at the Hayden Town Park. A special family deal allows an entire family (immediate) to sign up for a reduced cost of $30.

"It's a good deal if mom, dad and the kids want to run," Alpe said.

The Cog Run was started 23 years ago by Mark Fischer and Kim Richardson. The event has survived over the years and is now the oldest running event on the Steamboat Springs Running Series calendar.

Other upcoming events include the Hot Springs Short Cut Run on May 26 and the 20th Annual Steamboat Marathon on June 3.

This year's runner series features 14 events and runs from May through Sept. 23.