Tuesday Trails runners will run at Tiehack in the summer of 2023.
Christine Lane/Photo courtesy
Looking to get started running and make some friends in the Roaring Fork Valley? Tuesday Trails is a running club that meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm in the Tyhack parking lot for an hour-long run on local trails.
Kristin Lane started a group run with friends in the summer of 2023 after seeing other groups in the valley start to drop out. Since then, the group has grown to about 80 participants and has received support from local businesses like Ute Mountaineer and Paradise Bakery, who donate raffle prizes and food, as well as shoe demos hosted by Dynafit.
“When you first start running, even three miles can be a struggle,” Laing says, “but by the end of the season or even the following summer, some people are much stronger and more skilled. That's what's so great about running.”
The group cycles through three different running levels of difficulty throughout the meet. All three are about 3-5 miles long and run times are around an hour, but the main difference is the difficulty of the trails.
The easiest, the “green” run, is about three miles with a 300-foot elevation drop to the Aspen High School cross country trails. The next most difficult, the “blue” run, is five miles with a 1,000-foot elevation change up the Tiehack service road. The most difficult, the “black” run, is four miles straight up Tiehack along the ski trails with a 1,200-foot elevation change.
“We have easy, moderate and difficult routes and we mix it up to make it more appealing to all fitness levels and make it something that everyone can participate in,” said Danny Casillas, a runner with Tuesday Trails.
On the busiest nights, the group will have up to 25 runners. Running is a way for people to relax and de-stress, so having an inclusive group and being able to connect with people while running is a big draw.
“For me, it's like a great escape from the real world,” Casillas said. “It's nice to get outside and get away from my responsibilities.”
The group is open to runners of all levels and aims to be an inclusive way for people to take up running and get involved in the community.
“Walking is fine,” said Alex Olson, a local runner and Tuesday Trails member.
To stay up to date on upcoming runs and events or to get in touch with the organisation you can use @tuesdaytrailsrfv on Instagram or the best time to meet up is on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm at the base of the Tiehack for a group run.
