Denver Veterans Day Run 2026
- Date
- Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Start time
- 8:30 AM start (Denver)
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Entry fee
- From $45
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10K Rippetoe Rucksack Challenge | 10K | Nov 14, 20268:30 AM | $65 | – |
| 10K Run/Walk | 10K | Nov 14, 20269:00 AM | $55 | – |
| 5K Run/Walk | 5K | Nov 14, 20269:15 AM | $45 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 10K Rippetoe Rucksack Challenge: $65 until Nov 14.
- 10K Run/Walk: $55 until Nov 14.
- 5K Run/Walk: $45 until Nov 14.
Online registration closes Nov 14, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $65, entry is about 55 percent above a typical 10K in Colorado, which costs $42 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 10K in Denver runs 1:01:13, about 9:51 a mile, based on 11 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:05:29 and men in 55:24.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:42 AM, and the 10K Rippetoe Rucksack Challenge starts at 8:30 AM. The start sits about 5,230 feet above sea level, high enough that most runners from lower ground run noticeably slower.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Denver City Park, Denver, CO 80205
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (4 years)5K Run/Walk
10K Run/Walk
10K Rippetoe Rucksack Challenge
Aggregated from official results (Colorado Race Timing) for Denver Veterans Day Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Denver Veterans Day Run?
At the 2025 5K Run/Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 24:08 or better, the top quarter in 28:33, and half the field in 35:01; the last tenth came in after 52:47.
At the 2025 10K Run/Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 45:55 or better, the top quarter in 49:09, and half the field in 54:54; the last tenth came in after 1:10:58.
At the 2025 10K Rippetoe Rucksack Challenge, the fastest tenth finished in 1:05:23 or better, the top quarter in 1:13:54, and half the field in 1:19:01; the last tenth came in after 1:33:09.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 32:17 | 21:45 |
| 20-29 | 24:31 | 25:08 |
| 30-39 | 26:45 | 22:34 |
| 40-49 | 29:06 | 20:49 |
| 50-59 | 26:07 | 25:19 |
| 60-69 | 34:00 | 29:43 |
| 70+ | n/a | 35:02 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
About the same size since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Denver Veterans Day Run 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 268 to 273 finishers, and the median time dropped from 37:23 to 35:01.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 273 (-14%) | 35:01 | under 24:08 | 18:53 |
| 2023 | 318 (+18%) | 34:10 | under 24:59 | 18:16 |
| 2022 | 269 (same) | 37:54 | under 25:56 | 18:19 |
| 2021 | 268 | 37:23 | under 26:08 | 20:16 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Colorado 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:33, against 29:37 in a typical Colorado 5K, so times here run 4 percent faster.
- 10K: Faster than most Colorado 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 49:09, against 55:16 in a typical Colorado 10K, so times here run 11 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around November 14 the day usually runs from 28°F at dawn to 54°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 7% of days. Cold snaps dip to 19°F and hot years reach 71°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- Denver City Park, Denver, CO 80205Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 5,230 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 14, 2026), 2025 (Nov 8, 2025), 2023 (Nov 11, 2023), 2022 (Nov 12, 2022), 2021 (Nov 13, 2021), 2019 (Nov 10, 2019)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Denver Veterans Day Run?
- Saturday, November 14, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $45 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 14, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Colorado?
- At $65, entry is about 55 percent above a typical 10K in Colorado, which costs $42 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, 10K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 273 runners finished the 5K Run/Walk; the median finish was 35:01 and the winner ran 18:53.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:33, against 29:37 in a typical Colorado 5K, so times here run 4 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Denver City Park, Denver, CO 80205.
From the organizers
The 17th Annual Denver Veterans Day Run is a memorial 5K & 10K fun run to celebrate local Veterans and includes a 10K Rippetoe Ruck in honor of CPT Russell Brian Rippetoe (https://www.fallenheroesproject.org/post/russell-b-rippetoe) (Ruck weight - 25lbs loaded pack or weighted vest)
Recognized as “Denver’s Run for Veterans Day” by Mayor Mike Johnson, this fun run is open to runners, joggers, walkers, kids of all ages, and dogs who are always welcome. The suggested route takes runners through the beautiful City Park running trails in downtown Denver. The mission of the Denver Veterans Day Run is to celebrate and show support for our Veterans and their untiring efforts on Veterans Day weekend while supporting Colorado Veteran's Project mission.