Durango Trails Backyard Ultra
- Running
- 7 km
Sat August 29, 2026
Durango, CO 81301 US
Open to ages 21 - 99.
The Thirsty 13 Half Marathon is one of the best races in Colorado! The race course: Fast and mostly downhill, with gorgeous scenery. Perfect for runners new to the half marathon distance or looking to set a PR. The finish line: Ska Brewing, one of the best breweries in Colorado. A crowd of spectators cheers you to the finish. Your (optional) post-race celebration: The San Juan Brewfest, with over 30 breweries waiting to congratulate you on your run! You can choose to add a ticket when you register.
Our Presenting Sponsor TBK Bank is here to help you cross your financial finish lines, because we’re on your team. TBK Bank is proud to be a part of the thriving Durango community and presenting sponsor of the Thirsty 13 Half Marathon.
-- Ska Brewing
225 Girard Street
Durango, CO US 81301
Start at a church, finish at a brewery! This point-to-point race course is known for being beautiful and fast! You start at Hesperus Church, run through gorgeous Wildcat Canyon and past beautiful Lake Nighthorse, and finish right in the beer garden at Ska Brewing. The course is mostly downhill, with 1400 feet of elevation loss from start to finish. It's one of the best race courses you'll find anywhere!
The start line is at Hesperus Church on Highway 140 (La Plata Highway). If you are getting your own ride to the start line (not taking our buses), drive west from Durango on Highway 160 for 10 miles, then turn left on Highway 140 and the church will be on your left in a quarter mile. There is no parking at the start line.
8am mass start. For runners slower than 2 hours 45 minutes, we offer an early start at 7:50am.
Buses depart from Ska Brewing between 6:35 - 7:00am. We encourage you to ride the buses we provide, as it reduces vehicle traffic on the highway near the start line. If you choose to arrange your own ride to the start line, your driver must depart immediately upon dropping you off to prevent traffic congestion. There is no parking anywhere at the start. This will be enforced by Colorado State Patrol.
We will have a parking coordinator at Ska Brewing to direct you to available parking lots in the neighborhood, including: Southwest Beverage Closets Plus Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory La Plata Family Medicine Juniper School Columbine Center (San Juan Basin Health)
Please allow 5 - 10 minutes to get parked and walk back to Ska Brewing to board the buses. There is absolutely no parking at the start line in Hesperus.
Friday, August 28, 1:15 - 6:30pm, TBK Bank, 259 W. 9th Street
If you can't make it on Friday, packets will also be available on race morning from 6:00 - 6:30am at Ska Brewing. If you need to pick up your packet on race morning, please arrive by 6:30am to ensure we can get everyone checked in on time. If possible, please come on Friday, as this makes life easier for everyone on race morning.
Average temperature at 8am in late August is 55 degrees -- perfect running weather! Expect temperatures to reach the low 70s by 10am and mid 80s in the afternoon. While thundershowers are common in August, they rarely occur in the morning.
There are five aid stations on the course approximately every 2.5 miles, starting near mile 3. Each station will have water, PowerAde, first aid, and friendly volunteers. The station near mile 8 will also have bananas and other snacks.
The race course uses roads that are open to vehicle traffic. Traffic is minimal on a Saturday morning. However, please remain alert throughout the race, and stay on the right shoulder of the road. Law enforcement will manage vehicle traffic at the start of the race, and at the road crossing at mile 5.4 (Wildcat Canyon).
Toilets will be available at Ska Brewing, at the start line, and on the course near mile 5.4.
Spectators are welcome along the course. There are plenty of good spots that have pullouts on the side of the road where you can park. Please do not have your cheering section drive along the race course next to you while you are running.
We welcome runners of all abilities, and we offer a generous time limit of 3 hours 30 minutes. This is a 16 minute/mile pace. If you are slower than that, you must carry your own water and a cell phone for emergencies as the aid stations will close before you arrive.
Feel free to bring a bag to the start line. It will be transported back to the finish line. Please mark your bag with your name and/or bib number. No valuables, please. The bags will be unattended.
When you cross the finish line, we'll put an official Thirsty 13 finisher's mug in your hand, and send you to the bar where you can fill it with a complimentary Ska beer or N/A beverage. And get ready for the best finish line food you've ever had. Results are available in real time at the timing company kiosk at the finish line. The awards ceremony will begin at 11am. The top finisher in each of 14 age groups will be recognized.
This is the BEST post-race celebration ever! The San Juan Brewfest features unlimited samples from over 35 breweries. Buckley Park, 1 - 5pm. You will have the option of including a Brewfest ticket with your race registration at a generous discount off the regular price of $50. Tickets for the general public can be purchased through the San Juan Brewfest website , if you would like to buy tickets for friends and family. Your Brewfest ticket is non-transferable. Please be prepared to show ID at the entrance. The Brewfest is a 21+ event. Sorry, no children and no dogs.
Our official hotel partner is Homewood Suites. They are the closest hotel to the finish line, just one block from Ska Brewing. Click here for our room block , or give them a call at 866-238-4218 to reserve your room and be sure to mention the Thirsty 13.
Do you have a friend or family member who will be at the race and wants to help out? Volunteers get a race shirt, food and beer, and an invite to our volunteer appreciation party. Volunteering is way more fun than just standing around waiting for a runner to finish, so please encourage your friends and family to sign up or e-mail the race director. There are volunteer opportunities on race morning as well as the day before at packet pickup.
As with most races, we cannot offer refunds, transfers to other runners, or transfers to future races. This applies regardless of the reason or special circumstances for the request. We appreciate your understanding. Third-party race insurance is available for a small additional charge during the registration process if you would like to buy it.
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Team Up The Thirsty 13 Half Marathon partners with the San Juan Brewfest, one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Team Up . We are proud to support them!
Durango School District Bus Driver Appreciation Fund The Thirsty 13 is proud to support our local school bus drivers who get our children to school safely each day.
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See below for all available coupons and save on your next registrations.
| Just The Race -- No Brewfest Ticket | $91.10 | View |
| Race Plus Brewfest | $127.14 | View |
| San Juan Brewfest Ticket | $50.00 | View |