Welcome to CRWEA. This alliance was created during COVID to assist Colorado entities in race management during COVID. Although most of this information is currently not needed, we have decide to keep this page alive for reference purposes.
This website will be the resource for Race Directors, city/county management. It will contain:
- Information from the Governor’s Office and the City of Denver.
- Guidelines on how to put on a safe running/walking event in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
These guidelines were created by Andrea Dowdy, CEO Colfax Marathon and Creigh Kelley, Race Director, Colfax Marathon as best practices based on nationwide research of running organizations, major marathons, and smaller events. Over the last year we have worked with both the City of Denver and the Governor’s office to offer guidance to race organizers.
Colorado's newest orders from the Governor
Updated 4-21-21 The Governor has stated that the state dial dashboard is no longer being maintained. County governments and health departments will now make local decisions. Please move to the Guidelines 2020 and 2021 section below.
1-4-21 The Dial Dashboard has been updated and now uses colors, not level numbers. Most counties are in Level Orange, but the dashboard is updated daily. Level Orange restrictions are similar to Level 3 for running events. COVID-19 Dial Dashboard.
11-5-20 Both the Governor and Mayor of Denver have expressed concern over the rise in numbers of COVID cases. Denver and some other cities/counties are now in the stricter Level 3, which drops the number 175 per hour in the guidelines to 75 runners per hour. To see if your city has dropped to Level 3, check COVID-19 Dial Dashboard.
9-15-20 Update – There is a now a COVID-19 Dial Dashboard. You can use this to determine the level of safety of your specific county, which will indicate how large an event you can have. For example Level 2 is 175, which lines up with the current guidelines of 700 (175 per hour).
7-15-20 Update – There is a new section in the orders that is more specific to our industry – Professional Sports, Sporting Events and Races. Please read the entire link as there are many relevant points, but the most significant change is:
“...For events with solely a general public component or division, organizers should follow the personal recreation guidance for the competitive portion of the event. Use staggered start times, multiple heats, long-duration starts or other systems to avoid compact gatherings in the immediate starting area of more than 25 participants.”
6-30-20 – The overarching public health order for safer at home and in the great outdoors covered all outdoor events.
The State will continually update these orders.
Guidelines for Executing Your Running & Walking Events in 2020 and 2021
Updated 4-21-21 As the Governor has now given back authority to county governments, there are no current state accepted guidelines. We have updated the guidelines for the City of Denver and they have been accepted by DDPHE (Denver’s public health department). These are closer to the blue on the state’s recent dial dashboard. Race Directors can use these as a starting point with their local health departments. Here are the guidelines for the City of Denver.
Updated 1-4-21 The Dial Dashboard has been updated and now uses colors, not level numbers. Most counties are in Level Orange, but the dashboard is updated daily. Level Orange restrictions are similar to Level 3 for running events. COVID-19 Dial Dashboard.
Updated 11-5-20. The guidelines below are still in effect for many cities, however all cities in Level 3 must reduce the number of runners per hour to 75 (previously 175).
Updated 8-28-20. Guidelines to produce running and walking events during the Covid-19 timeframe are now accepted.
DENVER – DDPHE (Denver Public Health) and Denver OSE have accepted Denver guidelines however while Denver is in Stage 3, you need to reduce the 175/hour to 75/hour, and the start groups from 25 to 10.
COLORADO (outside Denver) – For events in other parts of Colorado the CDPHE has accepted Colorado guidelines that are slightly different than Denver’s (in Colorado’s version there are additional requirements on runners remasking at aid stations). These guidelines do reflect the Governor’s orders on 7-15-20 for professional sports, sporting events, and races. There are differences in acceptable numbers in different counties/cities and those need to be applied to these guidelines. If your city/county is Level 3, please see the note above for the reductions for Denver.
Additionally, you should be prepared with a Plan B should the Governor alter his orders. We will update this site as soon as we hear that CDPHE has accepted the guidelines.
City of Denver
Updated 4-21-21 There are new guidelines that DDPHE has now accepted as of April. These are found on the OSE (Office of Special Events) site under their COVID guidelines section with this direct link to the Running Event Guidelines.
1-4-21 The Dial Dashboard has been updated and now uses colors, not level numbers. Denver County is in Level Orange, but the dashboard is updated daily. Level Orange restrictions are similar to Level 3 for running events. COVID-19 Dial Dashboard.
11-5-20 update: Mayor Michael B. Hancock has now declared that Denver is in Level 3, and that special event numbers must be reduced. Please note that in the guidelines the 175/hour must now be only 75 runners/hour, and the starting groups must be reduced from 25 to 10 until Denver returns to Level 2.
10-20-20 update:
On 10-16-20 Mayor Michael B. Hancock issued a stricter general mask order, but special events are not impacted – see the below sentence:
The stricter mask mandate is effective immediately until further notice, and the limiting gatherings to five order is effective now through Nov. 16. The gathering order does not apply to permitted special events that follow all related city requirements because of mandated requirements and oversight of those activities.
8-17-20 update: GREAT NEWS! DDPHE (Denver Public Health) and Denver OSE have accepted the 8-14-20 guidelines for events in the City and County of Denver. OSE is now sending these guidelines to race organizers who are applying for a permit or express interest in putting on a 2020 event.
Race organizers will be able to apply to reschedule their COVID cancelled event for 2020, or apply for a permit for a new event. An email went out from OSE Friday July 10th with details. Click here to see the pdf, but please note the links within the pdf are not live. You should refer to the original email you would have received.
OSE will ask you for your COVID ops plan – you will be able to use the guidelines as a base for your plan, and then will need to add the additional answers/descriptions/maps/plans as required.
Other Colorado Cities
Updated 4-21-21 As the Governor has now given back authority to county governments, there are no current state accepted guidelines. Race Directors can use the linked guidelines for Denver above as a starting point.
1-4-21 The Dial Dashboard has been updated and now uses colors, not level numbers. Most counties are in Level Orange, but the dashboard is updated daily. Level Orange restrictions are similar to Level 3 for running events. COVID-19 Dial Dashboard.
11-5-20 There are cities and counties in Colorado that are now at Level 3, which means stricter rules are in play for special events. Please note if your city/county is in Level 3, you must talk to your local municipality as you may have to make changes similar to Denver’s recent changes. In Denver, the 175/hour is now 75 runners/hour and the starting groups have been reduced to 10 from 25.
9-15-20 Update – Local city and county offices can provide your unique local information. There is a now a COVID-19 Dial Dashboard. You can use this to determine the level of safety of your specific county, which will indicate how large an event you can have. For example Level 2 is 175, which lines up with the current guidelines of 700 (175 per hour).
To find your local public health agency of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment click here.
