Aspen parkrun returns on Saturday

The Aspen Recreation Department is relaunching the Aspen parkrun series on Saturday, May 3, inviting residents and visitors to take part in a free, weekly 5K that showcases one of the city’s most scenic corridors. 

The event will be held every Saturday at 9 a.m. through November, weather permitting.

This year’s series introduces a new course that begins and ends at Herron Park in downtown Aspen, following an out-and-back route along the Rio Grande Trail. The new location offers a gentle, accessible path for walkers, joggers, and runners of all fitness levels.

Aspen Recreation Programs Supervisor Shelley Roy said the relocation of the course downtown fulfills a long-held goal.

“We have been doing the event since 2017, but this year, we have a new course,” she said. “Previously, we’ve had the event start at the rec center, and, more recently, we’ve had the event start at the golf course. But we’ve always wanted to have it in downtown Aspen.”

Roy added that the Rio Grande Trail offers more than just a beautiful course — it brings the event closer to Aspen’s cultural and social hub.

“I am really excited. Parkrun attracts a lot of tourists, so it will be nice for them to be downtown and explore the markets afterwards,” she said. “It sort of has been my vision to have this event held downtown since we’ve started.”

Aspen’s parkrun is part of a global network of timed 5K events that began in London in 2007 and now spans more than 20 countries. 

At nearly 8,000 feet in elevation, the Aspen run is the highest in the world, attracting visitors who want to experience a high-altitude challenge in the heart of the Rockies.

“This event is open to everyone, regardless of fitness level, and we look forward to seeing the community come together to participate,” Roy said. “The beauty of parkrun was to just get people out and be healthy.”

Roy emphasized that the event welcomes a wide range of participants. 

“This is about being together with the community. That is really what this is all about,” she said. “Participants are welcome to walk, run, bring their children, or their dogs.”

Dogs must be kept on a leash, and an adult must accompany children under 12.

Although the event is free, first-time runners must register in advance at parkrun.us/aspen to receive a personal barcode used for timing.

Following each run, participants are invited to celebrate their effort with a free drip coffee and 10% off pastries at the Swedish Hill bakery kiosk located inside the Aspen Art Museum.

For updates, participants can visit the parkrun website or follow Aspen parkrun on Facebook.