Escape ‘from the real world’ by joining Aspen running club

Looking to get into running or make friends in the Roaring Fork Valley? Look no further than Tuesday Trails, a running club that meets at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday in the Tiehack parking lot for a quick, one-hour run on local trails.

Kristin Layne started the group runs in the summer of 2023 with her friend because she had seen some of the other groups in the valley begin to fall off. Since then, the group has grown to around 80 participants and has garnered support from local businesses like the Ute Mountaineer and Paradise Bakery who donate raffle prizes and food, as well as having shoe demos hosted by Dynafit.

“People that are newer to running start out, and initially, the three miles is challenging for them,” Layne said. “Then by the end of the season, or even the following summer, some people have gained a lot of fitness and skill, and that’s a really cool part of it.”

The group has three levels of difficulty for its runs, which it cycles through during its meets. All three difficulties are about 3-5 miles to keep the run around one-hour long, but the difficulty of the trail is the major difference. 

The easiest, or the “green” run drops down to Aspen High School’s cross country course for around three miles and 300 feet of elevation gain. The next difficulty, or the “blue” run, goes up the service road on Tiehack and clocks in at five miles and 1,000 feet of elevation. The hardest, or the “black” run goes straight up Tiehack along the ski trail for four miles and 1,200 feet of elevation gain. 

“We have an easy, a medium, and a hard route, and we try to mix it up so that it’s a little more inviting to all sorts of fitness levels and it’s a little bit more inclusive to everyone,” said Danny Casillas, a runner with Tuesday Trails.

On some of the busier nights, the group has up to 25 runners. Running is a way for people to unwind and de-stress. 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 go out and run away from your responsibilities.”

The group is open to all levels of runners, and it aims to be an inclusive way for people to get into running and join a community.

“It’s OK to walk,” said Alex Olson, local runner and Tuesday Trails member.

The best way to keep up upcoming runs and events or to contact the organization is through their instagram, @tuesdaytrailsrfv or to show up at the base of Tiehack at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings for a group run.