Life Time* announced its first ‘Rad Dirt Fest, an off-road cycle and trail run event in Trinidad, CO, on October 2-3, 2021, offering three gravel cycling courses and two trail run distances. It also coincides with the town’s 200th-year celebration of the Santa Fe Trail.
“2020 allowed our team to reflect on our unique ability to help people live healthier lives through our endurance events. We’re passionate about creating events that enrich the lives of our participants and enrich the communities where we host them. We believe the future of cycling and running is on dirt, where it is safer for the athlete and easier on the body. The launch of The ‘Rad allows us to create an endurance festival experience, catering to both the trail runner and gravel cyclist,” said Kimo Seymour, president, Events and Media, Life Time.
“While searching for a new host site, we were looking for a community that equipped for a large-scale trail running and gravel cycling event but also had a cool vibe. In Trinidad, we found that local officials have welcomed us with open arms and an invitation to join them on their journey toward becoming the next big outdoor recreation location in Colorado. The gravel and trail running community is rooted in successful partnerships, and we are excited and confident about the potential of growing alongside Trinidad,” Seymour continued.
Located along I-25 in southern Colorado, Trinidad has become the newest destination for outdoor enthusiasts who are immediately immersed in the town’s rich history, emerging eclectic arts scene and landscape. Once vying to become the State capital and known to reinvent itself, Trinidad offers stunning views of surrounding peaks, endless dirt and a reputation of never giving up. Town leaders, led by the newly established Office of Outdoor Recreation, have begun working to transform Trinidad into a new mecca for outdoor exploration, quickly developing several new trails in the community.
“Trinidad as a town has reinvented itself time and time again throughout history, showing our strength as a community. We have been a community of miners, of natural gas, of the arts, and most recently, shifted to focus on outdoor recreation. Today we’re looking at festivals, races and other destination attractions to bring a new economic boom to this community, and we, as a city, believe that working with Life Time to create this unique race weekend during the Santa Fe Trail Bicentennial celebration is the perfect opportunity to do just that,” said Wally Wallace, Trinidad Economic Development Director.
“Our town was brought to life when the Santa Fe Trail brought economic commerce from the Eastern United States to the Southwest. Riders and runners can come to town for event weekend in October and expect to experience not just a great time on the dirt roads and trails but also festivities celebrating all of the cultures that make Trinidad who we are, including activities like cowboy poetry, Aztlan Native American performance, fandango dancers and so much more.”
The off-road cycle race will offer three distance options for athletes—a 38-mile loop with 2,720 feet of elevation gain, a 90-mile course with 5,000 feet of climbing and a 162-mile course with 10,800 feet of elevation gain.
The trail run will take athletes on two routes on Trinidad’s outskirts—a half marathon option with 1,000 feet of elevation gain and a 50k route with 3,200 feet of climbing.
Registration opens on April 13. For more information, go here.
Life Time owns and operates the Unbound Gravel, Leadville Race Series and the Bentonville-based Big Sugar NWA Gravel events.
