170 miles later they will arrive in Glenwood

Most people don't enjoy driving 170 miles, let alone running that far.

Nevertheless, on Sept. 8-9 almost 1,500 people will being taking on the Colorado Outward Bound Relay, a team running race covering 170 miles from Idaho Springs to Glenwood Springs.

For the ninth straight year, race will wind through the Rocky Mountains, going up and over passes like Guanella, Red Hill, Georgia and Vail. The race has become so popular that it has been capped at 150 teams, with each team consisting of five to 12 people.

"It's very unique as far as running races go, not a lot of runners can run as part of a team," said Garret Ball, the race's director. "It follows the Outward Bound program, where you have a 24 hour statute of a seemingly insurmountable goal and a few hours later, you are in Glenwood Springs."

The run ventures across the Continental Divide, over high mountain terrain, through aspen groves and even sections of the Colorado Trail. The course starts at Citizen's Park in Idaho Springs, at an elevation of 7,535 feet and ends at the Glenwood Springs Community Center at 5,785 feet. While the starting and ending elevations only have a 1,750-foot differential, the roller coaster-like run features a total climb of over 12,800 feet and a decline of almost 14,500 feet. A full moon will light the skies for night-time runners.

Weaving through the backcountry on paved and dirt roads, bike paths and trails, runners cruise through the course as part of a relay. Most teams have 10 people with each participant running three legs, covering about 15 total miles. There are also two relay squads called ultra teams, which only have five runners. Each ultra runner takes on a 25 to 40-mile chunk of the course, all at one time, before the next runner takes over.

New to 2006's race is a division called the non-conformists, where groups can have anywhere from six to 12 runners who can each run different amounts of miles through varied numbers of legs.

"For the folks that don't necessarily want to follow all of our rules, this makes it a little more appealing," Ball said.

People come from all over the country to run in the race, including North Carolina, New Mexico and Minnesota according to Ball. Proceeds from the race will go to the Colorado Outward Bound School and to Judi's House, a peer support group for kids who have lost their parents established by former Bronco Brian Griese. Funds from the relay helped set up a Colorado Outward Bound course for Judi's House kids.

Seven waves will be leaving Idaho Springs between 5 and 10 a.m. on Sept. 8 and are expected to arrive at the Community Center between 7 and 11 a.m. on Sept. 9