Chase the Moon

Chase The Moon

Chase the Moon is a 12-hour team relay and solo ultramarathon, run overnight under the light of the full moon in the Highlands Ranch Backcountry trail system (we promise some of the best views of the metro and front range). Run as a solo ultrarunner, or get your fellow moon chasing friends for a 3-person or 5-person relay team. Want a taste of insomniac running, but not sure you want the full 12 hours? That's OK, we now offer shorter timed 6-hour & 3-hour events, plus the 50K. So pick your event, grab your headlamp, and let's rock some incredible nighttime singletrack! Chase the Moon begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday during a beautiful Rocky Mountain sunset, continues through the night beneath the illumination of the full moon, and finishes at 7 a.m. on Sunday as the sun rises in the east to paint the foothills with alpenglow. Don’t miss this unique and incredible running experience. A portion of the proceeds of the race benefit the open spaces and trails of Highlands Ranch, and our partner charities.

Course Description

The race will begin under a Rocky Mountain sunset, continue throughout the night beneath the illumination of the full moon, and finish as the sun rises again in the east to paint the foothills with alpenglow. Runners will run their loops in a counterclockwise direction. The race course will be well-marked with orange flags, orange ribbon with reflective tags, reflective tape and signs. All runners will also be required to run with a headlamp (or handheld light source), during the race. NEW FOR 2026: 5-Person Relay Teams, 6HR Solo, and 3HR Solo will run on a 5.3 mile loop passing through Outlaw Aid before returning back to the start / finish area to complete the loop. 3-Person Relay, 12Hr Solo, and 50k will run on a 10.3 mile loop. Both loops are almost entirely dirt trails with minimal technical difficulty, with wide-open and exposed views… Perfect for a race at night!

Relays

Runners will run the course in a clockwise direction for their loops. 3-person relay teams will run the entire 10.3 mile course, marked with orange pinflags with reflector tape and directional signs that correspond to the bib color. 5-person relay teams will run on the same course, but on a shorter, 5.3 mile loop with a critical turn from Outlaw Aid station that takes runners back toward the finish. 5-person teams are not permitted to run the entire 10.3-mile course and must stick to the 5.3 mile loop for scoring/timing purposes. (Any deviation from this will be grounds for disqualification.) All relay exchanges will be made at the Start/Finish. No exchanges are allowed anywhere else on course. Teams will be able to set up a “crew area” in the designated area at the Start/Finish (e.g. tent, chairs, sleeping bags, additional race gear, etc.) Runners may not receive crew support from teammates anywhere else on course other than the Start/Finish, nor is pacing allowed. Relay teams do not have to keep to a set “batting order” for their runners and can change position during the race as needed (i.e., if a team member becomes too tired to run). Relay team members may run subsequent laps without an exchange (i.e., one runner does back-to-back laps). Relay teams may opt to run continuously (non-stop), or take an extended break in between laps, and can stop their run at any time (not required to run for the entire 12-hour duration).

Aid Stations

The course will be supported with two aid stations, at “Outlaw” and the Start/Finish. Each aid station will be stocked with various hydration and food options, along with Kleenex, bug repellant, and Vaseline. Aid Station Offerings: Hydration: Water, Tailwind (Endurance Fuel), Soda Food: Sweet and Salty snacks, Watermelon, Oranges, Bananas, Bean rollups, PB&J (Gluten free and vegan option available by request)