NIWOT'S CHALLENGE
12th Annual
Saturday May 10, 2025
Runner Capacity: 40
Start/Finish: Along the South Platte River || Sedalia, CO
Niwot’s Challenge is a very difficult, grass-roots, ultramarathon in Colorado’s Front Range. It is modeled after the arduous Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, and the historic More and More Difficult 50K in New Hampshire. Much of the information for this event is kept secret with an exception for those who are accepted for entry. This is done for a variety of reasons pertaining to the safety of the event’s participants and for the future preservation of the event. If you want to know more.. you’ll just have to sign up.
WARNING: This is NOT a run for beginners or whiners. This is an arduous event which includes a large number of off-trail miles. Participants are fully expected to be able to navigate using a map and/or compass; or by following another registered participant who can. All participants must fully understand that aid is limited, they are for the most part on their own, and they are expected to make S.M.A.R.T. decisions based on their individual limitations. This is also an event where a certain amount of irreverence is enjoyed amongst the participants. Do not apply for entry if you are easily offended by off color humor, or if ripping pages out of historical or religious works in not something you care to partake in. You have been warned.
ABOUT THE ADVENTURE
THE COURSE
Runners will travel mostly off trail via “bushwhack”, as well as on a small collection of dirt roads and trails. Successful completion of the course will be achieved when a runner has travelled the course, identically to how it’s been laid out, and retrieves a page from each of the books hidden on the course.
THIS IS A GRADUATE LEVEL ULTRA, think doctoral dissertation, and participants are expected to have considerable ultra or adventure racing experience that proves their ability to take on this challenge safely. This is not an event where one runs. This is an event where one slowly suffers until they either finish, or find their way back to the control point as a happy quitter.
CHIEF'S AND DEITY'S
(Map & Compass)
Participants in the "Traditional" Niwot's Challenge are charged with navigating the course using only map and compass; or by following another registered participant who can. All participants must fully understand that aid is limited, they are for the most part on their own, and they are expected to make S.M.A.R.T. decisions based on their individual limitations. No GPS is allowed on the course. Phones are permitted for emergency use ONLY.
Successful Completion of a Burn Loop
Distance: ~24 Miles
Elevation: +10,000′ / -10,000′
Time Limit: 16 Hours
Aid: None. It is wise to have a way to filter or treat water you find out on the course! All you have to do is complete the Burn Loop.
Award: Custom Niwot's Participants Award
Complete Both The Burn & Chief's Loops
Distance: ~50 Miles
Elevation: +20,400′ / -20,400′
Time Limit: 30 Hours
Aid: Very Limited – Runners must carry all necessary gear for entirety of the event.
Award: Spirit Animal name changed to Chief Name. Respectful admiration of your peers. Custom Niwot's Participants Award.
Completion of Both Burn and Chief's Loops
Then Completion of both loops a 2nd time in the reverse order and direction of your 1st
Distance: ~100 Miles (Your 2nd go is the reverse of your 1st)
Elevation: +40,800′ / -40,800′
Time Limit: 60 Hours
Aid: Very Limited – Runners must carry all necessary gear for entirety of the event.
PRIZE MONEY: HPRS is putting up a $1,000 prize purse to the first individual who acquires Deity status at Niwot's. We have never had a 100-mile finisher!
NUMBER OF NIWOT'S ATTEMPTS: 170
# OF CHIEFS: 25 (Combined for 32 Chief finishes = 18% Success Rate)
# OF DEITYS: 0 (1 Attempt)
Years Held (11): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
Official CHIEF "Fun Run" Finishers: Brandt Ketterer (6x – 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023), Jon Eisen (4x - 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023), Wesley Sandoval (2x - 2020, 2023), John Clarke (2x - 2019, 2020), Adam Harmon (2x – 2015, 2016), Micah Morgan (2016), Todd Salzer (2016), Katie Ferrington (2016), Erik Sanders (2016), Ryan Ognibene (2016), Cory Linfield* (2016), Christopher Knott* (2016), Julian Smith (2016), Matthew Fackrell (2019), Michael Chavez (2019), Alan Powers (2019), Jason Antin (2019), Sam Ritchie (2019), Conan Blakemore (2019), Marvin Sandoval (2020), Joe Vigil (2020), Nate Swanberg (2022), Justin Swantek (2022), Abram Balloga (2023), Lauren Swigart (2024).
WARNING: This is NOT a run for beginners or whiners. This is an arduous event which includes a large number of off-trail miles. Participants are fully expected to be able to navigate using a map and/or compass; or by following another registered participant who can. All participants must fully understand that aid is limited, they are for the most part on their own, and they are expected to make S.M.A.R.T. decisions based on their individual limitations. No GPS is allowed on the course. Phones are permitted for emergency use ONLY.
The following list of items are required for each runner to have on them at all times for safety reasons: Course Map, whistle, emergency blanket or bivy, headlamp/flashlight, at least 2L of liquids, a light jacket, enough calories for 12 hours of adventure, their brain (seriously).
Additional Recommended Items: Safety Glasses, some kind of gloves, winter hat, and extra batteries for their headlamp/flashlight (or an extra flashlight).
As part of preparation for this event, we host numerous "Book Settings" throughout the late winter and into the spring. This is so we may place all of the book participants must find "out there" on the course. We typically host 5-7 Book Settings in order to get the job done.
ALL participants are encouraged to attend these book settings. This affords you an opportunity to get to know the course, what you've gotten yourself into, and to see exactly where each book is hidden. Yes, attending book settings provides a navigational "advantage" over those who do not.
These settings are a crucial element to Niwot's Challenge in that it helps build up the Niwot's community. Here you will get to know one another, each others strengths and weaknesses, find partners to train with and perhaps navigate the course on event day. It affords staff and veterans an opportunity to know who we have to "look after and out for" on event day. This is to support you and not denigrate you.
Book settings are also crucial to our vetting process. Those who do not attend a single book setting, do run the risk of being uninvited to the adventure due to our lack in knowing if you can safely navigate the course. Everyone should plan to attend at least one official book setting, or attend an unofficial training run with other Nitwit's who know the course.
CLICK HERE to add yourself to the Book Setting email list.
Any additional event information, changes, and updates will be sent to registered entrants ONLY via e-mail communication.
The Entry Process
Entry Fee: FREE
(Donation of some kind suggested – Doesn’t have to be $)
PLEASE NOTE: This is not your typical race. “Race” is definitely not at all what this is. It’s an adventure. There is no t-shirt and no awards.
To be able to participate you will need to print your own liability waiver and your own maps (or GPS app), and bring them with you to the event. These items will be provided to you in your runner’s drive. We will not be bringing extras.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Community Like No Other
Collectors Bib
Scenic and challenging course
Well stocked aid station with BBQ
Maps and/or GPS Route
Irreverence
APPLY FOR AN ADVENTURE
The Initial Application Period for 2025 Happens January 20-22, 2025If you would like to run in Niwot’s Challenge, follow these directions carefully…
Applications will be accepted starting at Midnight on Monday, January 20th thru 11:59:59pm on Wednesday, January 22nd. Only those who apply during this period are given preference of potential acceptance. Applying does not guarantee acceptance into the event. HPRS staff reserves the right to accept, or deny, applicants at will. No explanation will be given for denied entries, an acceptance email will be sent to those who are selected.
APPLY HERE FOR 2025 (Starting 1/20/2025)
The field will be selected on Thursday, January 23rd and notified ASAP.
HOW ARE APPLICANTS DIVIDED/SELECTED:
• We will accept the first 5 Chiefs who apply
• We will accept up to 15 returning Nitwits, with no finishes, from previous years
• We will then accept up to 15 virgin applicants
• We will then accept 5 wild cards selected by The Lorax himself
Should we not have 40 total applicants…
• We will fill the field using the equation above
• We will then accept all remaining Chief applicants
• We will then alternate, 1 and 1, between returning Nitwits and Virgin Applicants until full
• We will accept applicants, first come first served, until full
• Applying does not guarantee entry.. this is a graduate level run. We vet participants for safety and preservation of the event.
Should we have more than 40 applicants, or once we reach 40 participants…
• The event will be filled as first listed above (top section), then the second section listed above
• A wait list will be implemented by order of application received
We reserve the right to refuse entry of ANY applicant without providing an explanation for doing so. This is a graduate level event and participants are expected to have considerable ultra or adventure racing experience that proves their ability to take on this challenge safely. Do NOT apply if you do not know how to read a map (paper map.. non-electronic) and/or use a compass, or if you have no intention on learning these skills between your application and race day. Further, this is not a place for ego.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All runners will be known on race weekend by their Spirit/Totem Animal. Only those who finish a Chief’s Loop will be given a suitable Chief name differentiating them from all other comers. Those who complete the Niwot’s Double will reach Deity level.
Information pertaining to the challenge will be issued, electronically, to runners during the weeks leading up to the event. This information includes a course map, aid station location, aid and crew access point(s), additional rules, and start time of the event. This will provide runners with ample time to assemble their course maps and other needs for the event.