Pyro’s River Trail Run Moves to New Castle for Memorial Day

A Memorial Day date. A riverside finish. The Flat Tops Wilderness is out.

Donna and Ham DuBois have moved Pyro’s River Trail Run down to New Castle, and the logistics are changing faster than the weather. The race, historically held in August on Buford Road, is now set for Monday, May 25. The starting and finishing line sits at the statue honoring Capt. William “Pyro” DuBois in Grand River Park, right off the I-70 exit.

The reason is simple: the heat. And the smoke. And the wildfires. Fighting those three elements in the high country for 11 years took its toll. The DuBoises called it a “heartbreaking decision” to leave the mountain venue, but staying in New Castle makes the race accessible and survivable.

Let’s look at the course. You’re still running. You’re still honoring a fallen Air Force pilot. But the terrain is shifting from the rugged altitude of the Flat Tops to the valley floor. The event features a family-friendly 3.5-kilometer (2.2-mile) loop around the park along the Colorado River. There’s also the 7.7-kilometer (4.8-mile) Hilltops course, which climbs slightly before ending along the river.

The longer “Double Down” version is gone for this year. It’s not cancelled forever, just delayed. It returns in 2027. If you’re training for that specific distance, you have a year to adjust your mileage.

This isn’t just a fun run. It’s a fundraiser. All proceeds go to scholarships for aspiring young cadets aiming for their pilot slot in the U.S. Air Force. Will DuBois, a Rifle High School graduate and University of Colorado aerospace engineering honors student, died in 2014 during Operation Inherent Resolve over Jordan. His plane crashed after a problem during takeoff. The race keeps his name alive, as Donna DuBois noted, by gathering friends and strangers to share stories.

Expect a barbecue. Expect awards. Expect a potential flyover by Will’s pilot buddies. It’s a full day, not just a 45-minute jog. Registration is available at pyroswings.com, and you can sign up in person on race morning.

The timing shift to Memorial Day changes the local impact. New Castle sees more traffic on I-70 that specific Monday. Grand River Park gets crowded. The economic ripple effect stays within New Castle rather than dispersing across the mountain road network.

There’s other running on the horizon, too. The 50th annual Strawberry Shortcut Races happen in Glenwood Springs on Sunday, June 21. That’s a traditional part of the town’s Strawberry Days celebration. The Lions Club follows up the next day, June 28, with its FireKracker 4K run at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs.

So, you have options. A memorial run in New Castle in May. A town festival run in Glenwood in June. A charity run in Glenwood in late June.

The core mission hasn’t changed. The scholarships still fund future pilots. The memory of Will DuBois remains central. But the venue is closer to home for most of us. You don’t need to drive up Buford Road. You don’t need to worry about August heat exhaustion or wildfire smoke. You just need to show up in the valley.

For context, the shift to Memorial Day means the race avoids the peak tourist season of July and August. It might mean less congestion on the roads leading to the park. It definitely means the race is more accessible for locals who don’t want to drive an hour into the mountains just to sweat in the heat.

The bottom line is this: The race is still happening. The money still goes to the Air Force scholarships. The location is now the river town. If you’re planning to run, check the website. If you’re planning to watch, park near the statue. And if you miss it, the next chance to run is in Glenwood Springs, not the Flat Tops.