Steamboat Running Series Champions Crowned Before Halloween Fun Run Finale

Steamboat Springs —Will your Halloween costume get you across the finish line before the zombies do?

That is the question facing anyone signing up for the final leg of the Steamboat Running Series. On Oct. 31, the season wraps up with the Halloween Fun Run. It is a 5k event starting at 9 a.m. at Soda Creek Elementary School. Leashed pets are encouraged. Costumes are mandatory if you want to blend in.

But the fun run is just the cherry on top. The actual competitive season ended weeks ago on Oct. 3 with the Emerald Mountain Trail Run. For context, this series has been running for over 30 years. It is a points-based competition where runners accumulate standings across multiple events.

Series Director Cara Marrs noted that the season went off without a hitch, despite some anxiety earlier in the year. Wildfires, specifically the Fishhook and Green Ridge fires, threatened summer races like the Spring Creek Trail Run. Marrs said the team was "constantly monitoring the conditions."

Let’s do the math on the season’s scope. The series kicks off in March with the “Luck of the Irish” 7k. That route takes runners through Buffalo Pass, Strawberry Park, and historic downtown Steamboat. On the other end of the spectrum is the Continental Divide Trail Run, held in late August. This is the heavy hitter of the season. It features a 50-kilometer race, a 16-mile race, and a 5-mile race.

The 50k is no joke. It starts at the Torian Plum lawn and climbs 3,000 feet up Mount Werner. Runners who complete the full distance climb a total of 5,551 feet. Marrs called it one of the most picturesque races in the series. It is a chance to see Steamboat’s natural beauty outside of daily life.

New this year was the introduction of SBT TRL, a partnership with SBT GRVL. Marrs described it as a "great new introduction" that differed from past races. The series has expanded significantly under her leadership, offering a wide range of events from flat 5k races to the grueling 50k.

At the end of the season, the points system crowns overall champions. In the female category, Pearson Alspach was named the series champion. In the male category, Drew Platt took the victory.

Beyond the overall titles, the series recognizes age-group winners. The breakdown for the 2026 season is as follows:

• 12 and under: Female champion Veda Caputo-Wilkowski; Male champion Forrest Bishop.
• 13-19: Female champion Livia Spector; Male champion Langdon Devin.
• 20-29: Female champion Ivy Eski; Male champion Xavier Knott.
• 30-39: Female champion Alisha Johannson; Male champion Eric VanNatta.
• 40-49: Female champion Kat O’Leary; Male champion Authur Rinker.
• 50-59: Female champion Cara Marrs; Male champion Matt Jacquardt.
• 60-69: Female champion Juli.

The inclusion of the Series Director herself in the 50-59 female category adds a layer of personal investment to the data. She didn’t just manage the logistics; she competed in the points system.

For the local community, the series serves as both a fitness benchmark and a cultural anchor. The routes are chosen to highlight local geography, forcing participants to engage with the landscape rather than just the clock. The expansion into new partnerships like SBT GRVL suggests the series is trying to capture a broader demographic beyond traditional trail runners.

The practical bottom line for locals is simple. If you want to join the fun, show up at Soda Creek Elementary on Oct. 31 at 9 a.m. Bring your dog. Wear your costume. If you want to compete, you missed your chance on Oct. 3, but you can start training now for the 2027 season, which likely begins in March with another trip through Buffalo Pass. The series is alive, it is growing, and it is ready for the next round.