Issue 020:

Year of The Marathon

Instead of dreading the passing of time, we embraced it the only way we know how: with a long run. With 26 years having passed since the turn of the century, running 26.2 miles in 2026 just made sense. In other words, the math made us do it.

We started early, gathering near downtown Denver on a crisp, clear morning—each of us waking up with the same thought: This will be fun… I think. Our crew was fired up, ready to participate and support one another for however far each person wanted to go—the spirit of Yonder at its finest.

We were off to a great start. Conversations popped like fireworks, the miles fizzled away, and before we knew it, we rolled into our first aid station at BPRunCo. Six miles in, this local running store—home to diehard runners and unique gear—opened early to greet us with cheers, water, and plenty of snacks. We shed layers, grabbed some calories, and were quickly on our way to the next stop.

The pace stayed slow and steady, with plenty of excuses to stop, stretch, and belly-rub every dog along the route. If you thought we’d be checking watches or jogging in place at red lights, that was far from the vibe. Riding that energy, we cruised into our second aid station: Moonflower Coffee. The halfway point was the perfect place to regroup and reassess who wanted to continue the route. We fueled up on PhunBars, downed more water, and capped it all off with espresso shots to snap our minds awake.

With our bodies settling into a groove, we exchanged cheerful good mornings with others out enjoying their walks. Passing through Sloan Lake on the way toward Empower Field at Mile High, the subtle downhill sparked a second wind. By mile 15, the crew split into two camps—the 26-kilometer crew and the 26-mile crew. We said our goodbyes as some headed back to finish, while the rest of us set off for the remaining 10 miles.

At mile 25, Denver Central Market in RiNo marked our final water stop. At that point, we were basically done—everyone still moving, still smiling, and riding the high of a day that proved time keeps moving, and sometimes the best way to meet it is one long run at a time.

Matching miles to the moments, we rejoiced with what we had just accomplished. To top it all off, our post-run party finished at PORTAL, a sauna and cold plunge facility were we reunited with the rest of the runners and spent the afternoon recovering, relaxing and recounting all the fun.

Special Thanks to our supporters: Phun Bar, BP Run Co; Moonflower Coffee, Hello Darling, and PORTAL Thermculture for making the good times role.