42 years ago, two community-minded Nederland locals, Kay Turnbaugh and Pat Willis, created an event that is still enjoyed today. On Saturday, September 14, 2024, the tradition continued with the celebration of the Ned*Ned Trail Fest, with area residents and running enthusiasts arriving in spirited costumes to race a 5k, 10k, or half-marathon course and raise funds for TEENS, Inc.

Each of the three races kicked off from the campus of the alternative school and teen center at 151 East Street in Nederland, with the first, the half-marathon race, launching at 8 a.m.

The 13.3 mile half-marathon course featured an elevation gain of 1,408 feet, and led runners through the center of town, into Old Town, to Eldora Road, then along the Sugar Magnolia, Lookout, Hobbit, and Observatory trails, before heading into the West and East Magnolia trails, coming back into town through Big Springs.

Of the 132 participants in the half-marathon, Sean Daugherty came out ahead with a time of 1:34:28, just ten seconds ahead of second place winner Davide Giardini. 

The 10k course launched at 9 a.m. and offered contestants a 6.3 mile course with an elevation gain of 712 feet. The course begins the same as the half-marathon course, but with the Lookout and Hobbit trails omitted, as well as portions of Magnolia Drive and the Pipeline and Reboot trails. 

Of the 78 participants, Patrick Ward won first place with a time of 0:45:19, with Jackson Barcheck close on his tail with a finishing time of  0:45:29. 

The 5k course launched at 9:30 a.m. and featured members of the Nederland Middle-Senior High School Cross Country team (Ned XC) competing in the race. Runners of all ages, and also leashed dogs, were able to join in the fun on the 3.14 mile course, which had an  elevation gain of 253 feet and led runners through town to the high school and back.

The 5k saw a total of 70 participants overall, with Ned XC athlete Benjamin Weber winning first place with a time of 0:19:52, followed by fellow teammate Amika Begin, with a time of 0:22:12. 

As the exhausted runners returned and passed over the finish line, greeted by cheering friends and family, they immediately took advantage of the supplied hydration stations, quenching their thirst and catching their breath. The members of Ned XC grouped together to encourage their fellow teammates as they approached that final stretch. 

From 10 a.m. to noon, the Ned*Ned expo offered all attendees with beers from Oskar Blues, non-alcoholic craft IPAs from Best Day Brewing, and delicious South American street food from San Guchito, who served Peruvian-, Argentinian-, and Ecuadorian-inspired sandwiches and empanadas.

Specialty vendors were also present at the expo, including Boulder-based ROLL Recovery, who create massage technology focused for athletes; and La Sportiva, who design and sell state-of-the-art running shoes. Tocabe Indigenous Marketplace was also at the expo, serving blue corn pancakes and maple syrup, made by Indigenous-owned and -operated suppliers.

While attendees enjoyed all that the expo offered, local bluegrass quartet Colorado Junction String Band filled the air with their infectious sound, bolstering the joyous spirit that the Ned*Ned cultivated.  

The 42nd Ned*Ned Trail Fest raised thousands of dollars this year, all to benefit TEENS, Inc., who serve the youth of Nederland and the Peak to Peak region by empowering them with educational programs, as well as the Youth Employment program, which prepares teens with the job related skills and interview practice needed as they venture into the workforce.

For more information on TEENS Inc. go to: https://teensinc.org.

For more information about Peak to Peak Endurance and their many community-benefitting programs and events, go to: https://www.peaktopeakendurance.com.