NEDERLAND — Eager runners gathered at the Nederland Middle-Senior High School track to race, connect with one another, and run as hard as they possibly could at the inaugural Peak to Peak All Comers Meet, hosted by Nederland cross country and track coaches Kathy Butler and Gavin Coombs.

The meet took place on July 31, 2026.

One of the goals of the meet was to raise money for Nederland High School’s cross country team for the next season. The team has been fundraising all summer by hosting bake sales, selling t-shirts and now, putting on a full track meet.

Events ranged from the 400-meter dash to the mile, 3K, hay bale steeplechase, and, notoriously, closing off the night with a grand finale of the seltzer mile. 

With the undeniable beauty around Nederland's track, it is surprising that events are not hosted here more often. Surrounded by tall aspens, thick pines, and vibrant wildflowers, along with the iconic backdrop of Eldora mountain, this spot feels like a hidden gem.

Hosting events like this in Nederland gives people who may not normally have visited the chance to experience what the town really has to offer. It brings a strong sense of community, and a taste of mountain life.

The meet hosted a great community of friends, families, and runners alike, all seeking to have a good time in a beautiful place. 

Although the races were small, they all still gained plenty of traction, with everyone cheering on each participant, head to head finishes, and impressively fast times. It is safe to say that the meet had a special kind of support, sportsmanship, and passion that is hard to find anywhere else. No matter their age, gender, or ability level, the meet gave everyone who wanted to participate a chance to have fun. 

A highlight of the meet was most definitely the “hay bale steeplechase,” although this name may be deceiving due to the fact that no real hay bales were used in order to protect the integrity of the brand new Nederland track. The makeshift blocks still conveyed the same feeling of hurdles or an obstacle course. 

The hay bale steeplechase was specifically created for children 12 and under to have fun while running. It showed kids that there can be more to track events than just running. Participants had to jump on a box (or hay bale) every 50-100 meters. 

The majority of the other races went as expected, regular head-to-head dashes and competing for the quickest time possible, but there was one event at the end of the meet that clearly involved the largest participation, largest crowd, highest interest, and the biggest gasps: the "seltzer mile.”

Most people have never heard of a “seltzer mile” before, and if you have, you might be squirming in your seat at the thought of it. 

The rules of this strange event are as follows: you may participate as either an individual, or as a relay team. Before running each lap of the mile (which is four whole laps around the track), you are required to drink an entire sparkling water as quickly as possible, and then immediately begin running.

It is hard enough to attempt to chug a carbonated beverage, let alone try to run as hard as you can afterwards. 

When asked to describe this experience to someone who has never tried it before, one seltzer mile participant stated: “It was an experience that I am not sure was good or bad, it was… bubbly and painful.” 

This event is the kind where you wonder why anyone would ever willingly choose it. Yet many people showed up to try this new, exciting experience, race against friends, and support the Nederland High School Cross Country Team.

This was the first of hopefully many Peak to Peak All Comers Meets to come in the future. The group of people it brought together and the memories made will be fondly remembered. Who knows, maybe even you could be one of the next seltzer mile participants.