Nielson Challenge

  • Date Sat 4th October 2025
  • Time 8:00AM MDT
  • Location Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Price Free
  • Races 1 race

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Event summary

Join us for the exhilarating Nielson Challenge on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, in the beautiful setting of Colorado Springs, El Paso! This vibrant 2-mile race, held on the first Saturday of each month, offers a unique twist by allowing participants to race against their own handicap, calculated from their previous performances over the last two years. Starting promptly at 8:00 A.M. with a five-minute window to get to the start line, this event is designed to celebrate all runners, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete.

The Nielson Challenge is perfect for those looking to track their fitness progress on a consistent course, providing a great opportunity to improve month after month. Every participant has the chance to earn a coveted Nielson shirt, awarded to the individual who shows the most significant improvement over their handicap time. Embrace the challenge and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow runners in this supportive and encouraging environment!

Organiser's Description

IF YOU HAVE A FOREVER BIB THERE IS NO NEED TO REGISTER. YOU ARE ALREADY PRE-REGISTERED EACH MONTH.

RACE STARTS AT 8:00 A.M. THE START LINE CLOSES AT 8:05 A.M.

This is a 2 mile race held the first Saturday of each month. You are running against your handicap, which is computed from your previous results for the last two years.

The first time you run this event, you'll establish a base time for yourself. This base time is used to generate a handicap time. The handicap time is calculated using an algorithm developed by Bob Royse, and it's geared to favor a beginning runner and the slower runners. Click here [https://www.pprrun.org/races/nielson-challenge#HandicapCalculation] for an explanation of the handicap algorithm.

Once you have an established handicap, you are racing against your handicap time. The person who improves the most from their handicap time is the winner.

As mentioned before, the handicap does favor a beginning runner or a slower runner who is putting in a lot of quality training time, as it's these types of runners who tend to have significant time improvements running the same course. But the race is also good for established runners and the swift of feet because it gives those runners a good indication of their fitness level. It's the same 2 mile course each month. Thus given similar weather conditions, you have a very good basis to check out your running fitness from month to month.

AWARDS

At each monthly race, the person who improves the most over their handicap earns a Nielson shirt.

The shirts are generously donated by Michael Schenk of EON Studios, located at 836 N Institute in Colorado Springs (633-7986). Visit EON Studios for all of your screen printing needs. Michael gets his exercise on a bicycle, while his wife Susan does the running in the family.

Races

  • 8:00 AM Start

    Sat 4th October 2025 (8:00AM MDT)

    Free

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Location

North Monument Valley Park, W Fontanero Street & Culebra Ave, Colorado Springs, 80903, CO, United States

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