Nielson Challenge
- Date Sat 4th July 2026
- Time 8:00AM MDT
- Location Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Price Free
- Races 1 race
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Event summary
Join us for the Nielson Challenge on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, in the scenic Colorado Springs, El Paso! This exciting monthly event features a 2-mile race that kicks off at 8:00 A.M., with the start line closing promptly at 8:05 A.M. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting your fitness journey, the Nielson Challenge offers a unique twist by allowing participants to race against their personal handicap time, calculated from previous results over the last two years.
Each month, runners will tackle the same 2-mile course, providing a fantastic opportunity to monitor your progress and improve your performance. The event is designed to encourage both beginners and experienced athletes, with awards given to those who show the most improvement against their handicap. Plus, every participant has a chance to earn a stylish Nielson shirt, generously donated by local business EON Studios. Don’t miss out on this inspiring and supportive running community—mark your calendars for July 4th and get ready to challenge yourself!
Each month, runners will tackle the same 2-mile course, providing a fantastic opportunity to monitor your progress and improve your performance. The event is designed to encourage both beginners and experienced athletes, with awards given to those who show the most improvement against their handicap. Plus, every participant has a chance to earn a stylish Nielson shirt, generously donated by local business EON Studios. Don’t miss out on this inspiring and supportive running community—mark your calendars for July 4th and get ready to challenge yourself!
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.
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 July 2026 (8:00AM MDT)
Free
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North Monument Valley Park, W Fontanero Street & Culebra Ave, Colorado Springs, 80903, CO, United States
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