Rattler Trail Race.
The short course at the Rattler Trail Race covers just under six kilometres of Palmer Park in Colorado Springs, on technical singletrack among sandstone bluffs at nearly 2,000 metres. Forget your road 5K time here: the long climb from kilometre 1.6 and the thin air set the pace.
Rattler Trail Race 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
Start and finish share one spot, the lowest of the loop, and the course climbs from the first kilometre. A short ramp after 250 metres gets things going, the trail rises steadily to about kilometre 1.2, then dips briefly. At kilometre 1.6 the core of the race begins: a little over 800 metres of climbing with pitches near 14 percent. Just before kilometre 2.5 you reach the high point, some 65 metres above the start.
From there the route gives back about 40 metres by kilometre 3.8, before a half-kilometre counter-climb regains nearly all of it. From that crest at kilometre 4.5 the last 1.3 kilometres run almost entirely downhill to the finish.
Palmer Park lies within Colorado Springs but does not run like a city park. Narrow, technical trails pass sandstone bluffs and unusual rock formations, with views across the city and over to Pikes Peak. That gives the short race its character: speed depends as much on sure footing as on lungs.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.3 | 0.4 km | 4.6 % | 9.2 % | +19 m | — |
| km 1.6 | 0.9 km | 5.6 % | 13.9 % | +47 m | — |
| km 4 | 0.5 km | 4.3 % | 6.5 % | +22 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Rattler Trail Race.
Start under control
The label 5K is the first trap. The route measures nearly six kilometres, so you are out noticeably longer than your usual race pace suggests, and at close to 2,000 metres too. Your heart rate climbs faster here than at low altitude, and running the first ramp at road threshold gets billed to you on the key climb at the latest.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 1.6 and 2.5. Go in with your breathing calm, keep your stride short, and switch to a brisk hike on the steepest pitches without guilt if that gets you up more evenly. If you can still run at the top, the descent that follows pays back more than a few seconds saved on the hill ever could.
Spend what is left
The counter-climb at kilometre 4 looks harmless after the long downhill, but attacking it strips the freshness you need for the finale. Run it under control and save your effort for the crest: from there, give whatever the technical footing allows.
Training plan for Rattler Trail Race: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect 35 to 50 minutes. That is a nearly continuous hard effort with spikes well above threshold on the ramps and brief respites downhill, during which the technical footing still never lets your mind switch off.
Train race pace
The key session is hill intervals of four to five minutes on trail, matching the length of the main climb, with an easy jog back down. Add short, steep strides so that double-digit pitches do not come as a surprise. A tempo run on rolling ground fits alongside: it trains exactly what this race asks between the climbs, staying quick while your legs already burn.
Rehearse the course
Technique counts for more over six kilometres than the distance suggests. Run on narrow, uneven paths at least once a week, and deliberately at speed: quick cadence, eyes a few metres ahead, loose ankles. If asphalt is all you know, the final descent takes back whatever you gained on the climb.
Arrive fresh
Altitude is the condition you have to plan around. If you live at low elevation, try to arrive a few days early and race by feel rather than by the watch. The start falls in mid-April, and your last hard hill sessions belong in the three weeks before it, and in the final week freshness counts for more than extra ramps.
Courses
Download the Rattler Trail Race course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Rattler Trail Race dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Rattler Trail Race.
How long is Rattler Trail Race?
Rattler Trail Race is 5 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Rattler Trail Race have?
Rattler Trail Race has around 116 m of elevation gain over 5 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Rattler Trail Race?
Rattler Trail Race is classified as Hilly, averaging 19.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 9% of the route is flat, 39% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Rattler Trail Race have?
The hardest climb of Rattler Trail Race starts at kilometre 1.6, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 5.6% and gains 47 metres. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Rattler Trail Race a loop course?
Yes, Rattler Trail Race is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Rattler Trail Race course?
Yes. The Rattler Trail Race course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Rattler Trail Race?
Preparation for Rattler Trail Race should account for 5 km, 116 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Rattler Trail Race?
The pacing strategy for Rattler Trail Race should reflect 5 km, 116 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Rattler Trail Race 2027 take place?
Rattler Trail Race 2027 takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does Rattler Trail Race 2027 take place?
Rattler Trail Race 2027 takes place in Colorado Springs, United States.
Which distances does Rattler Trail Race offer?
Rattler Trail Race offers 4 distances — Rattler Trail Race 5K: 5 km; Rattler Trail Race 10K: 10 km; Rattler Trail Race 25K: 25 km; Rattler Trail Race 50K: 50 km.
How do I register for Rattler Trail Race?
Registration runs through the organiser: madmooseevents.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
