At 4 a.m. on April 12, 2026, long before the first hint of sunrise, headlamps flicker to life in the quiet of Bellvue, CO. Sixty-five runners gather at the edge of the Poudre River Trail, nerves humming beneath months of preparation. There’s no roaring crowd or elaborate start line. Just the soft shuffle of shoes on dirt and the quiet understanding that what lies ahead will ask more of them than they can fully predict.
Race Director Mandy Mullen, an ultra-runner and Colorado native, understands the mix of emotion, anticipation, and uncertainty runners bring to the start line. Alongside her husband, Nick Mullen—a Colorado Air National Guard member based in Greeley and an accomplished runner himself—and a close-knit team, Mullen moved through the gathering of athletes, grateful for the opportunity to support runners on a day that would test both body and mind.
The setup is intentionally simple. Unlike many races, there’s no finish line waiting where the runners begin. Once they leave Watson Lake, they won’t return. Instead, they’ll spend the day moving east along the trail through Fort Collins, Timnath, Windsor, and eventually Greeley, crossing county lines while following the Poudre River from canyon country toward the plains. This is the NOCO Urban Ultra.
The course unfolds gradually, tracing the Poudre River through stretches of open trail, farmland, neighborhoods, and growing communities. Along the way, runners watch the sunrise over the plains, endure the heat of midday, and settle into the quiet rhythm that comes during hours on the move.
There are moments when everything clicks—legs feel strong, conversations flow, and the miles seem to disappear. Other moments feel far heavier, especially in the later miles when the sun is high, aid stations are still ahead, and Greeley feels both close and impossibly far away.
For Greeley resident Josh Olsen, the NOCO Urban Ultra was both a hometown journey and a personal breakthrough. Growing up just blocks from Island Grove and spending years exploring the Poudre Canyon, Olsen said he never considered himself an endurance athlete, but after being inspired by his twin brother to start trail racing, he discovered a new level of confidence and resilience.
Completing the 50-mile race alongside his brother Dane, while “pushing through the suffering together,” became a reminder that growth often comes from stepping beyond fear and discomfort.
The trail itself reflects that same persistence. According to project manager Zac Wiebe, the trail connection has been nearly 50 years in the making, requiring collaboration between municipalities, organizations, and landowners. When the final section beneath I-25 was completed last year, it opened the door for events like this to showcase the trail in a new way.
Aid stations become pockets of energy and encouragement throughout the day. Volunteers hand out water, snacks, and quick words of motivation as runners move through each stop. Members of the Weld Amateur Radio Society also help support race operations and communication along the course, contributing to the sense of camaraderie found throughout the event.
Ultrarunning isn’t reserved for elite athletes. Many runners spend months balancing training with work, family life, and the demands of everyday routines. The common thread is simple: the willingness to continue forward when things become uncomfortable.
Mullen estimates that nearly four million steps were taken along the trail during this year’s event. Beyond the individual journeys, races like this also bring a unique form of tourism and connection to the region. Runners traveled from across Colorado and nine different states, many bringing family members and friends who spent the day supporting runners while exploring Northern Colorado communities along the route.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the course cutoff approached, brothers Josh Olsen and Dane Olsen crossed the finish line together after 14 hours and 46 minutes on course—just 14 minutes before cutoff. After a day that began in darkness near the mouth of the canyon, they reached Greeley side by side in the fading evening light.
“The NOCO Urban Ultra is more than a race- it paints a picture of encouragement, resilience and community.” - Alexis Templenuevo