The Garden-10 races bring the beauty of the Garden of the Gods park, the challenge of its hills and elevation, and a distinct element of giving back.

The race, set for Sunday, features a 10-mile and 10k option, both winding through the roads of the park with post-race festivities and age-group awards waiting at the finish line in Rock Ledge Ranch.

The race also offers a 10k trail race and two free kids’ races. The 10-mile run has been a staple Colorado Springs race for the past 49 years and challenges runners with almost 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Besides offering a unique destination race, the event also gives back to local high school cross country and track programs through its Aid Station Challenge.

“One of our goals is to work with community organizations and give back to them,” race director Michael Phan said. “We recruit cross country teams to come in and help at aid stations and support them by giving them funds.”

The participating teams compete to provide the best aid station experience, usually through dressing up around a theme, and the runners vote on the best aid station. Second through sixth place receive some donations with the winning team receiving the top prize.

Additional donations can be made through registering for the race and Pikes Peak Marathon Inc. will match each donation.

Last year, Discovery Canyon cross country won the challenge and received $1,175 with the next five teams each receiving around $1,000. The challenge has also expanded to course marshal and parking positions to give more teams an opportunity to participate.

Discovery Canyon is returning this year as well as Woodland Park, Mesa Ridge, The Classical Academy, and Palmer Ridge.

“They get an appreciation of what it means to be supported,” Woodland Park cross country and track coach Michael Cantrell said. “It also connects them to the broader running community and makes them realize they are part of something bigger than themselves.”

This will be Woodland Park’s second year competing and will be bringing a duck-themed station complete with 1,000 mini rubber ducks to hand out to runners.

Cantrell also sees the Aid Station Challenge as an opportunity to develop his runners into lifetime athletes.

“Our goal is to help them achieve their goals and be the best they can be, but also to develop an attitude of a lifetime athlete,” Cantrell said. “With chronic health issues in the country it would be great if we could develop a passion for a sport you can continue in life. I do appreciate that this race and challenge gives us an opportunity to connect with the larger community and shows them they can do this forever.”

The aid stations bring an extra boost of motivation for the runners, such as Dan Rongaus who has participated in the race as both a runner and volunteer for several years.

“It’s hilarious to be honest,” Rongaus said. “The course is grueling – it’s the Garden of the Gods. No matter where you start or finish that place is hill. So just the added energy from the aid stations adds humor to the race experience. It gets you jazzed up to keep going.”

In addition to the high school donations, the race also donates to the Garden of the Gods Park. In 2024, it donated $3,670 from the trail race entry fees and a dollar-for-dollar match from the organization.

The race drew participants from 38 states last year, according to Phan, with an estimated 1,700 runners participating this year. Phan estimates around 85% are from Colorado, with runners of all levels participating.

The race also kicks off the Garden to Peak Challenge, a series of three races that includes the Barr Trail Mountain Race and either the Pikes Peak Marathon or Pikes Peak Ascent.

The races couldn’t be put on without the volunteers, according to Phan, and he is grateful for the support from the community. The Garden 10 races will have 80-100 volunteers, with several returning year after year.

“It speaks to the quality of the organization that these volunteers continue to come back and donate their time and energy,” Rongaus said. “It’s about just as much the volunteer experience as the runner experience. It doesn’t feel transactional when I volunteer for these races. It has a sense of community to it so it’s really rewarding in that way too.”

It’s Phan’s fifth year as race director for the Garden-10 races, but the excitement of the races and giving back to the next generation never gets old.

“My favorite part is just seeing all the runners,” Phan said. “I’m all about the running community and enjoy everyone enjoying these experiences and events. Runners love the sport and love supporting everyone else doing the sport.”