If you’re looking to start running or make friends in the Roaring Fork Valley, Tuesday Trails is the place to be. The running club meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Tiehack parking lot for a brisk, hour-long run on local trails.

Kristin Layne started the group runs with her friend in the summer of 2023 because she had seen some of the other groups in the valley begin to dwindle. Since then, the group has grown to around 80 participants and receives support from local businesses like the Ute Mountaineer and Paradise Bakery, who donate raffle prizes and food, as well as shoe demos hosted by Dynafit.

“People who are new to running start out and the three miles are a challenge for them at first,” Layne said. “Then by the end of the season or even the following summer, some people have gained a lot of fitness and skill and that’s a really cool part of it.”

The group has three difficulty levels for their runs that they go through during their meets. All three difficulty levels are about 3-5 miles long to keep the run about an hour long, but the difficulty of the course is the main difference.

The easiest or “green” run descends to the Aspen High School cross country course and is approximately three miles long and has a vertical drop of 300 feet. The next most difficult or “blue” run ascends the service road on the Tiehack and is five miles long and has a vertical drop of 1,000 feet. The most difficult or “black” run ascends directly up the Tiehack along the ski slope and has a vertical drop of 4 miles and 1,200 feet.

“We have an easy route, a moderate route and a hard route and we try to vary it to make it more attractive to all fitness levels and something special for everyone,” says Danny Casillas, a runner at Tuesday Trails.

On some busier nights, the group can grow to as many as 25 runners. Running is a way for people to relax and de-stress. Having an inclusive group and being able to socialise with other people while running is a big draw.

“For me, it’s like a great escape from the real world,” Casillas said. “It’s nice to go out and escape your obligations.”

The group is open to runners of all levels and aims to provide an inclusive way for people to start running and join a community.

“It’s OK to walk,” said Alex Olson, local runner and member of Tuesday Trails.

To stay up to date on upcoming runs and events or to contact the organization, use their Instagram account @tuesdaytrailsrfv or come along to a group run at the base of Tiehack on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.