Note: This article is a republication, with a couple of updates, to an article first published on August 23, 2015 in advance of the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede, the first meet to use the new course configuration.
The the sheer number of possible sites you can get to on the new course may not exceed that of the last course by much, the effort required to get to those points is significantly reduced.
To make this easier, I've keyed general areas on the map and listed combinations of watch points below. For the most part, racers aren't going to see much support on either the west or southeast loops of the course.
1-4-8: Think of this as the minimum mobility combo. Even with very limited mobility, an individual could watch the start, move a little south and catch the race at about 1200 meters, then wander back to the stadium well before the runners return.
2-3-6-8: This could also be considered somewhat of a limited mobility circuit. It requires more moving and more alacrity between points, but still allows the viewer to see the race four times without leaving the Norris Penrose side of the venue. Point 6 is below the trail level on the opposite side of the creek, but still affords good views of the racers and lets you be within range of making yourself heard if you have a moderately strong voice. It should be noted that bus parking will be in the area of spot 6, so you may have to work your way through a few parked buses (and back) to take advantage of this vantage point.
1-5-8: This is the easiest combo that involves viewing the race anywhere on the Bear Creek Regional Park side of the venue. From the start, make a beeline for the bridge to get over before racers cross. Watch runners go by, then return back to the stadium. I'm actually not sure that race management will be able to keep the bridge open long enough for many people to use this option, since the outgoing race now uses the bridge.
2-3-7-4 or 2-3-7-8: Either of these could be a five-point circuit, because, with a little mobility, you can see at least some runners twice at or near point 7. You may not be able to wait for an entire team to go through and see everyone on the team twice, but hustling here does provide an extra opportunity to see the runners. Catch the runners twice on the NPEC property, then scoot out over the bridge at the SE corner of the NPEC property. Get back across the bridge when race traffic permits, then head either to the stadium (8) for the finish or to the creek area (4) to watch the splashing of the inbound runners.
1-9-5-10 or 1-9-5-4 or 1-9-5-8: Using vantage point 1 here assumes the same risks as it does on the 1-5-8 combo. It all depends on how long race management is willing to leave the bridge open and how fast people can scoot across the bridge. That may have to be tested a little at the Stampede. Point 9 is at the top of Little Willis and is a point where runners could use some encouragement. Get back to 5 to catch runners heading west off the southeast loop. Then, make a choice--decide to catch the runners coming off the west loop (10), as they cross the creek (4), or as they finish in the stadium (8). In the latter two cases, be sure to be paying attention to traffic at the creek crossing (and the relatively narrow trail leading up to the creek crossing). Inbound runners will be going through the creek and not using the bridge, but past history at this venue suggests that the bridge itself will be more or less clogged with humanity.
Note that crossing from side to side of either the west loop or the southeast loop is very difficult. On the west loop, dense vegetation separates the westbound and eastbound routes. On the southeast loop, deep ravines and loose sand make the going tough between sides of the loop except near vantage point 7.
One potential viewing option that doesn't work very well involves catching runners somewhere between points 9 and 7 as they move west along the trail near the creek. Runners are coming hard up the trail here and it's not real easy to move alongside the trail (on either side) here, meaning you could very easily be obstructing the race here and it's very difficult to get to a later point in the race (any later point) if you have decided to try to see the runners here. Going west from here to see the runners again means using the same trail the runners are using. And it's a long haul around from the bridge at the southeast corner of the property to the stadium (which will be congested in its own right).
Predictably, there is still going to be a lot of spectator traffic around the main crossroads (vantage point 5), but there should be enough alternatives to thin and spread the viewing action around a bit this year.
All the best to you, and enjoy the spectacle!
I'll try to revise this article in time for state after we get a chance to see how the spectator traffic patterns function at the Stampede [Done].
Note: This article is a republication, with a couple of updates, to an article first published on August 23, 2015 in advance of the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede, the first meet to use the new course configuration.
The the sheer number of possible sites you can get to on the new course may not exceed that of the last course by much, the effort required to get to those points is significantly reduced.