It’s 8 a.m. in McGregor Square on Saturday, June 14th. Even at this hour, the sun is already strong enough to pull sweat from the skin. Among the crowd of Denver Duel Day participants, one racer stands still, hands clammy. Their eyes are scanning the starting line. They can’t fully remember the route they picked. Was it down Blake Street? What if there’s a bachelorette party blocking the way? An impromptu bar crawl that they may get sucked into? Denver is full of surprises, after all.
They take a deep breath in. Then another. Their mind sharpens and their heart rates spike. In a flash, the starting whistle blows. They’re off.
Denver Duel Day is the city’s ultimate adventure race, where the brain, body and internal GPS are all about to get tested.
To start, racers make a beeline down Market Street to hit FIIT CO. Just because it’s the closest stop, doesn’t mean it’s the easiest. Even though Denver is barely awake at this hour, the Rockies’ Stadium glows soft and serene in the morning light, a warm emblem of the journey ahead. While there may be no time to take a picture, the moment still lands.
The FIIT CO workout kicks off in under a 10-minute time cap. Unknowingly, it could be a blend of brutal interval circuits, weighted strength moves or even some surprise kickboxing. Either way, with little time to dwell, the clock begins to wind down and the decision for the next stop must be made.
It becomes a toss-up between F45 Rino or The Yard Gym Arvada. The Yard Gym, hosted at the Walnut Room, is closer but slightly uphill. F45 is farther but may be more crowded. Racers are making their own calls here. If they want to decide that the hill can wait, F45 it is.
One racer darts across the intersection just as the crosswalk ticker hits seven seconds. A runner from their heat trails nearby. Are they following? A sharp left down Broadway might throw them off the scent. They pass by joggers, someone watching Bronco’s highlights on their phone and a scooter zipping by – until they reach their second destination, F45.
Inside, chaos unfolds. Music blares. Sweat flies. Coaches shout encouragements like battle cries. The circuits hit harder than expected, pushing limits the racer didn’t know they had. Despite the pace, they manage to catch a glimpse of their watch, already over 1.5 miles logged with another 1.5 to go.
They’re doing it, actually doing it, even when surrounded by athletes who look like they train for Ironmans every weekend. Yet here they are, in the heart of Denver, surprising themselves on a Saturday morning.
As the endorphins surge and gratitude floods in, racers know there are two gyms are already down, but only one to go, The Yard Gym.
It’s the final leg. The body starts to fade. Shirts soaked, legs jelly-like. A quiet voice creeps into the racer’s mind, questioning if there is anything left in the tank. But yes, there is. There has to be. The finish line is close enough to taste.
At the Walnut Room, The Yard Gym hosts the final workout. The smell of their famous pizza tempts, but the racer powers forward. Now it’s not about winning for this racer, not really, anyways. Sure, the gift cards, swag bags and free gym memberships from the host gyms are undeniably appealing. This day has become much more than that. It’s a firm affirmation that fitness brings people together in both uplifting and unpredictable ways.
With the last workout complete, another breath in, home base is insight. They’re back to McGregor Square. The route back is a blur, save a lone pair of shoes abandoned on Blake Street. The evidence from a Friday night’s chaos won’t distract from the racers from their push to the finish line. On each side, friends are cheering, the energy is vibrating and achievements loom.
Rounding the corner into the McGregor Square, it hits like a wave. Music pulsing, crowds roaring and people holding custom signs for their racers. Booths from Floyd’s Performance Plus, Snow Leopard Barber Shop, Celsius and Reset Mind and Body, an absolute necessity at this point, line the square.
The racer’s body shifts into autopilot with legs pumping faster and faster until crossing the finish line, victory in hand.
Catching their breath, they scan the square, noticing a tall, dark-haired man bouncing between teams and grinning like his whole soul is on fire. That’s Jeff Rhodes, the guy who started it all. The one who turned a wild idea into a real, sweaty and unforgettable experience.
Rhodes is all about connection, and Denver Duel Day is no exception. He’s made a business of bringing people together through shared suffering, joy or whatever that weird eye-contact moment at his home gym FIIT CO always was. He doesn’t care if you broke records. He cares that you showed up, moved through this city and tested your limits.
For just a little bit of time in the heart of Downtown Denver, surrounded by strangers and friends alike, racers become a part of something much bigger than themselves.
This is Denver Duel Day.
Denver Duel Day will take place on Saturday, June 14th, from 8 -11 a.m., at McGregor Square at 1901 Wazee Street, Denver.
Individual sign-ups start at $35 and include a free fitness class at FIIT CO, F45 Training Rino and The Yard Gym Arvada.
$50 sign-ups include the above classes and a Denver Duel Day t-shirt.
Teams of three can be purchased for $75.
All Photography and Videography Courtesy of Mio Sison.