The Cheyenne Mountain Trail Run is celebrating its 10th anniversary Saturday morning. And for anyone who has run it, they know it is no easy feat.

The race is the only one that goes to the top of Cheyenne Mountain (look for the antenna farm) and features 25k, 10k, and 5k options. It is also a qualifying race for the Pikes Peak Ascent on Sept. 20.

The course starts up the Talon and North Talon Trails to the Dixon Trail. The 25k distance sees about 3,450 ft of elevation gain with runners climbing to 9,400 ft.

“It’s really hard,” Lori Hawkins, who has run the race every year except one, said. “But it’s beautiful, you can see all the way to Kansas and New Mexico on a good day. I love the challenge, that’s why I keep coming back.”

For the 10-year anniversary, the race is adding some new incentives for the challenging course, including cash prizes for top-three age groups and overall winners and finisher medals for all participants – only 25k racers received finisher medals in the past. Anyone who has been a runner, sponsor, or volunteer for at least five years will receive a special gift not yet revealed.

The race is a fundraiser for The Friends of Cheyenne Mountain Park with profits used to fund trail projects and other park programs.

The initial purpose of the race was to raise money to complete the trail to the top of Cheyenne Mountain Park, according to race director Pat Cooper. The first official race in 2015 was eight miles long and has increased every year until the trail’s completion in 2018.

“The first year was fun to get out and see what the concept of it was,” Hawkins said. “Each year has been better than the last and It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years.”

The first year saw just over 200 participants and this year has more than 300 so far with registration open until race day. The first year with the completed trail to the top had the most participants in the race’s history with 456.

To ensure runners safety, the race has 70 volunteers with 21 people on the trail in addition to park rangers and El Paso County search and rescue.

Stephen Mueller, a 77-year-old runner who has done the race every year, appreciates the support on the trail, from aid station volunteers to the trail maintenance crew. He will be doing the 10k this year to ensure plenty of time to celebrate, this time with a guaranteed medal.

“I did it to the top of the mountain every year until last year,” Mueller said. “At my slow pace, when I got back down most people were gone, most of the refreshments were gone. But I’m going to do this race for as long as I can.”

Mueller has done the Pikes Peak Ascent 14 times and the Pikes Peak Marathon six time, both challenging runs in their own right. But the Cheyenne Mountain Trail Run is his favorite.

He may be in the back of the pack, but the feeling of accomplishment is worth it.

“My favorite part is that runners and volunteers feel good at the end of the day,” Cooper said. “People come back year after year because it is a fun event. We are encouraging the runners to have a good time, if we can accomplish that I’d call it a success.”