Teva Mountain Games
Whether you’re an athlete that wants to compete with some of the best pro and amateur athletes in the world. Or if you’re looking to sit back and enjoy the mountain lifestyle in luxurious Vail, Colorado. The Vail Teva Mountain Games has something to offer for everyone. 
We recently went to the Teva Mountain Games not knowing what knowing what to expect as it covers so many athletic events and adventures. At first, we were wondering whether it would be dominated by mountain bikers, trail runners, dogs, kayakers, etc, but it turned out that no one sport dominated the games and it was one big happy playground. I signed up for the half marathon and as a runner and outdoor enthusiast, I wondered if it would just be the typical run your race, eat your bagel, and sit around kind of day, or whether there would be other things to do. It turned out the schedule at TMG is jam packed full of events to keep you entertained all day. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the white water kayaking competitions, dog jumping competitions, mud runs, mountain biking competitions, and the list goes on.
I ran the half marathon up Vail pass and it was pretty demanding to say the least. The first 4 miles were rolling and then reality sunk in and up the pass I went. Granted I was having an off day, but between the elevation in Vail and the uphill portion, this race was not for the faint of heart. On the other hand, if you want to challenge yourself and think you are in good shape, this race is a must. One thing I would suggest is to bring water with you as the aid stations are too far apart in my mind, so it’s nice to have a reserve.
During the summer, Vail is much more affordable than it is in the winter. A nice hotel ran you about $100 a night or so and you don’t have to pay for parking during the summer in the parking garages. This usually runs about $25 a day in the winter. There are a ton of vendor’s giving out free swag and tons of samples to float you through the majority of the day. Given my cheapness, I was very happy to see all theg giveaways.
If you’re wondering how long you should stay up in Vail for the games, I suggest 2-3 nights as it was non-stop action and entertainment. With this being our first time to the Teva Mountain Games, we were super impressed and it is definitely going on our calendar for 2011. So, when you start planning your race or vacation calendar for 2011, be sure to consider the TMG. For more info, visit TevaMountainGames.com
