2010 Pikes Peak Marathon - Carpenter Remains King In Colorado Race
The 2010 Pikes Peak Marathon, offered fair conditions and another notch in the belt of local resident, Matt Carpenter. Dominating throughout, Carpenter was consistently strong, finishing nearly a minute and a half ahead of fellow Manitou resident Daryn Parker.
Parker perhaps could have put together a stronger attack had he not taken three spills, a common occurrence on the terrain of this classic Colorado running race. But Carpenter’s experience (respect to the 46 year old) helped him confidently take his 11th title on this course.
On the womens side, Keri Nelson of Moab was even more dominant. Leading by 15 minutes at the top, she only added to her lead on the descent, finishing the second half of her double (yep, ran the ascent the day before) in 4:34:24.
Complete results may be found at the official Pikes Peak Marathon page.
A Fun Bolder Boulder Alternative For Colorado Runners
No doubt about it, the Bolder Boulder 10K road race is a highlight for Colorado runners. For many, it’s an annual Memorial Day tradition. Others use it as a personal fitness goal, and may have never run or walked a full 6.2 miles. And for countless active Coloradoans who will run only one race the entire year, Bolder Boulder gets the nod. It’s an opportunity to run with tens of thousands of other runners and finish like a world-class athlete in the Folsom Field Stadium.
So with all the spectacle and notoriety that is Bolder Boulder, what running event could possibly offer on the same date a great Bolder Boulder alternative? That would be the Houska Houska, naturally.
Houska Houska is a 5K race in Fort Collins that is a tradition in it’s own right. It actually started with LJ Houska and his family 18 years ago. They couldn’t get in Bolder Boulder, so they mocked up their own “Houska Houska” race shirts and ran their own race near their home in Fort Collins. They attracted the attention of neighbors, and the race turned into an annual pot luck, getting bigger every year.
Ultimately the Houska’s decided to “formalize” the race, brought it to their business location at Houska Automotive, and started raising funds for bone marrow programs in Colorado. The cause attracts support from several Fort Collins businesses, and with over 600 runners, last year’s race generated nearly $21,000.
So what’s this Bolder Boulder alternative got to offer? Well, nearly everything Bolder Boulder doesn’t. Smaller, but no less a party. Each year is a different theme – this year is Las Vegas - and costumes abound. Food and live swing music of course, but also games, a petting zoo, a bungee trampoline, costume contests… even easy parking! Bolder Boulder is no place for dogs, bikes or strollers, but all these are welcomed at the laid back Houska Houska. The course itself is run on the bike path along the scenic Poudre River.
The race is so laid back that in accordance with this year’s Vegas theme, top prize goes to not the fastest time, but the best poker hand from cards collected along the course. Other fun prizes are awarded, including one for the best dog costume.
So for a great Bolder Boulder alternative, check out the Houska Houska in Fort Collins for a 5K and family fun.
$120 For Running Shoes Or Carefree & Barefoot?
Our friends at Nike surely have a fast answer to this question, along with stacks of supporting studies. But recently there is more talk of the benefits of barefoot running, including lower impact and reduced injuries.
A Harvard study on barefoot running looked at types of foot strike associated with different types of running. Sprinters and the habitually barefoot seem to use mainly Forefoot or mid0foot strike, while hoe-wearing endurance runners (and the majority of joggers) use rear-foot strike. By using a force platform look at forces of impact for each step type it was easy to see that rear-foot strike, either in shoes or barefoot, has a large spike of applied force just at the time of landing, while forefoot running produces a smoother wave, with little or no sudden impact forces – essentially a much smoother ride. This step also helps to lower the body’s centre of mass relative to the vertical force, and as such reduces the mean force acting on the feet.
The study discusses how fore-foot- and mid-foot-strike gaits were probably more common when humans ran barefoot or in shoes such as moccasins, and how they may protect the feet and lower limbs from some of the impact-related injuries now experienced by a high percentage of runners.
Given that the incidence of running injuries remains significant despite advances in footwear technology, is it reasonable to suggest that even the best shoes may not be as good for you as no shoes at all? Indeed, many high-level athletes include some barefoot running on grass in their training regimen.
Colorado even has a barefoot 5K race in June, The Naked Foot, where barefoot running is required. The terrain even includes a significant amount of pavement, as well as grass.
So… are you afraid of barefoot running? Have you been injured by it? Do you swear by it? All comments are welcome!
Colorado Cross Country Ski & Snowshoe Weekend Scheduled for Dec. 19-20
With the recent snowfall in Colorado, the truly passionate ones have already broken out the snowshoes or cross country skis. But if you’re looking for a reason to dust off your Nordic gear, or if you’re a nube to winter endurance training on equipment designed to be used in the snow, circle the weekend of Dec 19th and 20th. It’s the official ski and snowshoe weekend in Colorado, and with Nordic centers throughout the state offering promotions, it’s a great way to begin the season. The Colorado Cross Country Ski Association is offering “Nordic Bucks” that you can use to make your foray into the winter season an affordable one. The following is from their site:
Nordic Bucks Certificates offer deals for skiers and snowshoers, beginners to experts!
The members of the Colorado Cross Country Ski Association want to help YOU kick off the 2009/2010 season with our second annual Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Weekend. Come for a refresher lesson or start a new, exciting and fun sport this winter!WHEN: December 19-20, 2009
THE DEAL: $10 Nordic Bucks Gift Certificates, available on this website or at www.snowshoemag.com can be redeemed at participating Colorado-Based Nordic Centers and Guest Ranches and applied toward trail passes, equipment rentals, lessons and/or lodging at guest ranches. Available services for Nordic Bucks redemption vary from center to center and people are advised to call ahead and verify options.
REDEEM YOUR NORDIC BUCKS AT THE FOLLOWING NORDIC CENTERS FOR:
Beaver Creek Nordic Sports Center : $10 off any rentals.
Breckenridge Nordic Center: $10 discount on rentals with purchase of trail pass.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch: $10 off of ski lessons or service.
Eldora Nordic Center: $10 discount on nordic rentals or lessons. Redeem at nordic center only.
Frisco Nordic Center: $10 discount on rentals with purchase of trail pass.
Gold Run Nordic Center: $10 off anything at the nordic center!!
Grand Lake Nordic Center: call for details.Home Ranch: $10 discount on lodging.
Keystone Nordic Center: $10 off of anything; trail pass, rentals or lessons!Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center: $10 off any purchase of $50 or more.
Vail Nordic Center: Call for details.
Vail Resorts Nordic Ski School: $10 discount on regular scheduled tours.
Vista Verde Ranch: $10 disount on stay at the ranch or on any purchases.HOW TO REDEEM: Redeemable services vary by Nordic Center and Guest Ranch and are only good over the Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Weekend, Dec. 19-20, 2009. Only one gift certificate per person, per day, may be redeemed. Certificate must be presented at time of purchase to receiver the offer. The list of participating Nordic Centers and Guest Ranches is updated regularly.
Why I Have To Pass On All Of The World’s Most Expensive Bicycles
Think your dream bike is expensive? Citi Ergo has put together a list of “The 10 Most Expensive Bikes on Earth”. A couple of them look pretty good to me, but wouldn’t you know it… not the right size! Plus they probably all suck in the Colorado snow!
Guess I’ll have to pass this year.
Check out one of the descriptions:
The Aurumania Gold Bike Crystal edition is plated almost entirely plated with 24 karat gold… right down to the spokes. The Brooks saddle seat is made with the finest leather; and the hand sewn handlebar grips are made from, chocolate brown leather. The numbered badge is even made of high grade leather. This top of the line bike is called the “Crystal edition” because it is decorated with more than 600 Swarovski crystals… right down to the crystal encrusted Aurmania brand name emblazoned along the crossbar in Braille.
See the full post here.
Men Chasing Women… In A Race? For Money?
The battle of the sexes takes a unique twist on this Denver 5k run. Embracing both the physiological and primal hormonal differences between men and women, the Skirtchaser 5K in Denver has $500 up for grabs in a winner-take-all race to the finish line. When the starting gun sounds, the men must wait 3 minutes while hundreds of skirts take off running. Then it’s a full on race to the finish in a winner-take-all competition, with the first across the finish line - regardless of gender - taking home $500.
The Skirtchaser 5k race brings up numerous questions of fairness. Is it fair to give women a 3 minute head start in a 5k run? Is it wrong to make (let) women run well while being chased by a bunch of sweaty, panting men? As a male, is it not the ultimate cruelty to be placed in the position of chasing what he desires (dolled up in an athletic skirt, no less) yet knowing he’ll never catch her? Talk about living the perspective of those dogs at the race tack!
Actually, this one will be more of a flirty affair. An environment where you’re more likely to hear, “Oops, you caught me - here’s my phone number… call me!” and less likely to hear, “I caught you! Wait! Don’t taze me!!” Regardless of your libido level, it’s a rare chance for both genders to experience the thrill of the chase.
With a post-race block party that includes happy-hour style food and drinks, dating games, music and a fashion show, this unique Colorado race the evening of August 29th is sure to be a memorable one. Visit www.skirtchaser5k.com for details.
Loveland Classic 10K, 5K Shows Promise
Kids & parents testing their mettle
With the exception of a mismarked 5k route, the Loveland Classic at Centerra is turning into a solid race in northern Colorado. With over 320 finishers between the 5K and 10K, the race is building on its previous success. Held at the autoplex at Centerra, the course was good, and the clear weather at an early 7:30 start helped make it a nice summertime race. There were also a .5 mile and 1 mile run for the kids as part of the Healthy Kids Series (check out our Facebook page to see some pictures). With a very family-friendly post race expo with food, and some kind of non-dairy frozen non-ice cream - it really was tasty - , it’s a great family event.
Race organizers did commit that ultimate (and unforgivable to some) sin of a mis-marked 5K course, causing some to run off course before being rerouted back on track. The organizers responded as appropriately as they could in a situation like that, adjusting the times of all affected. While they may lose some fans for the error, the field would not be considered one of the fastest (take note, age groupers looking for a podium spot!). An errant course is something that most races don’t repeat more than once (don’t bring up Colfax Marathon here…), and assuming course markings will be double and triple checked next year, the race will continue to grow and become a highlight on the northern Colorado runner’s annual calendar.
Pagosa Duathlon - Free Race Entries to Great Colorado Duathlon
Pagosa Duathlon - ‘Du The Du!!’
The Pagosa Duathlon takes to the San Juan Mountains for a truly spectacular competition. The addition of a Kids division makes this a true family event. The locals know this one, but it’s a great active getaway destination for those outside the area! Here’s your chance to get into a really great Colorado duathlon … for FREE!!
The July 11th off-road race is a run-bike format - a 6 mile run followed by a 12.5 mile bike, all on beginner and intermediate levels of single track trails and dirt roads. There’s also a 1/2-DU for those wanting a shorter go at it. The kids race is a fun 1 mile run followed by a 2 mile bike.
At the Pagosa Duathlon you can ‘du’ either the full or half distance races as a two-member team, or take it on solo.
Racing Colorado is offering a limited number of FREE special race entries to this year’s Pagosa Duathlon - one each for the individual, team (yes, 2 members), and kids divisions. To enter the drawing for the free entries, click here to complete a really short survey collecting your opinions on running, cycling, and triathlons in Colorado. Be sure to specify which event drawing(s) you wish to be considered for (individual, team, or kids).
Alternatively, you may write up a short review on a recent race or event you participated in and email it to us at reviews@racingcolorado.com. We’ll share your insights with our readers right here on RaceBlog. Remember to let us know which entry you’d like to receive (individual, team, kids) and include a phone number so we can let you know if you’ve won.
This is the third year of the Pagosa Duathlon, and the race is growing as Colorado athletes are discovering the beauty of racing in Pagosa Springs. Check out the Pagosa Duathlon home page for maps and registration info. It’s a great destination race with family and friends, so get out there and… Du the Du!!
Bolder Boulder ‘09 - Twitter, Tech, and Bacon
Photo by Brian Scaglia, www.scaglia.org
Beer, bands, belly dancers, bagpipes, and yes, even bacon (at a presumably “unofficial” aid station) were all featured in the 2009 Bolder Boulder. These are among the things we expect in Boulder on Memorial Day. One element that Bolder Boulder is known for is the “unexpected”, generally in the form of costumes and antics of runners and supporters alike. Another element that changes from year to year is the role technology plays in the race.
Of course there’s the component most obvious to the runners, the RFID shoe tag. The race has stumbled in this area in the past, but this technology for timing runners seems to be getting more reliable. Results were available immediately after the race (and as of this posting, still are) here. Runners are provided with several pieces of data, including overall time, mile splits, and average pace, in addition to place in division and overall. Verizon also jumped in the fray, offering race results via text message. Text bib to Verizon at 66196.
Television coverage of a mass amateur running race is what it is. Although I didn’t watch, channel 7 was to have live cut-ins within its newscasts all morning, with cameras at the start and finish lines. Streaming video via Internet is getting easier, and the race featured live feeds from about 3 points on the course. While it was a reasonable attempt, the live Internet coverage was only fair. The cycling world has really taken some good strides in presenting live coverage via Internet, as demonstrated in this year’s Tour of California, and even the recent collegiate nationals in Fort Collins. Certainly Bolder Boulder will catch on.
Twitter users were actually a group that provided some real time feedback. Using the hashtags #bolderboulder and #bb09, runners ‘tweeted’ (I hate that word) their experiences, from the crowd, to rice and adzuki bean chips provided in the lunch. Several runners made use of Twitpic to publish their photos, including the popular bacon station. Curiously, the race’s Twitter account, @BolderBOULDER09, posted only 1 tweet (I still hate that word) after their announcement, “6 days to go”.
With all the tech in the background, my sincere props to those who just laced up their shoes, went out, took in the Boulder air, and raced their hearts out, regardless of technology. No iPhones, iPods, i-anything - just the real run that is the core of Bolder Boulder… plus the bacon!
Denver Running Blog Offers Training Tools & Information
A promising new blog has been launched to support runners in the Denver area. Denver Running provides resources for runners to network together in an online community, along with tools such as an online training log. You can keep your training log private or share it with other members, which lets you participate in community goals and challenges. The site tracks and reports on members, and ranks them in categories such as “top runners” and “most active members”. The pace calculator tool also helps to set goals and share them with the community.
Denver Running is a project by Denver runner, Chris Dellinger. Chris has a passion for running and wants to provide a good resource to share all things related to running in the Denver and surrounding areas. Content and community are just getting started, so check out Denver Running for some nice free tools and to get involved in a Denver based running community.
Upcoming Colorado Events- MSC #8, Winter Park Pursuit
- 13th Annual Tenderfoot Mountain Du/Tri
- Bike with Pike Westcliffe Adventure 2010
- 24 Hours of Leadville Mountain Bike Race
- Bergen Peak Trail Race
- Elk Meadow Trail Race
- Tenderfoot Mountain Kiwanis Kids` Triathlon
- American Discovery Trail Marathon
- Aetna Park to Park 10 Miler
- Jog in the Bog
- Boulder Hometown Fair 5K/10K
- Five at Five 5k Run/Walk
- MSC #9, Fall Classic
- Boulder Sunset
- Marathon Training Series #2
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