Free Entry to a Great Denver City Park 5k Run
Red Thread Run, a 5K race through beautiful Denver City Park, will take place on Nov. 8th, and Racing Colorado wants to give you a free entry!
City Park is a favorite running race location along the front range, and this year Red Thread Run is throwing in $150 each for the top male and female runners! Add to that the beautiful weather we’ve been having, and this race is a can’t miss!
We have two ways for you to win a free entry. You may post a reply comment to this blog post (or any others here on RaceBlog), and include something like, “… and please try to set me up with a free race”. Don’t want to speak out in public? No problem. Just give us your opinions on what makes a good race by taking our short survey on Colorado running races. For more details, take a look at our official promotion page at Racing Colorado. Don’t dilly dally - this promotion will end Nov. 6th!
Eerie Erie 5K/10K Halloween Race Review - Colorado Running Race Review
Stephanie is one of the winners of our recent promotional race giveaways to Colorado’s classic Halloween Run, Eerie Erie. She gives us a description of the race along with the goodies provided, and her personal suggestions for improvements. If you didn’t win, don’t despair! There’s still another chance to win a free entry to Red Thread Run on Nov 8. To enter for that free entry, you may either click here to take a short survey on what you like/dislike about races, or you may simply add a comment to any post on this blog. Say anything you like, just be sure to include something like, “… and please try to set me up with an entry to Red Thread Run.” Now to the race review:
We had a wonderful time at the run today! Of course, the weather couldn’t have been more conducive to creating a positive and happy mood in everyone in attendance.
We arrived about 8:30 and parked across from the Middle School athletic field. My husband was delighted to find a porta-potty conveniently located in the corner of the lot - happy man! We then noticed several others located randomly so that everyone didn’t have to line up in one location - nice.
We were greeted by smiling staff when we entered the “gathering room” where the numbers, etc were distributed. The shirt graphics are fun and I was given the size I had requested. I do wish that all of the sponsors names didn’t need to be plastered all over the back of the shirt, but know it happens on most race shirts - too bad, it ruins an otherwise unique and fun shirt.
I took a peek at the trophies and thought the witches were wonderful and then wondered if the same idea could be carried over to the lesser awards? i.e. instead of a shoe/runner, could the shape be that of a pumpkin or witch…to keep with your theme and to be totally unique… I use this type of award for my key chain and that would bring back fun memories.
The race route was comfortable and all the aides were cheery and helpful. The raffle offerings were amazing and my husband is very pleased with his gift certificate to Dicks.
We are filled with only positive memories of our first visit to Erie and our participation in the Eerie Erie 5K.
Thank you again.
We welcome your review of any Colorado cycling, running, triathlon, or winter sports event. Just email it to us, or use the same contact to let us know if you’d like to be a regular contributor/reviewer.
Autumn Riverwalk & Run Classic - Colorado Running Race Review
Here’s a repost by Marilyn from the Southern Colorado Runners list server forum. It’s a quick review of the Autumn Riverwalk & Run in Canon City earlier this month. Marilyn rates it an overall “save the date”.
This weekend my kiddos and I participated in the Autumn Riverwalk & Run Classic sponsored by the Canon City Parks and Recreation Department.
It was certainly a beautiful course, as this was a first time visit for us. There were a couple of glitches, i.e., my 10 year old ended up on private property, my 7 year old, my 8 year old, and I ended up on the 5 mile course instead of the 5k (They started all the runners (5k and 5 mile) together.
Although the glitches happened, we enjoyed the course and met a great unexpected goal of running 5 miles without stopping! The Canon City Parks and Recreation Department representatives were great. They were apologetic about the mix up and gave the kiddos tickets to enjoy Elitches before the end of the month.. What a great reward for them.
I just wanted to let you all know of our experience and another wonderful welcome as new comers. The course was filled with nature and right by the river…I would highly recommend your participation in this race next year …”Put it on your calendars”. It was another memorable experience for my family and I.
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Triathlete “Just Average”? - Unthinkable!
Here’s a reprint of a post from “The Fire Inside“, a blog by Lana, who has gone “all in” with her triathlon training for the 2008 Ironman Florida. Posted here with her permission, it’s an inspirational writing about how training and racing keeps us from the dullness of “the sidelines”, and celebrating the journey of Ironman over the resume tick. It’s really worth a read:
It All Becomes Clear
I have come to the conclusion that there is not too much in life that a good 20 mile run can’t fix. Make that a 20 mile run in the fall…when it’s cool, but not cold. The air is crisp, but not dry. The sun rises and shines brightly, but it does not scorch. The wind swirls, but it does not rage against your momentum.It is a great day to be alive.
In the course of the 3 hours and 3 minutes it took me to cover 20 miles on foot this morning, I resolved the past 3 to 4 weeks of aimless wandering and struggling to find purpose in the many miles I’ve volunteered to put my body through. I miraculously regained the focus and zoned clearly in on the goal. I saw it. I fixed my eyes on it, and I remembered why this was such a worthy goal in the first place.
Ironman is not some current line item being checked off of my Bucket List. I’m not “doin’ it to say I did.” I’m not doing it for the M-dot ink. I’m not doing it for your recognition or acceptance. I’m not even trying to inspire you; or my kids.
You really want to know why I’m out there? Why I chose to go all in, to bet it all and sign my 2008 life away to a one-day event that happens to fall on November 1st, 2008? Why I get up at 3 a.m. and run in the dark, and why I drop the kids off at school and ride my bike until it’s time to pick them up again, and why I slip back out of the house at 8 p.m. to get the swim in before bedtime?
Because I have learned that if you don’t actively take a stand against it, the nature of the world will ever so slightly dull your senses, soften your will, and limit your amazing, natural born capacity. It will lie to you. It will beat you down. You will forget who you are, and at the time you least expect it, it will throw you a curve it knows you won’t be able to hit. You won’t see the beauty of the sunrise because you’ll be asleep. You won’t feel the stillness of night because you’ll be engrossed in reality T.V. You’ll opt out of that game of tag with the little one because you can’t catch your breath. You won’t take a risk, because you might fail. You won’t enter the event because you might not win. You won’t consider the unthinkable because You. Are. Just. Average. You will lose the magnificence and beauty, the combination of uniqueness and grandeur that The Creator formed you with in His. Own. Image. You will walk the rest of your days on the Earth wondering who you are and why you are here. You will stand on the sidelines and hide from The Coach when you think He’s about to call your number to go in the game. You won’t experience the pain of coming up one second short, but you also won’t feel the exhilaration of coming back against all odds. You might not get knocked down or skinned up, but you won’t know the gratification of pulling yourself back up and finishing with respect. You won’t ever know what you could’ve done or who you could’ve been.I knew that the journey to Ironman would strip me of the unnecessary baggage I clutter my life with, and it would get all up in my face to show me again who I really am. I knew that it would force me to shut-up for once, to stop complaining and stop making excuses and just watch, listen, and learn. Somewhere, amidst the neurons in my subconscious, I knew that I would be left with no other choice but to accept that
“I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.” ¹
Whatever it takes, that I may be able to spend my days on this earth in celebration and appreciation of this truth, I will do it.
Ironman, you’re mine.
¹Psalm 139:14(NIV): I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
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2008 Denver Marathon
Happy Monday and congratulations to everyone who dragged themselves out of bed and ran the Denver Marathon yesterday! It was a beautiful day to run a great race. However… there were a few things I found irksome.
The first was the whole packet pickup nonsense. Once again, it was held downtown which (hello! duh!) is nearing New York in its ridiculous (lack of) parking situation. It was a pain in the ass only to be alleviated by the employees at the Convention Center riding around on Segway scooters, which was quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve seen. Ever. But, fine. Whatever. It was nothing compared to the complete clusterf-… complete circus that was the start of the Denver Marathon. The line to the port-a-potties was absurd! Who would have thought that 3000 people would all have to pee at the same time? Well, not the folks organizing the race. I would think that such an experienced race director would kind of have that figured out but… obviously not. I sure wasn’t about to wait in that line so i went ahead and cut in front of everyone. Sorry! But like the great thinker Mos Def said “While y’all was askin’ permission, I just stepped up and took it.” Word. But even if you made it to the bathroom in time, it didn’t exactly matter ’cause you couldn’t get to the start line - yeah, it was barricaded! I had to climb over a railing! I could have been injured! Jerks! And! When I was done with the race, they didn’t have the bananas out yet. Don’t you think i might have wanted a banana?! Yeah, I wanted a banana.
That being said…
This is a must do race. The energy at the start line is awesome and i love the crowd here - the runners, the spectators… Everyone is so excited to be there. The course is perfectly designed. It’s flat for the first 4 miles so you have plenty of time to warm your legs up (since you didn’t have time before - remember? you were in line for the bathroom) and settle into your pace without worrying about hills. City Park is gorgeous this time of year and really helps take your mind off the fact that the section that leads into and around Cheeseman Park will make you seriously question your abilities as a runner. It isn’t that steep, but, as many a runner in the Denver-Metro area knows, this 2 mile stretch owns you. But, when you get through it, you’re a better person and you’ve probably gotten rid of some weaker runners who were latching onto you to keep a good pace (bonus!). If you’re running the half, you have just over two miles to go and it’s on a slight decline so you have a nice strong finish. I haven’t run the whole thing but I can only imagine spectacular views at Wash Park (indeed, a quintessential place to run if you haven’t yet) and a great run down Santa Fe. The Denver Marathon draws a huge crowd, fast runners, and will put you in your place (OMG crushed egos everywhere!) among fellow Coloradans. Given that this is only it’s third year with sponsor monster ING behind it, the race can only stand to get bigger and better and it will continue to be a personal challenge of mine.
Eerie Erie 5K/10K Free Race Entry
** The race entry giveaway promotion has ended. Congrats to Stephanie W and Jennifer J, winners of free entries to Eerie Erie. Thanks to all who entered, and don’t forget our other free race entry promotion on RacingColorado.com for the upcoming Red Thread Run.**
Get your costumes ready because the 26th Eerie Erie is just around the corner. Even better, Racing Colorado gives you the chance to get in with a free race entry!
Eerie Erie is Colorado’s oldest Halloween race, and is a true all-comer’s classic. With runners, strollers, trotters, & even pooches decked out in costumes, this is a race to really get in the “spirit” of the holiday. Add in a real cemetery in the course (not the spot to start walking!), and you have the recipe for a fun, classic Colorado running race.
“Cool. So how do I enter for a free race entry?” There are two ways:
First, you’re automatically entered if you comment on any post in this blog and mention that you want an entry to Eerie Erie. You may have already noticed references to the free race entry in comments on other posts on this blog. These comments are from people who first heard about the free entry form in the Racing Colorado newsletter, which brings up the second way to enter… Anyone who uses the link on this page to subscribe to the free Racing Colorado newsletter is automatically entered for a chance at a free entry.
We can’t set up everyone, but if you’ve been staying in touch with us via RacingColorado.com, this RaceBlog, or the Racing Colorado newsletter you’ll know that free races are becoming a regular thing with us. Check out our latest promotions at our Free Giveaways page here. And free or not, Eerie Erie is a fantastic return on your entertainment dollar!
Denver Marathon is here! (plus a minor rant)
This weekend is the Denver Marathon. Good luck to all racers! Can you feel the Racing Colorado karma coming through? Those of you who are having flashbacks to miserable conditions of the past can relax. The weather should be beautiful!
I want to ask your indulgence in a little editorial/rant directed to those of you running the Half Marathon this weekend: It seems that every time I’m at a marathon/half marathon event, I meet people who are excited about the run, and then tell me sheepishly, “I’m just running the half”. JUST the half marathon? You’re no rabbit, and you’re not quitting halfway through the race. You’re competing in a full race! You’ve trained hard for this race of 13+ miles. Just because there happens to be a longer event at the same venue, don’t diminish your own efforts and accomplishments. You don’t hear sprinters talk about racing “just the 100 meters” or “just the 200″. You chose to train and contest the half marathon distance.
Admittedly, part of the problem is the name of the event itself. “Half” anything logically implies incompletion, and that there’s more. Like, “I ate half a doughnut” or “I’ll meet you half-way”. But you didn’t train with half-effort. You weren’t expected to pay half the entry fee. You don’t wear just one shoe, and you’re certainly not expected to run at half speed. The half marathon is not in the same category as the ever popular commercial phrase, “half the calories”. There’s nothing “half” about his race other than the name itself. Even if your goal is to finish, you’re running all the way to the finish line of a Full race that happens to carry the unfortunate word, “half” in the title.
Now say it proudly, and good luck in your race that’s 100% YOU!
Props to these Colorado half marathons that spotlight the distance and that are held independently from full marathons. I’m probably missing a couple good ones, but here’s a few to keep in mind:
Turquoise Lake
Heart Center of the Rockies
Horsetooth
Animas Valley
Slacker
Arby’s Rocky Mountain
Run the Rockies
Kendall Mountain Run
Teva Vail
Mountain Madness
Basalt
US Copper Mtn
Vasque Golden Leaf
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Compass Montessori Harvest Run - Race Review
Andrea Hill posted a personal review of yesterday’s Compass Montessori Harvest Run in Wheatridge on her blog. Although it was not the most beautiful for running races in Colorado, she was pleased with her overall 10K win. Congrats, Andrea! Here’s an excerpt from her review:
The course was a series of out-and-backs, and the 5K and 10K overlapped often, so it was a bit difficult to gauge how you were doing. At the first water-stop, (1.5 miles in), there was one woman ahead of me, and a few men. The 10Kers had a nice loop on some crushed rock surface around a park, when I had a few guys pass me. The surface was probably good for us, but I felt very sluggish on it. My second mile was a 7:36, and we’d hit mile 3 (7:47) before we left this quicksand-like surface and started our route back to the finish.
I was the first place female finisher in the 10K, third place overall (can you tell it was a small race?). My loot bag for winning was impressive; I received a running shirt, a $15 roadID GC and a $10 running store GC. Not bad for a $30 race!
Colorado Runner Pirtea on Running Times Cover
Photo by Brian Solano
Wanna see my picture on the cover
Wanna buy five copies for my mother
Wanna see my smilin’ face
On the cover of the Rolling Stone… er, RUNNING TIMES.
Fort Collins resident and elite runner, Adriana Pirtea, is on the cover of the November issue of Running Times Magazine. Runners in Northern Colorado may recognize the background near Horsetooth Reservoir.
Adriana is a Romanian national and UTEP grad living in Fort Collins. This weekend she’s in Chicago for the marathon, hoping to avenge the would-be victory that slipped away in the final 10 meters last year. She’s also a Boston runner-up, and holds a 2:28 PR.
Check your local newsstand, and Good Luck, Adriana!
Blue Sky Marathon - New Colorado Race Gets Rave Reviews
Photo at Blue Sky Marathon site.
The reviews are starting up, and there’s lots of positive chatter on last weekend’s Blue Sky Marathon, a trail race in the hills between Loveland and Fort Collins.
The course is mostly single track and has a total elevation gain of just over 3,000 ft. With 46 marathon finishers and 64 half marathon finishers, the turnout was good for a first-year race. But with seemingly very competent organization, this one has potential for good growth in the future, although my understanding is that it was not a closed course (permitting can be a real chore for any race). Both the Fort Collins Trail Runners and Boulder Trail Runners groups have posted content from both participants and supporters. Here are some of the excerpts from first-hand participants:
- The course is a challenging combination of hills west of Horsetooth Reservoir, and a nice selection of fast, loops through the hogbacks in the Devil’s Backbone Open Space north of Loveland.
- … a beautiful course, enthusiastic and supportive aid statiions, and course marshalls to ensure that runners didn’t get lost.
- After the race there was a great assortment of refreshments
including delicious chili and chocolate soy milk (you don’t get that at every race!). The finishers ‘medals’ were really cool rock coasters, and the awards were rock monuments that had been quarried locally. I know many runners very much appreciated the free massages. - The race was everything you would hope for from a trail marathon.
- From a racers perspective, the race was an undisputed success. The vibe after the race was overwhelmingly positive, and I do believe a good time was had by all, despite the tougher-than-expected course.
- I’ve never encountered such enthusiastic and helpful aid stations!! And the finish area was great as well…
- The Smartwool hats were a great idea as well.
Although this one reads like a paid endorsement, the only disclaimer needed is that many of the comments came from Fort Collins Trail Runners members, which I believe is the club the organizers are affiliated with. Feel free to comment with any additional feedback about that race here.
