Eerie Erie 5K/10K Free Race Entry

October 19, 2008 · Filed Under Running News · 13 Comments 

** 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!

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Denver Marathon is here! (plus a minor rant)

October 16, 2008 · Filed Under Running Race Reviews · 5 Comments 

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:

Rock Canyon
Georgetown to Idaho Springs
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

October 12, 2008 · Filed Under Running Race Reviews · 1 Comment 

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!

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Colorado Runner Pirtea on Running Times Cover

October 11, 2008 · Filed Under Running News · 1 Comment 
Photo by Brian Solano

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!

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Blue Sky Marathon – New Colorado Race Gets Rave Reviews

October 7, 2008 · Filed Under Running Race Reviews · Comment 
Photo at Blue Sky Marathon site.

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.

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