Colorado Running News

Denver, CO – September 12, 2011 – The Grammy award-winning sounds of Soul Asylum will greet runners at the finish line of the second annual Sports Authority Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Marathon & ½ Marathon on Sunday, October 9. More than 17,000 runners are expected for the unmatchable combination of fitness and musical entertainment that will tour Denver’s most scenic sights.

The band, formed by high school friends in the Midwest, had a long string of hits on the Billboard Rock charts, but their 1992 album Grave Dancers Union took their career to new heights with the hit single “Runaway Train.” The sweet success of “Runaway Train” at Album Rock (#3) and Modern Rock (#13) was eclipsed by the single’s acceptance at Top 40, as the song climbed to #5 on the Hot 100, was certified gold, and was even used as a Public Service Announcement to locate teen runaways, aired frequently on MTV.
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The U.S. Mountain Running Team will be competing in Tirana, Albania, this Sunday at the 27th World Mountain Running Championships.

Tommy Manning from Colorado Springs will be competing on the six-man senior men's running team as the lone Colorado representative on the men's side.

The senior women's team will be represented by Brandy Erholtz of Evergreen, Megan Lund-Lizotte of Basalt and Michele Suszek from Longmont. ...

A large contingent of American runners raced the world's most competitive trail race this year - the Sierre-Zinal 31K in Switzerland. Their involvement in the race was a result of Pablo Vigil. While the current crop of Americans didn't race well, Vigil won the race four straight years during his prime. Following this year's race, Nick Clark caught up with Vigil to discuss all things mountain running. Like Clark, Vigil lives in Fort Collins. The former champ shares what he did to be successful at Sierre-Zinal while reflecting on how many of the original Colorado mountain runners - Smead, Trujillo, Carpenter - did at Sierre-Zinal years ago.

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When I found out I would have the chance to run the 2011 Gore-Tex TransRockies Run, I was elated. It sounded like the perfect vacation for me. The race promised 120 miles of trail mountain racing over six days, with food, lodging, course and medical support provided. I live in Iowa, where the elevation is low, the hills are non-existent and trails to run on are sparse. This would be a huge challenge for me, and it sounded (and was) awesome. ...

Sports Authority Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver is offering a special registration promotion on the 13th of every month. All participants who register to run either the full or half marathon will receive a $13 discount when using code LUCKY13.
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Karen Kantor of HoneyMilk interviews Andrew Berberick, a sophomore at Stanford University who hails from Littleton and attended Mullen ...

The entrant list for Chicago's Elite Development Program went up today. With the 2012 Olympic trials coming up in January, many are seeking that sub-2:19 qualifying time. The list includes the 2010 Pikes Peak Ascent winner (Glenn Randall), the 2011 Pikes Peak Ascent winner (Mario Macias), guys that have been racing the USATF Colorado Grand Prix (Justin Ricks, Charles Hillig, James Johnson), a former JFK 50-mile winner (Brian Dumm), and a handful of Boulder Running Company, Runner's Roost, and Boulder Express athletes.

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With a $10,000 prize purse being awarded between the festival of races, the Rudi's Organic Boulder Marathon and Half Marathon is one of the state's richest races, equaled only by the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon. In addition to the prize money, race winners this year earned the USATF Colorado state marathon title. Boulder's Kenyon Neuman's 2:31:39 topped the men's field and earned the CU alum and Newton-sponsored athlete $1,000 on the day. ...

After two years of everyone questioning why University of Colorado alum Jenny (Barringer) Simpson left the steeplechase, she answered those questions today in Daegu, South Korea at the World Championships. In the 1500 meter final, Simpson kicked to the win in 4:05:40. Watch the full race video below and see her incredible move to the front of the race, and the stunned look on her face upon finishing. ...

Highlands Ranch cross country and track star Eleanor Fulton is one of the top female prep runners to have ever come out of Colorado. This past spring she won the 3200M, 1600M and the 800M at the 5A Colorado state track meet. She was an eight time track state champion and placed third at the Colorado state cross country meet in 2010.

In June she raced the adidas Dream Mile in New York against the top prep runners in the country and finished 2nd overall, running 4:42.90. Check out this amazing video, Eleanor's last lap is incredible.

Eleanor is now attending the University of Washington where she will run track and cross country for the Huskies.
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Monday, September 5 at the Boulder Marathon, USATF Colorado will crown another set of state champions. Prize money will go three-deep and be split $1000, $600, and $400 for the top-3 overall marathoners. The first master's runner, both man and woman, will earn $500. The men have again already started lining up for a shot at the generous prize purse and USATF Colorado is especially seeking elite women. Women who have run sub-3:00 in the past 24 months are encouraged to contact USATF Colorado by email to K42195 at MSN dot COM regarding entry to the race. Elite men may inquire as well.

Last year's Boulder Marathon podium finishers were Andrew Letherby (2:33), Sammy Nyamongo (2:40), and Johannes Rudolph (2:52). For the women, it was Hannah Green (3:09), Stacey Chaston (3:15), and Ashley Wallace (3:20).

To be prize money eligible, runners must be a USATF Colorado member and a US citizen. ...

The World Championships are underway in Daegu, South Korea. Tera Moody (Colorado Springs) ran a superb 2:32:04 in the marathon to finish 17th and as the top American. Boulder-based Kenyan, Edna Kiplagat, won the race in 2:28:43. Also competing in the marathon, Boulder's Colleen De Reuck ran 2:44:05 and Alamosa's Zoila Gomez ran 2:46:44. In the 3000M steeplechase, CU's Emma Coburn ran 9:38:42 to finish 4th in her heat and advance to the next round. Jenny (Barringer) Simpson will compete in round one of the 1500M tomorrow.


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