Yates Runs Like a Rabbit, Ricks Ponies Up, Kremer is a Maiden, Swapping FKTs

September 20, 2013, 4:22 pm

≫ Next: Team Colorado Welcomes Brandon Stapanowich

≪ Previous: Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile...Should Have Been Called "Run Michele Run" the Way She Kicked Some Tail!

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This past weekend there were some amazing results posted by Team Coloradans, from near and far. There were Rabbits, Ponies and Maidens/Virgins involved (so, the translation may be a little off, so what, blame the Swiss!).

Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile (The Rabbit)

Michele "Bomb 'chele" Yates sings a redemption song on her way to pulling a rabbit out of a hat at the Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile in Steamboat Springs, CO. Not only did she win the women's race in a time of 20:16:54, but she beat all but 6 men in the race: Estrogen 1 vs. Testosterone 0.

Take that men!                                                      Photo: iRunFar.com

Bomb 'chele has been dealing with a few frustrating race performances due to a string of injuries, but has been determined to come back and show Tony Danza who's boss! In her adventures during the race, she gave Tim Olson a slap on the ass as she caught up with him early in the race, went into hiding with camouflage gear and wrastled a beer during the race.


Here is what the beer looked like. Such a cute little beer! Very stout with a lot of head.

Michele would like to thank the organizers of Run Rabbit Run, the volunteers, other runners, the beer and the person who penned her $10,000 victory cheque (What? They spell it that way in Canada!).

UROC Michele!

iRunFar.com article and interviews





Pony Express Trail Run (The Pony)

Justin Ricks wins back-to-back Pony Express 15 Mile Trail Runs in a three year period--figure that one out! Ricks ran a time of 1:35:28, which is off his CR of 1:27:48 set back in 2011. In 2012 the race was cancelled due to the Waldo Canyon Fire (stupid fire!). The Pony Express has been dominated by Team Colorado since 2008 with Justin and Tommy "One Man Wolf Pack" Manning trading off wins over the years. Way to Pony Up, Justin!

Ricks rides the pony at the Pony Express                             photo: PikesPeakSports.us

UROC, Justin! Speaking of Rock, Ricks will be one of many Team Coloradans running UROC (Ultra Race of Champions) on September 28th in Vail, CO. Michele Yates, Rickey Gates and Sage Canaday are also registered to race.




FYI, Justin's legs have a rating of 110 PP (Pony Power), eat your heart out My Little Pony!









Jungfrau Marathon, Interlaken, Switzerland (The Maiden/Virgin)

Jungfrau is not your average marathon, no photoshopping here                            photo: Swiss-Image

Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer travelled over Switzerland for some Yodeling and chocolate...and also ran the Jungfrau Marathon. Stevie finished 5th overall in a time of 3:27:09, however, she "never got into it and never felt good" during the race and had a bad day, but still managed to take in the beautiful views and scenery along the way. Some would consider it a dream come true to place 5th in this prestigious race. "I would give my left Achilles to be 5th woman at Jungfrau", stated Peter "The Prez" Maksimow in a self-interview. Stevie, however, won the race last year, so her expectations were high. 

Spoiler Alter: Stevie is human after all!

She will be back atop the podium and she will spread a little sunshine on all the trails she traverses because, as her fellow Team Coloradan, Sage Canaday, stated, "I think Stevie is the next great female mountain/trail (and even ultra runner) in the world. She is amazingly good at everything!" 

UROC Sage!

Sunshine ran with a water bottle disguised as flowers in 2012                             photo: Competitor/Andy Mettler

You hear that, Stevie, EVERYTHING! UROC, perhaps?

FKT

In a the battle of FKT's (Farty Knackerd Trails?) Rickey "Heavenly" Gates just misses getting his 4 Pass Loop FKT back from fellow Team Coloradan Sage "The Canadian Sage" Canaday, running 4:29:05.

UROC "Heavenly" Gates!

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Team Colorado Welcomes Brandon Stapanowich

September 24, 2013, 7:46 am

≫ Next: Golden Leaves in Aspen - Stevie is Queen, Rickey is King

≪ Previous: Yates Runs Like a Rabbit, Ricks Ponies Up, Kremer is a Maiden, Swapping FKTs

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Name: Brandon "Birthday Suit" Stapanowich

Age: 28 (29 today!!! Happy Birthday!!!)

Hometown: Asheville, NC

Current residence: Manitou Springs, CO

Sponsors: Pearl iZUMi (otherwise known as iP)

Personal Bests:
30 mph in the 2012 Manitou Sprintathlon
5K - 17:36 dressed as Forrest Gump and carrying a box of chocolates

Inclinathon (13 trips up & down the Manitou Incline, ~26,134 ft. elevation gain/loss) - 11 hrs. 47 min.
INCLINATHON: the movie
50 Mile - 7:58:02 (2013 Desert RATS)
100 Mile - 19:10:52 (2013 Western States)

Notable Achievements:
2011 Devil's Mountain 50 mile winner
2012 Inclinathon founder and winner in 11 hrs. 47 min.
2012 Leadville 100: 7th place
2013 Desert RATS 50: 3rd place
2013 Western States 100 13th place
Bonking harder than "Big McD" at the 2005 Boston Marathon

Goals for 2013:
Resurrect ultrarunning on Pikes with "PU: The Stank" on September 28th
Podium at Deadman Peaks Trail Run 50 miler in October
Be fit and healthy for H.U.R.T 100 in January

Favorite trails:
The ones I haven't been on yet

Favorite workout:
Hip Hop Abs

Favorite races:
Three-legged, sack, and wheelbarrow races in excess of 100 miles.

Website/Blog:
www.pikespeaksports.us/profile/BrandonStapanowich

Favorite beer:
Perry's Cider (despite the absence of pears)

Golden Leaves in Aspen - Stevie is Queen, Rickey is King

September 26, 2013, 8:34 am

≫ Next: Team Colorado ROCS: UROC Preview

≪ Previous: Team Colorado Welcomes Brandon Stapanowich

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Last weekend we had two Team Coloradans each capture a win at the 2013 Golden Leaf Half Marathon in Aspen, CO. In the women's race, Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer out-shined the competition to win in 1:37:09 and place 8th overall amongst the men! This is her fourth win at the event. She one-upped a hat trick...we don't even know what to call that! Quadradical?

On the men's side, Rickey "Heavenly" Gates "and his red mustache" takes the win in a time of 1:26:33, after a history of four 2nd places finishes at Golden Leaf (otherwise known as a quadisappointment). Heavenly is prepared to duke it out at UROC this weekend. Watch out Rickey, we hear Killian is growing a mustache, or a "bigote", as they refer to it in Spain.


We have thus awarded Rickey and Stevie Prom KingandQueen of the Golden Leaf Half Marathon (they can each choose which title they want, we are all inclusive here at Team Colorado). We hope J. Marshall Thompson doesn't get mad!




At the race, they even had the archways and red carpets (actually, black timing mats is the running equivalent to red carpets).

Stevie was kind enough to take a break from teaching little children and running in the mountains to talk with us about the race and other random things.

Team Colorado: Congrats on your Golden Leaf Half Marathon win this past weekend in Aspen. Tell us about the race.

Stevie: The race was nothing short of awesomeness! I know that is a cheeseball word, but I cannot think of a better way to describe it. Being the 5th time I have run this race, I knew what to expect, but seriously every year it gets better. Not only is the course the most beautiful course I've ever run, but the supporters, other runners and volunteers, (not to mention the raffle) make the race the best race ever. No joke! In terms of my race, I felt great the whole way through! I'm pretty sure I had a smile on my face the entire time (minus the first 1.5 miles).

Stevie always has a smile on her face!                                 photo: Joe Viger

Team Colorado: We heard you met Team Colorado's Chef l'équipe, Amy Perez, at the race..but then it wasn't Amy Perez! What happened?

Stevie: I was so excited when I heard someone say, "Hi Amy!" and then "Amy" started talking about her good friend Kim Dobson and I put two and two together and thought that I was finally meeting THE AMY PEREZ...after a good 10 minutes of lovely conversation, she realized I thought she was someone she wasn't-oops:-) Nonetheless, she was very nice and I am stoked to have met one great Amy, can't wait to meet the other!

Team Colorado: You had a bad race at Jungfrau Marathon a few weeks ago but most of your races have been pretty stellar this year. What else is on your race calendar this year?

Stevie: Yes, I had a pretty darn tooting bad race...more because I just never felt good. Through water stops and gel intakes, I still couldn't muster up enough energy to get my toques up that long hill. It was a beautiful race, but I could not enjoy it like I wanted to. I have had some other incredible races, that I was able to thoroughly enjoy, though:-) I will be heading across the pond again in mid October for the Limone Skyrace. I am already nervous...

Team Colorado: The races you have done are long, mostly marathon distance. Are you used to doing a lot of long races? What is you weekly mileage?

Stevie: I would say my "favorite" race distance is anything between a half marathon and full marathon. It takes me at least 4 miles to get warmed up, so I love having more distance to make up for my slackerish start. I don't know my weekly mileage per se, but I try to run anywhere from 1-2 hours each day and more on the weekend when I have more time.

Team Colorado: You know, if we were in junior high school we would automatically pair you and Rickey Gates up since you both won the race, sort of like King and Queen of the Golden Leaf. But we are all grown up now and we are not doing that because it would be awkward. Not really a question there, just pointing out what we would do if we were in junior high school.

Stevie: Not to toot my own horn, but I was the Homecoming Queen of Darien High School. Just saying. (P.S. I'm TOTALLY kidding, I'm not that cocky I promise. I literally begged the underclassmen to vote for me...not kidding!)

Team Colorado: We're happy to have you on Team Colorado, thanks for always being so happy!

Stevie: I'm thoroughly LOVING BEING on the Team. Thank you for inviting me:-)  

Team Colorado: We can tell there is something on your mind, Stevie, what is it?

Stevie: I really appreciate you not judging me for not getting my fat rear up the JungFrau Marathon. Thank you.

Team Colorado: That's what we are here for! You're welcome.

Ditto Gates.

The Aspen Times Article

Results

Team Colorado ROCS: UROC Preview

September 27, 2013, 7:47 am

≫ Next: Team Colorado Welcomes Brandy Erholtz

≪ Previous: Golden Leaves in Aspen - Stevie is Queen, Rickey is King

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Leading up the the 2013 Ultra Race of Champions 100k, lovingly known as UROC, we spoke to a couple of Team Coloradans that are hoping not only to make a splash, but to tuck their knees to their chests and do a freakin' cannon ball! 

We'll be following Michele Yates, Sage Canaday and Rickey Gates. Justin Ricks is out due to injury.

Follow them at iRunFar.com's2013 UROC 100k Live Coverage.

Michele "Bomb 'chele" Yates give us the word about UROC

It's only 100 kilometers!                                                          photo: iRunFar.com

Team Colorado: Congrats on your Run Rabbit Run ONE HUNDRED MILE RACE WIN two weeks ago. What was the best part of the race...other than the big check?

Michele: The best part of the race, check or not, was winning! :) Not only a win against an elite field of women, but a win for myself. I am so grateful to be running on the trails again injury free!!!!

Team Colorado: We all read your blog about the race and know you were coming off some disappointing race results, what do you think turned it around for you and especially in such a long, difficult race?

Michele: Some serious dedication. I spent hours and hours doing therapy such as icing, PAINFUL massage therapy, recovery boots, elevation etc. Then, I slowly was able to progress into run-walking with stretching every few minutes (frustrating, patience was the key). Then, of course, progressed into my normal workouts but ONLY with a lot of therapy, too. I also dialed in my diet more...it was already pretty darn healthy, but it was the one thing I could control when I was injured so I made sure to eat completely clean and focused on a "RAW" diet with fruits/veggies, eggs, fish, beans, etc...then I added in grains/carbs more the week or two before the race.

Team Colorado: How are the legs? How are you able to recover so quickly? What is your in between race strategy when you have many races so close together?

Michele: Again therapy, therapy, therapy...and keeping a clean, healthy diet. A lot of sleep and especially icing immediately after I finished RRR (actually sitting in the ice bath eating a high protein meal...and blueberry poptarts :).  My soreness was completely gone after 4 days (even when I ran for 15minutes on the 4th day)...and from then on it has been a little bit of running, a lot of sleeping, and a lot of therapy!

Team Colorado: When we chatted before your 100 miler you said you were also planning on running UROC. Is this still the plan? What else is on your race calendar this year?

Michele: Yep, I will be on that starting line this Saturday and I'm gonna give it all I've got :) !!! I will have  a little bit of a break after that, but then I will be racing the USA 1/2 marathon trail champs in Moab Nov. 1st, the USA 50k trail champs in Boulder City NV the weekend after that (I'll use the 1/2 as training for the 50k)...then the North Face Endurance Challenge Championships Dec 7th. I plan on then going on to run down the 100 Mile Trail American Record in February at Rocky Raccoon.

Team Colorado: If you were a betting girl, what odds would you give yourself for this weekend's race? What is the UROC course like?

Michele: If I don't give myself the win already...then I've already lost...it's better not to listen to every one else telling me that I'm tired and just go for it- whatever happens happens, and the pressures off due to RRR so I'm going to have me some fun! The UROC course is my old stomping ground (as well as a few other places- like the 50k Champs in Boulder City NV - went to UNLV) ...I lived in Frisco for 6 months and have trained there for a few months at a time other times...I am really familiar with the first half of the course or more, but unfortunately may not get a chance to see the last parts.

Team Colorado: Lots of talk about the super smiley Emily Forsberg, have you ever raced against her?

Michele: I've raced against Emily once at the Pikes Peak marathon last year. I had a back injury then :( (be sure to not just see any chiropractor!!!)...She won the race..I finished 4th, 14 minutes behind her. I think she will do well no matter what happens.

Team Colorado: With Stephanie Howe pulling out (supposedly) with a foot injury, do you think you are now more of a target? It seems in RRR you flew a bit under the radar, does the attention bother you or motivate you?

Michele: Don't really care what people do or do not think about me. I don't mind being the underdog at all...and probably prefer it. I'd rather not get sucked into all the media attention, it takes up too much of my "focus" time :) ..and ultimately, at an ultra distance race- so many things can happen, so who really knows who will win on any given day?

Team Colorado: Three Team Colorado Men are going to duke it out this weekend as well. How do you see them finishing? (Rickey Gates, Sage Canaday and Justin Ricks - out due to injury.)

Michele: Sage is my top pick. I love Justin! Good people for sure--raced with him at the World Championships for Ultra Trail (that I bombed)--it would be AWESOME to see him hammer out a great one, too! Rickey I'm not as familiar with, but I am sure all are strong runners and my vote is for USA regardless of the name!

uRunFar...iRunFar                                                       photo: iRunFar.com

Sage Canaday gives us the lowdown on UROC

Yes, that is a temporary tattoo on Sage's leg, what of it!?       photo: Ian Corless

Team Colorado: Sage, you are preparing for UROC this weekend and it looks like the money is on you and Killian for the win. How do you feel about getting bet on like a horse?

Sage: Bring all bets! A 100km race is so unpredictable with all the variables at play so even I'm not sure how my body will respond and who else may be up near or at the lead (Rob Krar? Dakota?).

Team Colorado: The course appears to have a good amount of bike trails in it, do you think this will suit you well because of your speed?

Sage: Ha ha! Only in ultra running am I considered to have "speed." I was was as slow as molasses in HS and college track...the girls started beating me at 400m (57 sec. "speed"). I think the angle of the bike tracks will help me not twist my ankle (hopefully).

Team Colorado: We hear there could be some snow, probably mud. What do you think of Fall in the Rockies?

Sage: Boo to cold weather and snow! I like hot and sunshine all the time. Boulder hasn't even gotten close to 300 days of sun this year...yet. Anything but cold rain at this point. 

Team Colorado: We see you are getting interviewed by Bryon Powell of iRunFar.com, that is a good thing, right? Does he scare you?

Sage: Sometimes. But I gave him an Avery Beer after Speedgoat and he was happy. 

Team Colorado: Best of luck this weekend at UROC, we will be following you and have Avery beer at all the aid stations!

Sage: Double IPA only...Excellent. Thanks for the support! 

iRunFar.com interview

Rickey's hair is not that long anymore, but his mustache is as red as ever!

Team Colorado Welcomes Brandy Erholtz

October 2, 2013, 11:16 am

≫ Next: Ultra Race of Champions: A Sufferfest

≪ Previous: Team Colorado ROCS: UROC Preview

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Name: Brandy "Mile-a-Minute" Erholtz

Age: 36 years young

Hometown: International Falls, MN a.k.a. “Icebox of the Nation”

Current residence:Evergreen, CO

Sponsors: New Balance, Injinji, Power Bar & Atlas Snowshoes

STORK ALERT!!!: Asher Emmet Erholtz was born a little early on Sept. 25, 2013 at 4:38pm, weighing in at 2 lbs. 15 oz. He, Brandy and Matt are doing well. We welcome Asher to Team Colorado!

Personal Bests (or Worst’s):

To be honest, I’m rarely ever completely satisfied with my results and hope all of my personal bests are yet to come. Once I started mountain/trail running, I decided personal bests are usually irrelevant. A race is about pushing yourself against your competition, the course, the weather and of course yourself. With that said, I do still have some personal time goals I’d like to meet in a couple of ascent races along with some road times IF I do any more serious road racing.

Worsts: I broke both of my arms (elbows) on an early morning run in Paris after the World Championships in 2010 and still had to fly home. Ten years earlier I had broken both wrists.  Sierre Zinal 2011 was more of a death march than an actual race for me; I’d like to redeem myself there. I was also extremely disappointed with my individual performance last year at World’s despite the team Gold medal—my personal performance didn’t indicate the fitness I had as I came down with a cold. The race felt like I was stuck in a bad dream.

Notable Achievements:

5X Consecutive US Mountain Running Teams

10^th Place World Championships Italy 2009

2x Pike’s Peak Ascent Champion

2x Mt. Washington Champion

Goals for 2013/2014/beyond:

2013—deliver a healthy baby and start getting my base mileage back as soon as possible!

2014—get back in shape and figure out how to balance motherhood, training, coaching and full-time teaching! Qualify for the US Mountain Running Team to compete in Italy, break 70 minutes at Mt. Wash, break 2:35 at Pikes, improve my time and place in the Jungfrau Marathon.

Beyond—qualify for more US Mountain Running Teams, earn an individual medal at the World Champs, better my time and place at Sierre Zinal, complete and compete in some ultras, run Imogene Pass, La Luz and Aspen Golden Leaf Half Marathon; just to name a few!

Favorite trails:

We’ve only lived in Colorado for 7 years, so I am still exploring! In Evergreen, I love to run Bergen Peak, Evergreen Mountain and Elephant Butte.

Favorite workout:

Anything steep and uphill! Long runs have always been my favorite run of the week as I love spending time on the trails. It’s good thinking time!

Favorite races:

Mt. Washington

Pikes Peak Ascent

Sierre Zinal

Jungfrau

Vail Winter Uphill

Website/Blog:

Although my husband created a website/blog for me a few years ago, this is actually a good reminder I need to remove it from the web as I’m terrible at updating it! I have been guest blogging with Liza Howard, my fellow NB ambassador about our journey through pregnancy:

http://www.lizahoward.com/2013/09/balance-team-pregnancy-blog-part-8-squash-shaming-freshman-bad-backs/

Favorite beer:

Mmm beer; I can’t wait to have beer again! I love trying local brews—ambers and darks are usually my favorite. Tommy Knocker had a chocolate porter last winter I loved as well. Right now, I’m dying for a pumpkin beer and told Matt (husband) he needs to have one ready in the delivery room for me!

Why Trail/Mountain/Ultra Running?:

It’s the best way to explore! The people, places and experiences I have gained in my life through mountain/trail running are second to none. In all seriousness, I got into trail/mountain/running after not meeting my goal of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials. I was frustrated that 4+ months of training for a marathon goal could be ruined because of heat/humidity, gale force winds, etc.  I have to thank Nancy Hobbs for seeing potential in me and encouraging me to give mountain running a try!

Mt. Washington Road Race                       photo: Joe Viger

Tell us more!:

I have six pets: Emma, Gizmo, Chopper & K2 (cats) & Ches-E & Fischer (black and yellow labs-best running buddies ever!!)

I’m vegetarian and a chocoholic.

I’m grateful for my husband (Matt) who has been super supportive of my training/racing; I couldn’t do it without him.

I also feel blessed God has given me the gift of running and hope I can continue to share and use it to help inspire others. 

Ultra Race of Champions: A Sufferfest

October 6, 2013, 12:11 pm

≫ Next: The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #1: How can you NOT get Giardia if you participate in this race?

≪ Previous: Team Colorado Welcomes Brandy Erholtz

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Last weekend was the Ultra Race of Champions 100k, a self-described "World Championship of Ultra running", also known as UROC, because, much like ultra running, saying Ultra Race of Champions over and over gets very tiresome. After hearing many of the same utterings from the competitors, it should have been called the "Sufferfest of Ultra running." With temperatures in the high-teens at the start, snow as deep as a short person's waist at the peak of some mountain-top climbs, Krupicka doppelgängers abundant, 10 miles of pavement (Killian definitely wanted to shoot himself) and an additional 4 miles tacked onto the already long 100k of running (that's over 6 more K's to you Euros!), everyone suffered nicely.

Our Team Colorado contingent was present: Michele "bomb 'chele" Yates, Sage Canaday and Rickey "Heavenly" Gates, along with Spaniard Kilian Burgada Jornet (we are not really sure if that is a middle name or a first-last name), Flaggers Rob Krar and Jason Wolfe, Swede Emile Forsberg, Bendite Stephanie Howe, some guy from Jones, North Dakota, Colorado's own Kerri Bruxvoort, Francesca Canepa from Italia--probably a wine drinker, Team Inov-8 master's star Gary Gellin (he was Gellin'), the whole Salomon contingent and others that hoped to make their mark on this course. 

Team Coloradans ready at the line (Rickey "Red Mustache" Gates over florescent-yellow-Krar's left shoulder, Sage in key lime green jacket and Michele off his left shoulder (she's short!)                              photo: Brad & Lori Clayton

The Prez and first lady were present to cheer on and crew for our fellow athletes and a few things became apparent: it can get really, really cold in Colorado (sh'yeah...we're in the Rockies!); misery does NOT love company; crewing is hard work--even if you are drinking beer; snow can be very deep...especially if you are very short; no one wants to drink beer after over 10 hours of racing...booo! That is what happens when you eat a gallon of gel and gelatinized gels. Very understandable.

Michele Yates took the plunge, considering she ran a 100-miler two weeks ago. Don't ever tell her she can't do something, because she will prove you wrong (while dropping a bomb on you!). We asked her a few questions about the race.

Power hiking at its finest!                                             photo: Brad & Lori Clayton

Team Colorado: Michele, congrats on 169 miles of racing in a two week period (Dean Karnazes has nothing on you!). We heard a lot of (most) people say that UROC was one of the most difficult races they had ever done, do you think so?

Michele: UROC was a very challenging race, mostly due to the weather conditions. We experienced some dangerous, snowy conditions on one of the peaks, mud, ice, flooding, more snow...but all in all, that is what it's ALL about, right? ULTRA-going beyond others or beyond due limit...  The course tested our limits :) It had technical trail downhills, uphills, easy road, bike path..you name it!

Team Colorado: How bad was the snow on the second big climb? You said you were waist deep (but you did describe yourself as "short"). Did that affect the rest of the race?

Michele: The snow wasn't too bad, it was just the wind that accompanied it! They said the temps up top reported below zero with gusts up to 30mph..and I believe it! There were some ledges that weren't runable..you seriously could have easily slid right down the mountain..that all made it fun! I think the only thing that affected my race was running 103 miles 2 weeks ago..otherwise, I was happy to be out there!

Team Colorado: I don't recall hearing one negative thing from you, everyone else was not as positive as you (did you eat some pop tarts or something)…did that help you get through the race?

Michele: Thanks, I always try to stay positive..and again, I am happy to be out there and blessed I have the ability to do so! 


Thumb up while climbing a 35% grade with a sandwich in her mouth              photo: The Prez

Team Colorado: You went from 2nd at the beginning of the race to 4th in the middle back up to 3rd at the finish, how was that getting passed and passing in such a tight race?

Michele: Hmm, well...my legs were not happy to be out racing again so soon, however..the rest of me was :) So taking that into consideration...I had to take care of myself nutritionally and be more conservative at the beginning of the race...pretty much up to the last 15 miles. I didn't expect to be in second at one point, so again..I stayed conservative..then towards the end (after one REALLY rough low point) I hammered down! I knew I had to be realistic coming into this race. I was not going to be "fresh" with "spunk" in my legs..but I didn't ever count myself out of first place either. ..this is an ultra- anything can happen and a lot does!

Michele leaving Frisco in 3rd (within 45 sec. of the leaders) with the snowy mountains (and this guy) taunting her               photo: The Prez

Team Colorado: Thank you for giving us a dance! It was like you were turning a ultra into a discotech!

You were the girl that changed my world You were the girl for me You lit the fuse, I stand accused You were the first for me But you turned me out, baby You dropped a bomb on me, baby...                                                                                            -The Gap Band

That is not a literal bomb, if anyone from Homeland Security is reading this...oh, never mind, you guys are shut down! After swapping positions, Michele moved into 3rd place and secured her position, finishing in a time of 12:46:24.

Michele literally crossed the finish line and had to run over to the awards ceremony that was already in progress...way to go "Ultra World Championship".

Team Colorado making its mark on a snow-covered bridge, but it was gone before the runners arrived      photo: The Prez

Rickey with the red shoes, red jacket and red mustache, alongside awkward running friend Ryan Ghelfi                    photo: Brad & Lori Clayton

Rickey Gates started off in a great position at the beginning of the race, in about 7th place through the first aid station, but the course and weather seemed to take its toll on him. Cold weather can do that to a person. Though, sometimes it was hot...frigidly-hot. When the wind blew or if the runners happened to find themselves in a crotch-deep snow, it was really cold. At times of no wind and when the sun was blaring...all you wanted to do was take off your clothes. 

He took his clothes off                                         photo: Brad & Lori Clayton

When you want to know the time, just know that Krupicka has your back with a watch at the ready             photo: Joe Grant

We are still not sure if he was aware that he ran the last 40 miles in two different shoes. He started off with two red Salomon S-Lab Sense 2 and finished with one blue and one yellow Sense Mantra. Make sense?

Who's the man?                                                      photo: The Prez

"Hey kids, who wants some candy?...it's been in my pants for 56 miles!"   photo: The Easter Bunny

Rickey takes the time to play the role of Kris Kringle and hand out candy to the kids in Minturn.

An obvious sign Rickey was struggling was when he texted his mom in the last 10 miles and told her he was suffering badly and needed Miller Lite...you know you are struggling when you request Miller Light! It has the same molecular structure as water, so maybe he just wanted to rehydrate. Although, when offered a (real) beer with 100 meters to go in the race, Rickey turned it down stating, "I'll puke if drink that right now."

Gates fully clothed with see-through lingerie jacket and fall foliage        photo: Brad & Lori Clayton

Sage Canaday took the race out Sage Canaday style--honest. Having already had a phenomenal ultra year, Sage planned on continuing his streak with an "Ultra World Championship" win. After taking a prime at the top of the first climb, Sage swapped the lead several times with the front runners, always within striking distance.

Sage among the sage                                      photo: Brad & Lori Clayton

Word was that Sage took the lead at the halfway point (since the race was approximately 4 miles long). Everyone loves an honest person!

"How do I get this damn jacket off..."                           photo: The Prez

"Oh, right, it's a half zip!"                                    photo: The Prez

The pace was fast and the weather was exhausting. Sage soon found himself struggling with some of the other superstars. He later said, "My stomach felt so bad all day and after the race I had to go straight back to my hotel room and pass out...I couldn't muster up the energy to have a single sip of beer the whole night after the race (I know, pathetic!)."

Sage wore his fall camouflage                               photo: The Prez

At Minturn, Sage attempted to eat some potato chips which went from his hand to his mouth straight to the ground. He then proceeded to apologized for littering. He was shaking and complaining of stomach issues. "All I want to do is finish", were his main words at Minturn--10 miles to go. He doesn't remember much of the conversations with people beyond this point so we can say he said anything.

Read Sage's write up on his blog.

"Michael Jordan" or "Miley Cirus"...you decide     photo: Brad & Lori Clayton After running the 10 miles paved bike path up and over Vail Pass, Kilian Jornet was asked by his crew (entourage is a better word) how he was feeling. He spoke sign language and held a imaginary gun to his head and pulled the finger. You'd think he was allergic pavement! Pavement doesn't exist in Spain, if you weren't aware. Here is Kilian wear-testing a Salomon flesh-colored racing uniform? Disclaimer: It is unclear whether Kilian twerked anyone during the UROC 106k.

Friends and crew recipients of Team Colorado, Stephanie Howe (The North Face) and Gary Gellin (Inov-8), both ran superbly, placing 2nd and 12th, respectively. Beer and Bloks were offered at every aid station.

Stephanie Howe showing how(e) it's done                    photo: The Prez

Gary Gellin loading his guns                                   photo: The Prez

Results

1. Rob Krar (The North Face) – 9:29:00 
2. Dakota Jones (Montrail) – 9:32:26 
3. Cameron Clayton (Salomon) –10:06:24
4. Kilian Jornet (Salomon) – 10:19:18
5. Ryan Ghelfi (Rogue Valley Runners) – 10:24:37
6. Sage Canaday (Scott, Team Colorado)– 11:00:26
7. Jason Wolfe – 11:21:00
8. Martin Gaffuri (New Balance)– 11:32:33
9. Andrew Bock  – 11:36:46
10. Mike Versteeg – 11:36:46

13.Rickey Gates (Salomon, Team Colorado) - 12:04:05

1. Emelie Forsberg (Salomon)– 12:06:33
2. Stephanie Howe (The North Face)– 12:29:27
3. Michele Yates (Ultimate Dirction, GU, Team Colorado)– 12:46:24
4. Francesca Canepa (Vibram) – 12:55:07
5. Kerrie Bruxvoort (Salomon) – 13:23:39
6. Helen Cospolich (The North Face)– 14:29:48
7. Nikki LaRochelle – 14:33:04
8. Leslie Howlett (Altra) – 14:57:48
9. Jeanne Cooper – 16:35:31
10. Lynne Holme- 19:29:47

Gooooooooooooooal! Canadian and Flagstaffer Rob Krar takes the win    photo: Brad & Lori Clayton

Full Results

The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #1: How can you NOT get Giardia if you participate in this race?

October 11, 2013, 5:31 pm

≫ Next: Who's Christopher Columbus? Feels more like Stevie Kremer Day!

≪ Previous: Ultra Race of Champions: A Sufferfest

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On Sunday, October 6, 2013 a few Team Colorado members, and 370 of their closest running friends, took to the trail and creek in race #1 of the Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series.

The 5K (actually, 3.7 mile) race started in Monument Valley Park (Colorado Springs, CO--the #1 most affected city in the US by the Gov. shutdown--take note Boehner!) and our very own Simon "Gute" Gutierrez commentated the race, as he avoids anything technical and, besides, his Hokas would have drowned and taken him down with them in the polluted creek. 

IN A STRONG COMMENTATORS VOICE (not Gute's soft voice): 

HERE WE ARE AT THE 35TH ANNUAL PIKES PEAK ROAD RUNNERS FALL SERIES AND THE RUNERS ARE LINED UP ON THE GRASSY KNOLL OF MONUMENT VALLEY PARK IN GOOD OL' BANKRUPT COLORADO SPRINGS. 

HERE WE GO... THE GUN...NAY...THE LOUD SCREAM "GO" IS CALLED OUT AND THEY ARE OFF!!! BALLS TO THE WALL! IT LOOKS LIKE A MILE RACE UP FRONT! TEAM COLORADO'S NEIL "BIG McD" McDONAGH AND JUSTIN "DON'T CALL ME RICK JUSTINS" RICKS TAKE THE RACE OUT FAST, LIKE A DOWNHILL MILE, LIKE A FRESHMAN MALE IN HIS FIRST HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RACE. 

Ricks (L) and Big McD (R) make a Bowman-sandwich out of Scott Boweman (C), with Dan "Brown" Vega (in blue), Andrew Hugill (florecent green) and Pikes Peak chasing                              photo: PikesPeakSports.us

THERE IS PETER "THE PREZ" MAKSIMOW--IS HE RACING AGAIN!?--AND AXEL NICHOLS SITTING IN 10TH AND 11TH. OH, THERE IS A GUY WITH..."BORN...TO..WHINE" ON HIS UNIFORM. NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT LET'S HOPE HE DOESN'T WHINE WHEN THEY HIT THE CREEK. THERE IS BRANDON "STANKANOWICH" STAPANOWICH...HE JUST COMPLETED PU: THE STANK, WHERE HE RAN UP AND DOWN PIKES PEAK FOUR TIMES IN 41 HOURS 47 MINUTES FOR A TOTAL OF 96 MILES ONLY ONE WEEK AGO!! LET'S HOPE HIS LEGS DON'T FALL OFF.

The Prez, Axel and one of the Hanson brothers can't keep up with the lead pack            photo: PikesPeakSports.us

THE RACERS HEAD NORTH, CROSS A BRIDGE OVER MONUMENT CREEK AND CONTINUE SOUTH. IT'S STRINGING OUT NOW! BIG McD IS INCHING AWAY FROM THE LEAD PACK, USING HIS 4:05 BRISTOL MILE SPEED. HE HITS THE FIRST MILE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CREEK IN ABOUT 4:50. WOW! IT'S LIKE WATCHING THE SUPERHERO THE FLASH, JUST WITH WITHOUT THE FULL BODY SUIT!

OK, JUST WASTING TIME NOW, ENJOYING THE WARM WEATHER. THAT CREEK LOOKS POLLUTED, YUCK! IT CLOSELY RESEMBLES THAT SCENE IN STAR WARS WHERE LUKE, HAN SOLO, CHEWBACCA AND PRINCESS LEIA GET TRAPPED IN THE GIANT TRASH COMPACTOR.

A very appropriate depiction of Monument Creek

"What an incredible smell you've discovered!"

                                                     -Han Solo

AND NOW BIG McD GRABS SOME WATER AT A STRANGE AID STATION...OR WHAT HE THINKS IS WATER...AND NOW HE THROWS THE CUP AND GESTICULATES SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF "THAT'S NOT WATER!" I BELIEVE HE NOW REALIZES IT WAS  A BEER STATION, COMPLIMENTS OF REG LEG BREWING COMPANY.

AXEL IS NOW SLOWING MOVING UP AMONG THE FIELD AND GAINING ON RICKS, WHO IS HOLDING 4TH POSITION. DAN VEGA IS OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE PREZ IN 7TH AND 8TH POSITION, OHHHH, AND VEGA PULLS UP WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PULLED HAMSTRING...THAT'S HEARTBREAKING! AND NOW THE PREZ HAS STOPPED...IS HE OUT...NO, JUST REFUELING AT THE BEER STATION--TYPICAL.

AS BIG McD ENTERS THE CREEK, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH HE JUST HIT A BRICK WALL! NOW OTHER RUNNERS ARE TAKING THE PLUNGE, LITERALLY. AND DOWN GOES RICKS!!!! OH, NO, IT LOOKS LIKE HE JUST SEVERED HIS THUMB ON A RUSTY PIECE OF REBAR IN THE CREEK...HE BETTER GET A TENTNUS SHOT...AND A GIARDIA, SYPHILIS AND GONORRHEA SHOT, JUST IN CASE. YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO SAFE. THAT LOOKS BAD! 

Axel goes for a swim...just balls deep, though                              photo: PikesPeakSports.us

AXEL!!! IT'S AXEL TAKING THE LEAD AFTER BEING IN THE WATER FOR ONLY A MINUTE! HE IS LIKE A PIRANHA OR A RABID JAWS! THE WATER HAS CHANGED THE WHOLE DYNAMIC OF THE RACE! NOW THE PREZ IS MOVING INTO 3RD, NOW 2ND, NOW BACK TO 3RD, NOW 4TH, 3RD AGAIN...THAT STOP AT THE BEER STATION MUST REALLY HAVE WORKED! 

IT'S CHAOS, HEADS BOBBING THEN DISAPPEARING INTO THE WATER, SOME NECK DEEP...GROSS WATER, DID I MENTION THAT? ALL SORTS OF STYROFOAM, BROKEN GLASS AND SODA BOTTLES OF ALL BRANDS ARE ABUNDANT ON THE BANKS. WE KNOW THERE IS DEFINITELY REBAR IN THERE, PROBABLY A FINGER FLOATING AROUND SOMEWHERE. HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, PERHAPS!?

Big McD says, "Go ahead, take the lead, find the deep spots...you'll just fall into them"           photo: PikesPeakSports.us

AXEL IS THE FIRST ONE OUT OF THE WATER, THEN ONE OF THE HANSON BROTHERS, FOLLOWED BY THE PREZ, ANDREW HUGILL AND CARLOS RUIBAL...WHERE ARE THE REST OF TEAM COLORADO!? 

OH, WE SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED THIS...BRANDON STANKANOWICH HAS DECIDED TO DO ANOTHER DEATH-DEFYING STUNT--HE IS PERFORMING BURPEES IN THE CREEK! I UNDERSTAND THE STANK, BUT THIS IS TAKING IT TOO FAR. THAT'S A BOLD MOVE! HE BETTER GO TO THE CLINIC WITH JUSTIN AND GET A FEW VACCINATIONS.

Stankanowich, pushing the boundaries...burpees in the creek...yuck!             photo: PikesPeakSports.us

NOW IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE IS DANCING, THROWING THEIR HANDS UP IN THE AIR...AND RAISING THE ROOF...LIKE THEY JUST DON'T CARE...UHHH, NA NAHH NA NAHHHHH!

The Prez raisin' the roof!                                               photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Yes, that is blood from a missing finger and not a red satin glove on his hand....RAISE THE ROOF!                         photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Big McD sings, "I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky...." as he dances through the creek             photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Amy "Chef l'équipe" Perez dances the Saturday Night Fever in solidarity with Team Colorado                       photo: PikesPeakSports.us

NOW THEY HAVE LESS THAN A MILE TO GO, BUT I CAN'T SEE THEM SO I WILL JUST TWIDDLE MY THUMBS AND WAIT AT THE FINISH LINE. 

Later...at the finish line...

IT LOOKS LIKE AXEL NICHOLS WILL TAKE THE WIN IN 24:21, FOLLOWED BY PETER "THE PREZ" MAKSIMOW IN 3RD IN 25:01. RICKS AND BIG McD MAKE UP SOME TIME AND FINISH 6TH AND 7TH IN 26:01 AND 26:03. AFTER COMPLETING HIS 30 BURPEES, STANKANOWICH COMES IN AT 29:48. JUSTIN RICKS WINS THE COVETED RED GLOVE AWARD BY ALMOST SEVERING A THUMB IN THE CREEK...DID I MENTION IT WAS GROSSLY POLLUTED!? 

SHOUT OUT TO TEAM "THE BLERCH": AMY, NORA, SARAH, BOBBI (NOT BROWN) AND A QUICK RECOVERY FOR DENISE RICKS, WHO GOT THE SHAFT (REBAR, THAT IS) THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOE, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES. I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT YOU ARE ALL NOW DISEASED. 

NOW YOU SEE WHY I DON'T DO THESE RACES!!??

Nice butt Big McD!                                                      photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Results

Who's Christopher Columbus? Feels more like Stevie Kremer Day!

October 19, 2013, 10:06 am

≫ Next: A Complete Breach of Apiarian Trust

≪ Previous: The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #1: How can you NOT get Giardia if you participate in this race?

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On the week of the American Federal holiday, Columbus Day, named for someone that didn't actually go by that name when he was alive, we celebrate the real adventurers...because discovering something after it has already been discovered is like walking into someone else's house and telling them "I LIVE HERE NOW!!!"

LIMONE SKYRUNNING EXTREME - SKYRUNNING FINALE

Not Ants...Runners!                                  photo: Organisation Press Office

In the finale of the 2013 Skyrunning World Series in Limone, Italy (and all along we thought that US Baseball had that title) Axel Nichols and Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer were given Limone...and so they made Lemonade! They then added their winnings to that and came out with a Bellini-esque concoction, courtesy of their new friend Valdo...but let's not put the cart before the horse.

Axel is deep in German conversation just before the start        photo: Limone Skyrunning Xtreme

The Limone Extreme race took place in the small mountain-side town of Limone along the picturesque Lake Garda and consisted of over 6,000 feet of climbing over a 23.5k distance. Although, it must have seemed like so much longer on such a steep climb as this. (Note: Do not watch this video if you get motion sickness--or just brace yourself and have a barf bag handy, the helicopter views are a doozie!)

Axel Nichols and fellow Inov-8 and Stoic Viking teammate, Florian Reichert, show how to keep calm even while a women is pretending she is your cranial conjoined twin   photo: ISF

Axel went into the final race of the series in 4th place and, with a 8th place performance at Limone Extreme, he secured his name (spell it correctly, A-X-E-L) in the annals of the International Skyrunning Federation with a podium finish of 3rd (226.2 points). 

Axel attempting to pass a large moss monster...Axel succeeded         photo: Limone Skyrunning Xtreme

Axel participated in the following Skyrunning World Series races: Zagama Aizkorri (well, he started that one, anyway), Mont Blanc Marathon (7th), Pikes Peak Marathon (2nd) and Limone Extreme (8th). Even though Axel didn't have as many points as 5th place series finisher, Jokin Lizeaga Mitxelena (not a made up name), he secured the 3rd place series rank because the top 3 scores were tallied to determine the overall standings. Best of three!!!

Podium of the Skyrunning World Series (L to R) Luis Alberto Hernando, Kilian "Hornet" Jornet and Axel Nichols. Axel did not get the not-shaving-for-a-month memo.              photo: Limone Skyrunning Xtreme

Axel then drank his prize with a little Limone.

They do not give out glasses in Limon, only large VALDO bottles in which to drink out of     photo: Natalie White

Axel getting the red carpet treatment as he finishes                                 photo: Ian Corless

Stevie went over to Italy sitting in 2nd place in the Skyrunning World Series rankings, down by only by a mere 10 points behind Emelie Forsberg, and worked her magic on that craggy mountain. 

Stevie shows off her color-coordniated leg tape to all the men as she passes them            photo: Droz Photo

With a big will and a small lump (on her lower back), Stevie held 2nd place on the steep climb...then she made her move on the technical downhill section, won the race and put more seven minutes on the next finisher, Antonella Confortola (2:53:58). Forsberg finished 3rd in 2:54:54.

Brilliant Surgeon: "You know, I am brilliant surgeon, I can help you remove that hump." Stevie: "What hump!?"       photo: Ski & Run

Stevie bowled a perfect game (if this was bowling) with a perfect score of 320 (20 bonus points for the win at Limone Extreme). She competed in Zagama Aizkorri (3rd), Mont Blanc Marathon (1st), Pikes Peak Marathon (1st), and Limone Extreme (1st, CR).

Football players (American, not European) don't even get this much attention!              photo: Ian Corless

Stevie was running so fast that she almost lost her drawers (don't believe us, check out 11:45 into the video bysporrtdimontagna). Maybe it was due to her friend, Lumpy?

The women's Limone Extreme podium (L to R) Antonella Confortola, Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer, Emelie "Hot Pants" Forsberg   photo: Limone Skyrunning Xtreme

With her time of 2:46:13, Stevie set a new course record and with that performance she has been anointed with a new holiday: Stevie Kremer Day! She celebrated with her friend Valdo.

From here forth, October 14th is declared Stevie Kremer Day! No more City in Ohio day.

YEAHHH, World Series Champion!                                  photo: Limone Skyrunning Xtreme

Team Colorado's Axel Nichols and Stevie Kremer put the 'merica into America                      photo: Ian Corless

Runner's World cheddar
International Skyrunning Federation

CHICAGO MARATHON

Glenn "Pulling a GR" Randall took on the Chicago Marathon last weekend, where the winning time was a scorching 2:03:45 by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto. Wow! We are not sure he even attempted to Pull a GR with that kind of speed.

Randall, who has been tied up in Physics midterms, told us he was fairly-to-somewhat confident with his preparation for Chicago. "I'm going in with roughly the same confidence I went with into a midterm last Thursday. Pre-midterm grade in the class is apparently 139%, and I'm very confident that I got in the A range for the exam. So, I figure if it worked at Pikes Peak (in 2010) and it worked on that exam, maybe it'll work here?"

It seemed to work! He finished in 32nd place overall with a very respectable 2:21:32.

Result

STEAMTOWN MARATHON

One of our newest additions to Team Colorado, James "Mr." Burns (Colorado Springs, CO), takes on the marathon distance in his sophomore showing. 

Mr. Burns headed out to his birth state to run the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA (as well as to hang out with the similarly last-named Matt Byrne and the rest of the cast of The Office). He managed a PR and 3rd place overall, running 2:26:38. 

He was plotting it all along!

2:26:38, Mwhahahahahahahhhhh!

Results

MINE TO MINE CHALLENGE 9K

Simon "Gute" Gutierrez was back to his old self (no pun intended) when he again ran the Mine to Mine 9k Challenge in Cripple Creek, CO. Last year Gute struck gold in the Mine to Mine Challenge and created a gold tooth out of the gold nugget he won. He repeated his performance again this year with a 3rd place finish in a time of 29:47. 

Last year...a gold tooth. This year...another gold tooth, and in 12 more years...a gold grill!

Gute showing a lot of skin at this race...he usually tends to underdress     photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Gute gave us the lowdown on the race:

"The weather was perfect for a gold mining expedition....two young gunning prospectors went out at 4:07 (Joe Gay) and 4:27 (Richard Medina). I took it careful not to hurt my old hamstrings at 4:46 (especially thinking old sexy had pulled his...Gerald)...by 2 miles Joe and Richard were beyond eye sight and I was happy to not see any one behind me. So, as a wise old prospector, I did not try to get greedy and wish for more gold, instead I relaxed (15:52 through 5km), enjoyed the run and was surprised to run a minute faster than last year. Now I officially have 2 gold nuggets!! Saving up for a rainy day or some new gold teeth..."

Gute showing off his gold nug with RD Shaun Finley (L) and Joe Gray (aquamarine)        photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Results

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A Complete Breach of Apiarian Trust

October 21, 2013, 8:41 pm

≫ Next: The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #2: Attack of the Killah Bees!

≪ Previous: Who's Christopher Columbus? Feels more like Stevie Kremer Day!

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If you've run any race in Colorado Springs over the years, you've got to know Alex Nichols by now. Heck, he's won or claimed to have won almost every race in town. He's great. Right? Let's investigate. 

I am teammates with Alex, or at least I thought that was the case until this past Sunday. Classic Midwest charm exudes from his every pore.

As we prepared for the start of the race Alex seemed to be speaking in code.

“You’re gonna beereally sorry after this one.”

“Those hills are going to really sting.”

“Someone might win a yellow jacket after this one.”

Honestly I thought he was just paying homage to my alma mater, Georgia Tech (3-2 in ACC conference play).

Little did I know that Alex had likely strategically positioned a virulent nest of swarming vermin bound to be trampled by unsuspecting Fall Series survivors. As we ran abreast over the crest of the first big hill, Alex says to me “You have to run behind me for this part.” I could see him stomp hard on a patch of dirt with his taloned Inov-8’s. Thankfully I never clear the wax out of my ears. So I just just pointed to my clogged ear canals and pulled into the lead.

With one mile left in the race I knew something was wrong. Mainly because everyone was yelling “BEEEEES!”

The Killer Bees

The first thought that came to my mind was “Alex”. And you know what? I’m probably right.

Do you trust this guy?

Or this guy?

I rest my case.

Big McD

All above statements are made purely in the name of slander.

The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #2: Attack of the Killah Bees!

October 25, 2013, 11:59 pm

≫ Next: The Manitou Springs Emma Crawford Coffin Races

≪ Previous: A Complete Breach of Apiarian Trust

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At the last race, RD Larry "Sadist" Miller and the Fall Series brought to you the polluted creek of Monument Valley. This time it was Bear Creek Regional Park--just with rabid bees rather than bears. Other than not going into anaphylactic shock due to bee stings, the good news is that the government is back in business and the barricades were lifted so that the runners could climb, descend, scramble, creek jump and scale hillsides in a single bound (with the aid of ropes, of course).

With our commentator, Simon "Gute" Gutierrez being out of town to pace his mother to a sub-30-minute 10k (yes, she is fast, too!), we had to mental telepathize the race participants to get the commentary.

Last time the runners contracted the Monument Valley Creek Cough...what will it be this time?

Initiate telepathizer!

Big McD: "I hope nobody notices that I am scratching my ass in public."

Everyone: "Who's this gingerbread man who's showing off some midriff while taking out the race like someone is going to eat him?"

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Gingerbread Man: "You'd also be running this fast if you looked this delicious and nutritious!"

editor's note: The gingerbread man was just a rabbit, he didn't want to get his yellow and orange frosting soggy in the creek water.

Tim Bergsten (PikesPeakSports.us): "ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO, START OF FALL SERIES 2, WE'RE IN BEAR CREEK PARK...GOOD JOB BOYS!" (Just watch the video so he doesn't have to repeat himself.)

Unsuspecting runners discovered that the secret obstacle was a hive of angry Africanized bees. Not good for people who have a lot of exposed skin.

Innocent Runner: "Oh...huff, hufff...there is a bee hive...hufff...someone is going to get stung...hufff...I better put my jacket over it so that doesn't happen."

Angry Bees: "ANGRY...MUST STING!!!!!"

Unsuspecting recipient of bee stings: "Ohhhh....beeeeees, ahhhhh! It stung my eyeeeee! AHHHHHHH!"

Larry Miller: "HAHA, I love it when these courses devour people!!!!"

Angry Bees: "SHOULDN'T...HAVE...DONE...THAT.....NOW.......I........DIE....or merely get jobbed out of the WWF."

While in racing news...

Big McD: "Oh shit...Axel is getting away...whoa, Killer Bees...I love that duo!"

Axel: "La la laaaaa...this is so much easier compared to last weekend in Italy...what bees are you talking about...I don't see any bees...plus, I am moving at 5:00-min/mile pace, bees are slow."

The Prez: "Oh Shit, I can't stop for beer at this beer station, Justin is on my ass...but there's BEER! [contemplatively] I hope that was a fly that just went into my shirt....

The Prez: Where are my feet!? I don't see my feet!!


Justin: "Oh shit, a beer station, Peter is definitely going to stop there. I'll catch him there for sure!"

Axel: "And they thought that only those silly looking lizards could do this, ha!"

Lizard: "Don't call me silly...I weigh more than you do!"

Axel: "OK, this is more like Limone, just without some Spanish guy named 'Hornet'."

Big McD: "Now I really wish I had some of those fancy Inov-8 X-talon 212's that The Prez is wearing."

Big McD: "This is what a Heisman winner looks like...."


Big McD: "...and my next impression...Jesse Owens!"

Chef l'équipe: "I am glad I took the rope out from in between my legs--those people are really tugging back there! Sheesh!"


Big McD: "Give me your lunch money, kid!"


Axel: "Nooooooo, I neeeeeed MILK...for strong bones!"


Team Colorado sweeps the top 4 spots with Axel, Big McD, The Prez and Justin....who looks a little worse for the wear after the killah bees and creek crossings.

THE TEAM PHOTO!

Results

PikesPeakSports.us article

The Manitou Springs Emma Crawford Coffin Races

November 10, 2013, 7:45 am

≫ Next: USATF Trail Half Marathon Championships, Moab, UT…aka where there is no internet access

≪ Previous: The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #2: Attack of the Killah Bees!

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Team M.E.R.M.O.: The Medicinally Enhanced Rocky Mountain Oysters

HELLO control-top panty hose!

It all started on a rainy night in Manitou Springs in the fall of '29 (1929, that is)…let's call it a VERY RAINY NIGHT, much like the rains of 2013…when the torrents carved at the mountainsides and brought Emma Crawford's coffin--who believed she would R.I.P.--down from Red Mountain in Manitou Springs at a such a blistering pace that only a true Manitoid could handle. We shall call it M.E.R.M.O. pace! And if M.E.R.M.O. didn't have to run that avenue 3 times, M.E.R.M.O. would have caught you Emma…with our Oysters! Our Rocky Mountain Oysters! Our Medicinally Enhanced Rocky Mountain Oysters!!! Ergo…The Emma Crawford Coffin Race!

M.E.R.M.O. disguised as Team Colorado…wait, maybe the other way around. Anyway, these four anatomically correct Oyster-looking creatures pushed a coffin lovingly named "Oyster" up Manitou Ave faster than Emma could have ever imagined. We even had our very own 21st Century Emma inside! She was alive, of course, because pushing a cadaver around town in a speedy coffin is frowned upon in Manitou Springs. Matt Carpenter, city councilman, would NOT approve.

But first, it started with the celebratory parade of coffins where all the ladies were checking out our sugar lumps…oysters, our oysters! There were ghouls, Waldos and Oysters abundant…oh, and this little pig.

…and this little piggy went to the Emma Crawford Coffin Races

Oysters don't like Armadillos, they give them punches to the snout to wipe that big grin off their faces!

Our faithful entourage was not ashamed of how shuckin' ridiculous our oysters looked

M.E.R.M.O. were not on the same page as to where the mountains were, luckily our entourage was on their game

A great ginger once said" Poll to poll, tuck and roll." What a wise ginger!

Nipples don't magically appear…they have to be drawn on...

 …and so does chest hair…

 …and that hair that grows up your stomach that connects the rest of the hair on your body!

Flexing is hard work…but Oyster was so happy to be outside in the Rocky Mountain Air

Round 1: M.E.R.M.O. was given the poll position with race number #1 (foreshadowing, perhaps?) and raced the Manitou Springs Fire Dept. in the ~180 meters up Manitou Ave.  Fire Dept. teams are always strong contenders, probably because their jobs here in Colorado are extremely busy, especially in the last two years, keeping them in tip-top coffin racing shape. The Oysters pulled out a convincing victory but had to wait for the other 48 teams to compete before knowing if they would qualify for the finals with one of the top 4 fastest times. And so it turned into a waiting game.

Oysters get shuckin' tired and need to flex when standing in the sun all morning…diapers are a necessity!

Round 2: After 50 teams had competed, M.E.R.M.O. was informed that our time wasn't recorded and we, along with the Manitou Springs Fire Dept., had to complete another run. We ran so fast, they weren't even able to to get a time on us! After much searching, the Manitou Spring Fire Dept. were all able to get back to the line and we ran that avenue again. The  Fire Dept. had lost control and crashed into the barrier while team M.E.R.M.O. shucked a good one and qualified for the finals with one of the 4 fastest times of the day, 23.72.

"Man those Oysters are FAST!"                                           -Mustached Announcer

Emma was a little confused with what just happened…we shucked 'em, we shucked 'em hard

Round 3: With only 3 minutes of recovery (Oysters need recovery!) M.E.R.M.O. had to toe (or oyster, rather) the line again in one of two finals races. With toasted oysters, M.E.R.M.O. put forth a valiant effort, however, left driver M.E.R.M.O. connects foot to Oyster shell and goes down. Leaving M.E.R.M.O. to finish in the Blue Angels Missing Man Formation. It's a shuckin' shame! 

M.E.R.M.O. goes down!

M.E.R.M.O. Missing Man Formation

M.E.R.M.O. earned a 4th finish behind some very strong, but not nearly as well dressed, teams: 1st - Ghoul's Gulch, 2nd - Catamount Fire Dept., 3rd - Thriller. Congrats to all the coffin racers, it was a shuckin' amazing day! 

(historical Note: M.E.R.M.O. is the only team to run 3 times at the Emma Crawford Coffin Race).

Celebratory Oyster Bump! Someone's oysters were not pointed the correct way.

No, Emma would not have rolled over in her grave if she saw this. She would have, however, enjoy a fast ride up Manitou Ave!


Name those M.E.R.M.O. boobs? For a prize…from our sponsors…do we even have sponsors??? 

Oh, yes we do! Select PT, employer of our very own Gute, made sure our oysters were nice and limber before the races and tended to our badly toasted Rocky Mountain Oysters afterwards…because oysters need a lot of physical therapy. Select PT (Melissa, Gute and Shelly) can be found in downtown Colorado Springs and can poke, prod and tape up YOUR oysters, too!

2South Wine Bar in Old Colorado City supplied us with the banner in which to rest our weary oysters on, along with wine in which to bast our oysters in. Visit them at 2 South 25th Street in Old Colorado City and you can bast your oysters as well.

Thanks for the support! Actually, left rear oyster needed some support of the jock kind.

*No Oysters were harmed in the pushing of this coffin…well, maybe one but he has since recovered.

"All I have to say is we were shuckin' fast on those first two runs!"
                                                                                      -Right front driver

USATF Trail Half Marathon Championships, Moab, UT…aka where there is no internet access

November 14, 2013, 12:34 pm

≫ Next: The Treaty at Palmer Park

≪ Previous: The Manitou Springs Emma Crawford Coffin Races

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Recently, at the Moab Trail Marathon/Half Marathon, Team Colorado officially had an unofficial Team Colorado party in Moab, UT at the USATF Trail Half Marathon Championships. All the big guns showed up, and in addition to the party they raced a half marathon (and a marathon, in Sage's case) over slick rocks, up a creek and and through picturesque arches with alien hieroglyphs.

Let's see, we had Stevie Kremer, Megan Kimmel, Jared Scott, Justin Ricks, Sage Canaday and probably others that might have been under an alias.

Stevie does it again…and again…and again…                                photo: Rich Bolt/USMRT

A big congratulatory fist bump goes out to the new USATF Trail Half Marathon Champion Stevie "Sunshine" Kremer. You did it…AGAIN! Stevie ran an impressive 1:38:08, with Melody Fairchild of Boulder, CO in 2nd (1:40:11) and past USATF 10K Trail Champion and 2012 co-Trail Runner of the Year (along with Stevie--what a team, we share everything!) Megan Kimmel placed 3rd (1:42:57) in this very competitive women's field. 

Stevie said her legs were so short that she "might as well have put on a snorkel and started swimming." Similarly, Megan said she experienced a wardrobe malfunction and finished the race "with water gushing out of the top of my socks."

The top women (Stevie 2nd/Megan 3rd from right)                          photo: Rich Bolt/USMRT

Jared, sporting Numero Uno, ran a lot of the race with fellow Team Coloradan, Justin Ricks, swapping the 2nd place position like it was a bad joke. 

Jaredtoldus, "The race was great! Good course with varying terrain, but nothing too incredibly steep on the half marathon course. Justin and I battled the last few miles of the race...he's an animal on those down hills! We went off course descending off that one cliff face but only a minute or so off course. The course was pretty well marked with pink flagging so staying on course was more of a matter of maintaining focus and not zoning out which can be tough during a race. Running through the creek was chilly and deep in spots, I decided that running on the banks was better than the creek itself. Overall a good day."

Justin started off with a black veil to be incognito                               photo: Denise Ricks

He also added, "There is a lot of radioactivity around Moab. In fact, there is a huge Government Superfund clean up site just up river from where we raced. I'm not sure how that affected our race performance." 

Well, they will know when they start to grow webbed feet.

Jared looking happy even after wading through the toxic creek                     photo: Rich Bolt/USMRT

Still life with Justin and phallic rock                                    photo: Rich Bolt/USMRT

Justin documented his experience on his blog with a write up on the race and his busy race schedule in different states in the the same weekend. 

They just called it even and each took 2nd & a half place…then embraced                      photo: Rich Bolt/USMRT

Sage Canaday took a wrong turn and went off course in the marathon and ended up finishing in 2nd place (3:20:42), then, after coming through the finishing shoot, he took a wrong turn and we have still yet to hear from him. We think he ran back to Boulder, CO.

Sage getting interviewed by Edwin Moses after he took a wrong turn in the marathon           photo: Rich Bolt/USMRT

Results

The Treaty at Palmer Park

November 14, 2013, 1:53 pm

≫ Next: The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #3: Like a mini Skyrunning race, only smaller but just as competitive as the real thing

≪ Previous: USATF Trail Half Marathon Championships, Moab, UT…aka where there is no internet access

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Over the course of the last six weeks Alex Nichols has prodded, slandered and generally ruined any chance of ever regaining my social standing in the Colorado Springs running community. He has called my bet and pushed all his chips into the pot. 

My response? Never bend to a tyrant. Nothing would please Alex more than to beat me in four consecutive races (although his use of murderous flying insects has drawn international scorn). So my only choice is to deny him this very satisfaction. 

I will leave the Fall Series with my honor intact. I shall sabbatical in the desert of the Southwest for an undetermined amount of time (Sunday probably). Where upon I will pursue great spiritual and homeopathic healing. 

So enjoy your spoils Mr. Nichols as I abdicate my position on the starting line. Your hollow victory shall be remembered for my absence. 

The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #3: Like a mini Skyrunning race, only smaller but just as competitive as the real thing

November 19, 2013, 10:02 pm

≫ Next: Happy Birthday Mr. Prez...I Got You a Race!

≪ Previous: The Treaty at Palmer Park

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Where Monument Valley Park brought the "creek cough"-- and possibly Giardia-- Bear Creek Park caused the "death sneeze", Ute Valley Park brought the HURT (read: broken bones, head-first diggers, face slashes, never-nudes and much, much more).

It all started on a beautiful fall day in early November (not the cold, wet and nasty kind that no one likes) but a true it's-almost-70-degrees-kind-of-day. The pecking order has been established with the first half of the series in the rear-view. 

There is the golden boy of Team Colorado, Alex "Axel" Nichols, who is undefeated in the series thus far.

Neil "Big McD" McDonagh is coming off a competitive 2nd place finish in Bear Creek Park and is back at odds with fellow teammate, Axel--call it a rekindling of old fire.

Justin Ricks, who placed 3rd at the Trail Half Marathon National Championships the day before in a different state--his travel stipend must be high!

"A good pre-race dance always gets the juices flowing for the race" - Justin Ricks, the running man    photo: Cherie Xavier

Peter "The Prez" Maksimow, who has not done anything spectacular, is using the strategy of consistency to hold his second place series standing and his 3rd place finish streak.

Nice Inov-(foot) uniform, what is that, velvet!?         photo: Cherie Xavier

Then there is that Chubby Bunny team member Carlos Ruibal, who has hopped his way into the top 5 in all the races thus far (no photographic evidence exists of said Chubby Bunny---OK, that is not true, he was captured in the above photo with Big McD, just the bottom half of his head, though). 

Who else, you ask!?

Leave it to Team Colorado to throw a wrench into things…with another Team Coloradan! Fresh off a 3rd place finish and 2:26:38 at the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA (yes, that is the same place The Office was filmed), youngster James "Mr." Burns goes and throws the whole race out of proportion with his very beautiful stride and flowing blond hair (Axel, you have competition, not only in the beautiful hair category, but also in the race category…as in running race…not racial race).

As usual, the race is taken out at a reckless pace, in this case, someone with the word "Reckless" across their chest. The race starts with a circuit around a track before the climb into the hilly and technical Ute Valley Park, at which point is becomes very fun…or very miserable...depending on who you asked.

Scott Bowman goes out at "RECKLESS" pace                   photo: Jeff Kearney

Ricks and The Prez, chatting about the race                                   photo: Jeff Kearney

The race started like a track race (literally) then matured to a progressive climb before dropping down into a valley of technical footing and a sandy waterless creek. The fast flat section before the beer aid station was relatively mild and really a tease as it soon shot up to the craggy ridge…then down...then up again to a narrow-spiney ridge where things like this occur.

An actual injury caused by the course…luckily not a Team Coloradan. Heal up, Don!           photo: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In the past this race has witnessed such things are large animal carcasses, sasquaches, even Matt Carpenter! This is the first time for a never-nude.

This never-nude has the striking resemblance of Team Colorado's Brandon "Stankanowich" Stapanowich, but he would never partake in public never-nudity--it scares children                                         photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Axel Nichols uses his superior downhill Jornet-esque running ability to capture yet another Fall Series race win.

Axel shows off his foot and his Team Colorado colors       photo: Jeff Kearney

Axel, after a few games of tennis, wins the race            photo: PikesPeakSports.us

After taking a dive on the trail, Mr. Burns dusts himself off and finishes in 2nd place. 

Mr. Burns powering up the last hill of the course…luckily he doesn't have avian bones        photo: PikesPeakSports.us

A reenactment of what the dive might have looked like.



Following closely behind Mr. Burns was The Prez and Justin Ricks. That Chubby Bunny broke up another Team Colorado sweep.

The Prez takes his 3rd 3rd place finish…that's no coincidence       photo: PikesPeakSports.us

With a (almost) sweep of the race, Team Colorado takes places 1, 2, 3, 4, 6…and 145th for the never-nude.

Big McD pulls out he hand knives in the last climb of the day           photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Confucius says, "Go to bed with itchy butt, wake up with stinky finger." He'll learn.

Yet another public display of posterior itch relief       photo: The Gute

After the adult races were completed, the Fall Series Kid's Races took place with Team Colorado taking the rabbiting duties...because these kids are faster than most elite runners.

Big McD sprinting to stay in front of the 12-14 year olds…no easy task     photo: Chef l'équipe

Who's the Boss…not Tony Danza!!!            photo: Chef l'équipe

Team Colorado: where even your children have no chance of being a winner.

Wow, that doesn't look like it hurts at all!         photo: Chef l'équipe

"Dolla' dolla bill, y'all!" Axel raked in the cabbage with his win.              photo:PikesPeakSports.us

Congratulations to Team The Blerch (Sarah, Amy, Nora and Bobbi) for surviving the course and hanging on to 2nd place in the women's team category.

Team Colorado Running Company (it's like a small rouge faction of Team Colorado) sits in 2nd in the co-ed team race, which happens to be the most competitive race category in the series.

Don't worry, that foot has since been fixed…do we smell a Pink Cast Award!?

Results

Happy Birthday Mr. Prez...I Got You a Race!

November 24, 2013, 5:24 pm

≫ Next: The Scales of Hydration

≪ Previous: The Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series #3: Like a mini Skyrunning race, only smaller but just as competitive as the real thing

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     This is my first post for Team Colorado and I'd like to use it to recognize our beloved Prez, who will soon be adding another proverbial ring to his tree trunk. Birthdays indeed offer great opportunities for celebration, however this particular upcoming occasion begs the question: "How exactly do you honor someone for whom 'Movember' is year-round?"

Now where'd I put those 11 pens, 3 sharpies and that Marks-A-Lot? Photo and styling credit: Maddy

       Well if you asked him, I'm sure the Prez would love a fine craft beer...but instead I'm giving him a race! And not just any race, an Ugly Christmas Sweater 5K/1M race to be exact! When it comes to gifts, beer is tough to beat. But here are the TOP 10 REASONS WHY THIS SWEATER RACE is the best gift ever, and why YOU, should join the partay.

10.  Races and birthday hats go together like peanut butter and jelly!

The Gang Celebrating Chef d'Epuipe Amy's Birthday at the Pikes Peak Sports Super Bowl Half Marathon

9.There'll be post race soup!

The Prez, hoping for Lobster Bisque. Photo:PikesPeakSports.us

8. You are guaranteed to set your Ugly Sweater 5k PR.

The author channeling his inner Blitzen at the 2011 event. Photo: The Gazette

7. If, for some reason, this isn't your fastest 5k in a sweater, you can still win prizes for simply wearing an Ugly Sweater.

6.  PikesPeakSports.us will be there so you can get your picture taken with Topo Gigio for free.

5. Everyone loves a HooRag!

4. Pearl iZUMi will be there letting you test drive their shoes. They'll also be awarding a pair to the top 3 male and female finishers.

3. In addition to shoes, overall winners will receive hand painted plates courtesy of some of our friends with cerebral palsy and Color Me Mine.

Nothing beats handmade prizes!

2. I know for a fact that there are conflicting races and fat-ass runs on December 7th. But I also know that if you want any chance of witnessing a SWANTS DANCE OFF, you'll have to be at this race!



1. The event benefits the Cerebral Palsy Association of Colorado Springs, a non-profit group that has helped folks in our community with neuromuscular disorders for over 60 years. Proceeds go towards helping families pay for medical bills, supporting a loan closet for medical equipment like wheelchairs and walkers, and sending kids to specialized camps.

     Sure, a beer along with a personalized song may have been the more obvious gift choice. But thanks to control top panty hose and the Emma Crawford Coffin Races, I, along with many of my Team Coloradoans, have met my women's clothing quota for the year.

     So on December 7th, come join Team Colorado for the party! Flaunt your most hideous holiday attire, your tackiest top, or your craziest cardigan . Bring your family, your friends, and your holiday spirit (but leave your sense of fashion at home) and join us for the UGLIEST event in town. I'll bring the party hats! You can register here and be sure to like us on Facebook or follow the race blog for event updates. Swants!

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The Scales of Hydration

November 26, 2013, 3:42 pm

≫ Next: Run, Run, Run from the Ghetto Bird - Turkey Trot Los Angeles

≪ Previous: Happy Birthday Mr. Prez...I Got You a Race!

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I grew up in the temperate Bay Area as a youth and promptly ventured out to the deeps of The South for roughly a decade n' change. 

To

Up to that point I really went from not sweating to ending runs drenched in exercise induced funk. I never really made any attempt at hydrating during runs, and the few times I did were mired in equipment frustration.

Then I moved to the desert.

I had to take  my hydration serious out here, or you know, die. I started running with an older Ultimate Direction handheld. It worked great and was no sweat when I refilled at gas stations during the summer, to the utter disbelief of attendants that I had arrived under the power of my own two feet from the broiling desert. 

Then I moved to Colorado.

This place has been equally demanding in a hydration sense. Somehow without searing heat I can still return home looking like I had tried to find the prize in a children's cereal box face first.

I've recently had the pleasure of trying out two new Ultimate Direction products:

Jurek Grip:

Review: This thing is crazy light! Same classic Ultimate Direction bottle and industry best Kicker Valve. The Grip is your go-to bottle for medium length runs or the super minimalist crowd. Surprisingly the 1/2 oz (!) strap is extremely sturdy and never required readjustment. This my weekday hydration choice without hesitation. 

Fastdraw Plus: 

Review: Looking for a hand-held  that can carry a gel or two, key, credit card, but not feel like you are lugging around a Christmas fruitcake? Then the Fastdraw Plus is your bottle. With barely any added weight, you can plan for a longer adventure while carrying needed essentials out on the trail. The ergonomic hand grip allows you to relax your hand while running and focus on avoiding getting lost on the trail.

The Tale of the Tape:

The Winner Is:  

A tie!

Both Hand Helds are the best I've used and you can't go wrong with either.

Run, Run, Run from the Ghetto Bird - Turkey Trot Los Angeles

December 5, 2013, 1:24 pm

≫ Next: Happy Non-denominational Holiday Greetings!

≪ Previous: The Scales of Hydration

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Note the giant fowl, city hall, low elevation and outrageous population requiring the use of the "ghetto bird". Yes, the other one is a drone!

There were turkeys with the trots in downtown LA! Peter "The Prez" Maksimow ran the Turkey Trot Los Angeles 5k/10k double. He started with the appetizer dish, running the 5k at 7:45am, and managed to outrun the ghetto bird to place 3rd in 15:47.

Luis "Lu Dogg" Ibarra (1st) and The Prez (3rd) showing off their golden turkeys and Homeboy pies for the 5k

Then onto the main course with the 10k at 8:30am. Thinking that going back for seconds would leave him stuffed, The Prez paced himself and slowly gobbled up the competition with the help of fellow college turkey (teammate, actually, but he is a turkey) and Mexican National Steeplechase Champion, Luis "Lu-Dogg" Ibarra, in the 10k and garnishes the win in 34:06. He then pigged out on the two pies that he won for his performances. You could say he felt very fowl after dessert but he was thankful for all the caloric expenditure.

Hey, there is the Disney Concert Hall that doubles as a Solar Death Ray

Running through the vacant streets of downtown LA felt like a zombie apocalypse had just happened

"Get that fowl beak out of my ear!"

Damn homeboy, you bake?!

Results

Happy Non-denominational Holiday Greetings!

December 25, 2013, 6:49 pm

≫ Next: Stocking Stuffers: The North Face 50, The Ugly Sweater Run, Rock Canyon Half Marathon

≪ Previous: Run, Run, Run from the Ghetto Bird - Turkey Trot Los Angeles

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Whatever you celebrate, do it with beer.

Happy Holidays from your friends at Team Colorado!

Stocking Stuffers: The North Face 50, The Ugly Sweater Run, Rock Canyon Half Marathon

December 28, 2013, 7:12 pm

≫ Next: Team Colorado reviews Swiftwick Socks

≪ Previous: Happy Non-denominational Holiday Greetings!

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On the weekend of the day that will live in infamy (December 7th, that is, if you are history deficient) Team Colorado took to the trails, the roads and the snow to show off their awesome swants.

The North Face 50 Endurance Run

She does it again! Michele "bomb 'chele" Yates captures another major ultra running title with perhaps the most competitive and highest paying race in the country, The North Face 50 Endurance Run in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (well, aside from that other $10,000 prize purse at Run Rabbit Run 100 in Steamboat Springs...which she also won). 

Bomb 'chele shows off her arm swants                                             photo: iRunFar.com

The Team Colorado train of Megan Kimmel and Michele took out the women's race and kept it honest, mixing up the top three positions with eventual 2nd place finisher, Magdalena Boulet (there might be a Lewy in there somewhere?), but Michele was determined to keep the role as the engine, leading early and just pushing the pace up front. After a lot of details that have been left out here, Michele eventually crossed under the big red arch in a winning time of 7:21:51 and was $10,000 happier! 

Megan felt the pull of the ultra running demons but was able to finish in 10th place in 8:13:28.

Megan with her nipple-topped Ultimate Direction bottle showing everyone how it is done           photo: iRunFar.com

On the men's side, Team Colorado's Alex "Axel" Nichols took on TNF50 again after a 5th place finish in the very confusing 2012 race and a mid-race sprained ankle in 2011 while leading. The ultra running demons caught Axel in their tractor beam early when an old injury reared its ugly head and he was forced to call it a day at about 17 miles. 

Sage Canaday was purported to have been at the starting line, however, we are not sure if even started the race. Rumor has it that he is still lost from his run from Moab to Boulder after the Moab Trail Marathon (he also had the flu).

Rickey "Heavenly" Gates was mixing it up in the top 10 early, but said he was steamrolled by the ultra running demons. Last year he was subjected to a DNF and soaked his feet in some nice Belgian chocolate, this year, he just felt flat. Rickey finished in 7:35:04 for 26th place.

Rickey gets his silicone water bottle filled with aquavit at an aid station                             photo: iRunFar.com

Like 40 quarters

Like a yoga mat

Like Bali Shag

Like a spare tire

Like a gutter ball

I. Got. Rolled.

                        -Rickey Gates

Flagstaffer Rob Krar turns out another amazing ultra performance with his win at TNF50 and raises the roof once again. Have a beer on Team Colorado at Mother Road Brewing Co. in Flagstaff (we'll pay you back!). Friend of Team Colorado and Colorado College grad, Dan Kraft, one-upped his college teammate, Axel Nichols, with a 4th placed finish (6:35:56).

I am Rob, hear me Krarrrrrrrrrrr!                                                photo: iRunFar.com

Men

1. Rob Krar - 6:21:10

2. Cameron Clayton - 6:31:17

3. Chris Vargo - 6:33:33

26. Rickey Gates - 7:35:04

DNF - Sage Canaday

DNF - Alex Nichols

Women

1. Michele Yates - 7:21:51

2. Magdalena Boulet - 7:31:12

3. Emelie Forsberg - 7:46:24

10. Megan Kimmel - 8:13:28

Results

What all the competitors saw of Michele during TNF50                                          photo: iRunFar.com

The Ugly Sweater Run

It all started in the Norway in the 1850's when some Norwegian brothers named Nils and Bjorn, or something to that effect, produced very warm and highly decorative sweaters to keep from turning into a popsicle in the cold northern winter climate and to look like a giant snowflake in the process. One early morning, after a long night of drinking Aquavit, Nils hears a knock on the door and quickly grabs whatever he can find and answers the door. The visitor says "Hallo, hvorfor har du på deg en genser på nedre halved?" which loosely translates to "Hi, why are you wearing a sweater on your bottom half?" 

"Uff da!" Nils replied...and thus the swants were born and so was the Ugly Sweater Run, a 5k in Monument Valley Park, Colorado Springs to benefit the Cerebral Palsy Association of Colorado Springs. 

Twerking with swants!                                             photo: PikesPeakSports.us

The race started along the mighty (mighty nasty, that is) Monument Valley Creek in Monument Valley Park, Colorado Springs, CO, at a whopping 5 degrees above zero! Luckily, ugly sweaters and sexy swants were donned to keep the runners cozy.

The Prez and godfather of PikesPeakSports.com, Tim Bergsten, showing off their frosty faces    photo: Amy Perez

Putting the "Ugly" back into "Ugly Sweater Run"               photo: PikesPeakSports.us

"Woah, did I really put these on this morning!?"                          photo: PikesPeakSports.us

And the race was started with Santa's doppleganger yelling "Ho, Ho, GO!"

Shorts...that's ridiculous, Dan, you should have worn swants!          photo: PikesPeakSports.us

What, no swants!?                                         photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Excuse me, I mustache you a question...how does one thaw a mustache?                              photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Peter "The Prez" Maksimow, aka Swantsy Pants, out-uglied everyone in the race to cross the line first in 17:58. He also turned a year older, so he is 27 years old in Kenyan years. The wool and alpaca blend in his swants kept him from freezing his...well, you know. 

Amy "Chef l'équipe" Perez wore her swants and ugly sweater enroute to 8th place female but, mysteriously, we had a photo malfunction and are unable to find her image.

Sarah "Sock Monkey" Blakeslee promoting the neon...and penguins      photo: PikesPeakSports.us

The Prez and first lady, Nora, getting a photo with retired Santa and a copy of an ugly sweater citation (he had to appear in court later that day)    photo:PikesPeakSports.us

Race director and Team Coloradan, Brandon "Stapy the Elf" Stapaowich, not only saw some of the coldest temperatures, but also the largest field in the the five year history of the race. We think his promo video says it all. Strike while the Charlie is dancing. RD Brandon "Stapy the Elf" Stapanowich (center) hanging out prizes to Shannon Meredith (1st-right) and Donna Garcia (3rd-left)  photo: PikesPeakSports.us

"Like Justin Timberlake, I'm bringing sexy back to swants", says The Prez          photo: PikesPeakSports.us

The spoils (in this case a 20+ lbs. turkey) go to the ugliest (sexiest???) swants          photo: PikesPeakSports.us

Rock Canyon Half Marathon

Justin Ricks gets frosty at the Rock Canyon Half Marathon in his old stomping ground of Pueblo, CO. You can call him Frosty Ricks! 

And for his win, Frosty received a new Subaru! What a great award!                photo: Mrs. Frosty Ricks

With bitterly cold conditions, enough for his mild mannered beard to turn into a lumberjack's beard, Justin didn't need water (he just ate the ice from his facial hair) en route to a win in a time of  1:18:46. He holds the CR at this race with a 1:09:34 set back in 2009.

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Team Colorado reviews Swiftwick Socks

January 12, 2014, 2:21 pm

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Team Colorado was lucky enough to test out some 100% 'merican made Swiftwick Socks, and with all the running we are doing, boy did we put them to the test. Some were skeptical, others have to guard them from significant others. Some just careened off into frozen creeks and hoped for the best.

Justin Ricks

Too fast for the frame, Justin Ricks shows off his swiftness and his Swiftwicks!          photo: PikesPeakSports.us

For the past few years I have been wearing toe socks but was never really happy with the durability and material. Then a few months ago I received a few pairs of socks from Swiftwick and ever since I haven't wanted to wear anything else. I love the feel of the lightweight Olefin fibers and compression aspects of the socks. I run in a minimal shoe and this sock works perfect because it gives me a hardly-there feeling. I even caught my wife stealing them when I wasn't looking, so she could wear them to work. Swiftwick has the best socks on the market and I would recommend them to anyone!


Glenn Randall

Earlier this year, I realized something about my socks. I realized that my socks were more comfortable and less likely to cause blisters if they were inside out. The seam across the top of the toes in most socks seems custom built to cause blisters, and most performance socks have a more pronounced seam than cheap socks.

When I told other mountain runners about wearing my socks inside out, many of them shrugged with a “Do what you have to do” look. But everybody who runs on Swiftwick informed me that if I had to wear my socks inside out, I was wearing the wrong socks. It peaked my curiosity, but I wrote it off to people trying to give their sponsors a good word.

Then Team Colorado President Peter "The Prez" Maksimow asked if I wanted to test out some Swiftwick socks and write a review on them. He explained that I’d get free socks out of the deal, so I agreed. I received a few pairs of Swiftwicks, Vibe and Aspire. I was somewhat skeptical of the claim on the packaging that these are “The best socks you will ever wear, guaranteed,” so I decided to hold them to that standard as I tried them out. If you’re going to make ridiculous claims, I will hold you to them.

To make a long story short, these are the best socks I have ever worn. My only hesitation in stating they are the best sock I will ever wear is that the Swiftwick website lists several other types of socks. They are the first socks I have ever worn that are more comfortable when worn correctly than when they are worn inside out, which really shouldn’t be a compliment, but sadly, is. Comparing them to other socks, the best way to describe Swiftwick Vibes may be “They won’t ruin your day. That is up to you.” I really wish I knew of some other quality sock to compare Swiftwicks to, because they are a good enough sock that they deserve competition. They just don’t have any. They are like the Harlem Globetrotters of socks, and make it look like everybody else has tried to be the Washington Generals.

Durability:  I’ve done the vast majority of my running in the last two months in two pairs of Swiftwick Vibes. A decent amount of it has been on trails, but since World Mountain Running Championships, it’s almost all been on sidewalks and bike paths. Cheap socks would be tattered into bits by now. The socks don’t look new anymore, but I can’t find any signs that they are about to get holes.

Comfort: I’m going to lump this in with being blister free, because for socks, they are really one and the same. The fact that I can wear these socks as the designer intended them to be worn says a lot. In my first four marathons, I always finished with at least one blister, and have had marathons in which blisters have popped before the finish. I recently ran the Chicago Marathon in Swiftwick Vibes, and if the rest of my body felt like my feet did, I would have had the greatest race ever. They don’t move around on my feet; they don’t have massive seams in awkward places. Somebody put a lot of thought into these socks so you don’t have to.

Compression: I don’t really notice compression one way or the other. I can say the Vibes don’t overcompress. I know some people are sold on compression. I just ran in some other socks to see if I could notice a difference, and I guess there is a little difference, but not much of one. Granted, it was only a short run. And maybe my feet are just too calloused from a lifetime of running in sub-par socks to really feel compression.

Moisture wicking:  I have one huge question for Swiftwick: Where does my foot sweat go? Because it isn’t on my feet or in my socks.

Just to check whether I’m glorifying these socks unfairly, I took a break from writing this review and did a short run in my previous favorite socks. Things Swiftwick socks do better: moisture wicking, less foot tickling from awkward seams, less moving around on my feet, compression probably makes my feet feel a little better after a run. Things my old socks do better: I’m still trying to figure that out.

Glenn Randall at the 2013 World Mountain Running Championships…NO BLISTERS…and they were not even inside out!                                                                   photo: Rich Bolt

Jared Scott

Those Swiftwick socks held up pretty damn well. Not a single hole to speak of and they were comfortable after getting soaked in the radioactive Moabian Government superfund cleanup site river runoff.

Jared Scott taking 2nd the at the USATF Half Marathon Trail Champs in Moab, UT…yes, there is a toxic cleanup site near there.                   photo: Rich Bolt/USMRT

Big McD and The Prez being loving friends…and rockin' the Swiftwick Aspire 12             photo: Nora Duane

Peter Maksimow

Recently, I was running in the Siberian cold of the first Colorado winter storm. The temps were in the single digits and so, being as skinny as I am, I was moving at a rapid rate of speed in order to keep my skin color from turing blue--although, it is a nice color. 

As I scampered through the snow, I found myself rocketing towards a small, ice covered bridge at an angle and speed that was not conducive to reaching the other side. Rather than cutting a sharp corner and possibly having my feet leave the earth and my hip meet the bridge, I opted for creek below. I broke through the ice and my feet discovered the icy water underneath. Happy that I did not take a hip busting spill, I jumped from the water and pondered whether I should turn back or continue on with the hour left of running I had before me. Unfortunately, I did not have Tauntau, like Luke Skywalker did in Star Wars, to cut open and crawl inside of, so I decided to continue to run. Well, being a male in his mid-30's with health coverage and a car that was paid for, I had nothing to lose.

Luckily, for my feet, I had the Swiftwick Pursuit Four, a Merino wool compression sock that keeps it warm even when it is cold outside. The Australia Merino Wool fibers, that are able to absorb up to 30% of their weight in moisture, are the most hydrophilic of all natural fibers and allowed my feet to feel warm and dry on the rest of the run. The snug fit and compression cuff on the ankle keeps my Achilles warm and stable while absorbing all of that annoying snow that finds its way into the top of my shoes and melts.Thanks to the sheep that supplied the material and Swiftwick for turning it into a sock I was able to continue the run and even have warm feet the whole time. I think I will keep these on the whole winter!

Not a winter picture, but a Mt. Washington Road Race picture with the Swiftwick Aspire 12 on. Peter says, "Hey look, I can see Vermont!"    photo: Far North

Neil McDonagh

Top ten “Colorado’s Best Smelling Men” (unofficial)

Damn, I smell good!                            photo: Steve Glass

I consider myself a ‘no-frills’ runner. My hi-tech watch is a Sony calculator model and I haven’t kept a training log in over 5 years. When I started seeing every Lycra clad endurance fanatic jaunting around in retro high socks, I yawned. But I had a dilemma; training for the Olympic Trials Marathon while living in the desert outside of Phoenix would require some sort of training adaptations. Twenty plus mile runs seemed to be taking an unusually taxing toll on my legs. I just wasn’t bouncing back the way I had hoped. The desert heat left me feeling flat for days following hard training sessions.

While out of town running a big race I saw a Swiftwick booth at the pre-race expo. Desperate at this point for any relief from zapping efforts in the desert, I purchased a pair of Aspire Twelve’s. Still skeptical I gave them the full blast treatment right into heavy training. Around the two-hour mark I constantly found progressively unavoidable lower leg cramping to interrupt steady pace long runs. Admittedly the sensation with the Aspire Twelve’s was unique, but what blew me away was the absence of any noticeable lower leg fatigue. That alone would have made me a believer and firmly on the Swiftwick bandwagon. Bonus benefits included significant decreased recovery time from hard and long effort training runs. I still don’t keep a training log but you’ll never catch me without Swiftwick’s on a long run!

Big McD on his way to a Greenland 25k victory and new course record…swift wicking it                  photo: Nora Duane

That said…get yourself some SWIFTWICKS!!! They will make you run (and smell) better.