This Sunday’s Lead King Loop Charity Races will play host, for the second year in a row, to the USATF Colorado 25K Championships. Taking place in beautiful Marble, Colorado, the Lead King Loop Races feature a 25K trail run, 12.5K Quarry Trail Climb, and 1.25 mile Lake Kids Loop for the little ones. Awarded most scenic race in Colorado and best weekend getaway, Marble, CO is the place to be this gorgeous Fall weekend!
The headliner of the weekend is sure to be the Lead King Loop 25K, as its trails will play host to the top USATF Colorado runners vying for the USATF Colorado 25K Championship title, and prize money. The race, now in its ninth year, is quite a challenge, as the course starts out at the Beaver Lake Lodge in Marble and then wraps around the lake before runners begin the 4-mile, 3,000 foot climb into Lead King Basin. After running a few miles at 10,000+ feet elevation, and enjoying some incredible vistas, runners will drop down into the old mining town of Crystal and pass the historic Crystal Mill. The home stretch features numerous waterfalls as runners follow the Crystal River back to Marble.
For those competing in the USATF Colorado 25K Championship race, please be sure to have your USATF membership up-to-date and in good standing. Rules and details can be found at the USATF Colorado Championship website. Prize money will be awarded to the first five open men and women, as well as the overall masters male and female. A $100 bonus is on the line for new course records set in both the men’s and the women’s races.
Check out last year’s top times from the 25K below.
2011 Lead King Loop 25K Top Men
1. Alex Nichols – 1:51:06
2. Peter Maksimow – 1:51:14
3. Adam Rich – 1:53:27
4. Josh Arthur – 1:58:28
5. Bernie Boettcher – 1:59:47
2011 Lead King Loop 25K Top Women
1. Stevie Kremer – 2:11:19
2. Myriah Blair – 2:13:12
3. Rachel Viele – 2:14:11
4. Carrie Vickers – 2:17:38
5. Sari Anderson – 2:20:18
The 12.5K Quarry Trail Climb is just as demanding as the 25K, just with less mileage. The course winds up and down through Marble before heading into a short trail featuring huge blocks of marble and a historic mill site. After crossing the Crystal River, runners will begin to climb 1,200 feet over the next 3 miles to the top of Yule Creek. Possibly the highlight of the race is this next section, where runners will pass through beautiful aspen groves and have amazing views of Treasure Mountain before turning around and heading back to the finish line.
Check out last year’s top times from the 12.5K below.
2011 Quarry Trail Climb 12.5K Top Men
1. Brian Johnson – 55:40
2. Steve Blair – 57:17
3. Heath Hibbard – 57:27
2011 Quarry Trail Climb 12.5K Top Women
1. Kara Mannix – 1:04:05
2. Brittany Bergin – 1:07:11
3. Johanna Wellman – 1:13:28
Finally, the 1.25 mile Lake Kids Loop starts a little later – at 11:30am – to give parents the chance to run with their little ones. Kids will run 1.25 miles around the lake and finish back at the lodge. Kids will also have their own raffle including lunch, a fun goody bag, medals, and the top two win small Marble feet.
The Lead King Loop post-race celebration is stocked full of fun and refreshments including a bbq, raffle and prizes, with proceeds benefiting local Marble schools.
September 13, 2012 by Amanda Hodges
Regional News