Do you know this woman? Probably not if you live on the front range. So when Frank Shorter announced Leanne Whitesides as the Colorado Cup winner on the final stretch of this year's Bolder Boulder, a lot of race fans were left scratching their heads, "Leanne who?"

For those of us from the western slope of Colorado it was no surprise to see her running into Folsom Field ahead of all other Colorado women. Leanne Whitesides, 32, posted a time of 36:39 in the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Bolder Boulder 10k road race, placing her second in the citizen's race. She's a former BYU standout where she met her husband and fellow runner, Bryan Whitesides. She's a mother of four, and has been tearing up the roads in Grand Junction for several years. She's a two-time winner of the arduous Rim Rock Run, which climbs over the twenty- three mile stretch that is the Colorado National Monument . In 1990 she represented the USA in the World Cross Country Championships in Aix-Le-Bahn , France. Now she's got her sites on the Olympic marathon trials in St. Louis next year.

First she'll have to qualify. A sub two forty-eight is needed, a time that on paper looks attainable for Leanne, who this past March posted a 1:19 in the Canyonlands Half Marathon, in Moab , Utah . Still, as anyone who has ever run a marathon will atone, anything can happen out there. She's not taking any chances. Although, she doesn't run on Sundays because of her Mormon faith, she still manages to log over seventy miles a week. Her workouts are not for the ill-hearted.

This morning she's meeting training partner, Kathaleen Recker, at the Audubon trail. The two will run the eight mile path that encircles a portion of the Colorado River. They run at an easy pace, chit-chatting about everything from Leanne's four children, an upcoming race, to a friendly yet serious discussion about faith. As is often the case in this quiet town of less than 50,000, they see no others on this river path that is, at times, heavily treed and other times opens up to grand views of the meandering river and the mesas beyond. Though this trail is just minutes from downtown Grand Junction, wildlife is evident. An eagle soars above the river. Rabbits scurry for fear of the approaching runners. A sign warns them of a recently spotted mountain lion in the area, though they'd tell you they're more concerned about the animals that walk upright, and sleep in the heavy tamarack brush, that have, at times, called to them. The pace picks up to just under seven minutes per mile. Still, the sun is low on the horizon, turning the sky a muted shade of red, bleeding into the day and casting mile-long shadows of the cliffs along the Colorado National Monument . The beauty of this place is omnipresent. Against this primal backdrop, the two could be gazelles running on the African savannah, their strides fluid, natural, peaceful. When they finish they thank each other for the run. Kathaleen is done for the day. Before driving away she leans her head out the window and warns Leanne not to go out too fast on the Bolder Boulder course. Leanne still has unfinished business. She drives to Stocker Stadium and runs four one-mile repeats on the track, averaging 5:20's. She's hungry for speed and this workout is typical of her commitment to the sport. Two days later she'll run the National Monument - all twenty-three miles of it.

Fast forward. May 26th. It's Leanne's first Bolder Boulder, a race that seeds runners according to their expected finish time, sending them off in waves. She notes that other top female competitors are lined up far in front of her. She's half way back in the first wave, the A Wave, and admits feeling intimidated. "Everyone looked so fit." The race starts and she's boxed in for the first half mile. Still, she's surprised by an opening 5:20 first mile. Too fast. She later confesses she got caught up in the hype of the event and in hindsight was happy to have been boxed in, "or else..." Still, her fitness is such that she's able to recover and settles in among the other A Wave athletes. While she's focused on the race, she's observant enough to notice and appreciate the crowds that shout her number and encourage her onward. She enjoys the many bands and smiles at the famous belly dancers, a celebrated reflection of this course. "In Grand Junction a typical race attracts around fifty runners and five fans," she says. "So this was very exciting." In fact, the competition was so many that she raced without realizing that she was running in second place. "Since I lined up so far back I just assumed there were others up there."

Leanne added, "At Canyonlands there were several people who shouted that I was leading the race, when actually, Nadia Prasad was way out in front. So while you appreciate the information, you can't be sure it's correct. Even running into Folsom Field today people were shouting that there was no one behind me when Boulder resident, Katie Blackett, was only seven seconds back."

As excited as she was to have won the Colorado Cup she says the highlight of her day was getting to meet Deena Drossin, the women's elite race winner, at the awards ceremony. "This was a great experience and I think I'm hooked on this race."

Leanne is focused on the St. George Marathon in October, where she hopes to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials.

Jeff Recker runs and writes in his hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. He is the recipient of the Road Runner Club of America's 2002 Jerry Little Memorial Journalism Award. For more information on The Mesa-Monument Striders, visit www.mmstriders.org.