All photos by Derek Griffiths.
Copyright Colorado Runner 2004

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On race morning, I woke up to 3 inches of snow and temperatures in the 30s in Denver. Luckily, as I drove north to Ft. Collins, the snow started to disappear and the sun poked through the clouds.

By the time I got to CSU's campus, the temperature was in the high 40s, the sun was shining, and there was no snow on the ground. I guess that's spring in Colorado for you!

I had come to Ft. Collins for two reasons. First was to run a fast 5K on a flat course and the second was to try and score some points in the Colorado Runner Racing Series, a series of races through out the state that is sponsored by Nike and the Boulder Running Company. I noticed a couple of fast runners, but I still thought I had a chance.

The Cinco Cinco 5K is run around the campus of Colordo State and it is a fundraiser for for deserving students. It is run in honor of Gil Gutierrez. Gutierrez was the Ombudsman at CSU from 1990 to August, 1993, when he was killed while jogging on a pathway near Laporte. A drunk driver swerved off the road and hit him on August 2nd and he died four days later. In order to honor Gil and to encourage young people to make better decisions, the Cinco-Cinco run was established in 1994, in conjunction with the Old Town Cinco de Mayo festivities. The event has been held each year since that time. On average, approximately 300 people participate in the run and walk.

This year, about 200 runners and walkers lined up at the start line on the "Oval." When the gun went off, 23-year-old Paul DiGrappa of Ft. Collins shot to the lead. Peter Flynn, also of Ft. Collins shot into second and I went out a little slower, moving into third after a half mile. That is how we would finish after our tour of CSU's Campus. DiGrappa ran a very fast 15:36, with Flynn finishing in 16:14. I would run 16:32. John Litschert was fouth overall and the first masters runner in 16:56.

On the women's side, local masters runner Gil Mercedes finished first in 18:44. 18-year-old Lorelei Clarke and 17-year-old Lila Hickey, also of Ft. Collins finished second and third in 20:04 and 20:30.

A highlight of the race was the Children's Fun Run. The fun run was a lap round the Oval after the 5K run/walk.