All photos by Derek Griffiths
Copyright 2004 / Colorado Runner

Photo prints from this event for sale! Click here to see all available photos!

After running poorly in what was supposed to be my final tune-up before the Chicago Marathon, I decided that I needed to run a 5K the following weekend. So I looked through the racing calendar to see what my options were. Then there it was, the Regis University Physical Therapy Fun Run 5K. Being a physical therapist myself, I thought that sounded like a race I needed to support.

Regis University is located in Denver, just off of I-70 at Federal. I arrived at 8:15 thinking that the event started at 9:00, but found out that it wasn't really schedule until 10:00. This gave me an opportunity to run the course beforehand so I would know what to expect.

The race started at the parking lot on Lowell and 50th and proceeded west along 51st Avenue. It started out with a short downhill and then was followed by a gradual uphill of about .25 miles. After a short, steep downhill, the course turned south on Stuart where there was short steep uphill followed by a short downhill to 48th Avenue. Here the course turned west and then south on Tennyson to the one mile mark. The course then ran counter-clockwise around Berkeley Lake and back to the two mile mark on Tennyson. After a right on 48th, it slowly climbed until the course turned north on Quitman. Here was the killer hill of the race. It was only one block long, but just at the wrong time. After a right on 51st, the course ran gradually down and ended with a short 50 meter hill back into Regis.

About 200 people, mostly students and faculty of the Physical Therapy department, showed up for the event. Once the gun went off, I took the lead and never looked back, winning by a minute in 16:04. However, this was not the story of the race, in which women dominated the field. Females took 7 of the top 10 sports with the first female (Paige Higgins) running a superb 17:41 for third place overall.

The most exciting part of this event had to be the post race party. There was a live band, cookout and beer. A lot of beer! Flying Dog Brewing Company provided a keg while Coors donated 12 cases of fine brew, some of which was used to cook the brats. Winners received a $50 gift certificate from Fleet Feet Thornton and there were many door prizes awarded.

Because of the beautiful early fall weather, a lot of the students took a break from studying and played with their dogs on the lawn in front of the Dayton Memorial Library. All in all, it was a good day. And, this is one event I will definitely do next year.

Results not available at time of publishing.

1. People mill about at registration prior to the race


2. Paige Higgins runs a blazing 17:41


3. Emily Lasala finished fourth overall


4. The third male to come across the finish is sixth overall


5. Sara Riker was fifth overall


6. A sprint to the finish


7. Making the last turn to the finish


8. A good pack of runners coming up 51st Ave.


9. Good weather allowed for sports bras and no shirts


10. Physical Therapist Peter Szymanski supports his profession by running the PT 5K


11. Another sprint to the finish


12. Getting the hamburgers and brats ready for the post race picnic


13. Look at all of that beer! There is also a keg hidden in there.


14. Participants fill their plates after the race


15. The timers from Eclectic Edge Racing wait for finishers


16. Some of the PT students play with their dogs after the race


17. Hanging out in the sun after the event

For full results, click here.