2008 Colorado Runner Racing Series Winners

This year’s participants stayed in top form from January through November to compete among 16 different races of varying distances. The winners led 12 different categories to claim more than $3,600 in prize money, donated by the Avery Brewing Company. The second and third place runners received apparel prizes from the Boulder Running Company.

Steve Folkerts, 36, of Fort Collins won the open male division. Folkerts is a certified personal trainer and distance running coach; he also works at the Runner’s Roost. Peter Remien, 25, of Boulder placed second in a tied score. Folkerts was given the title because he ran more races. Littleton’s Jesus Solis was third.

Why do you run?
I love to compete and running provides a challenge and gives me goals to aim for. I run an average of 80-100 miles a week.

Do you have a favorite place to run?
My favorite place to train is Flagstaff, Arizona; great trails! My favorite race distance is the half-marathon.

Do you have advice for other runners?
Injury prevention and staying healthy are the keys to running success. Little things like stretching, icing, running varying terrains, proper rest and nutrition, etc.

What are your goals for 2009?
To get more involved in coaching other runners.

What might people be interested to know?
I took six years off from running while living in Phoenix. I keep training logs, every year, dating back over 20 years.

Kris Lawson, 29, of Parker won the open female division this year after finishing second last year. Lawson works as an Innovation Engineer for Nestle Prepared Foods. Kara Ford, 29, of Thornton finished second and Katie Blackett was third.

Why do you run?
I started running in 2001 after I finished my eligibility in swimming at the University of Illinois. I wanted to stay in shape and have something to work towards, so I set the goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. I ran a 3:49 in my first marathon, falling a few minutes short, but I was hooked. I qualified on my second try. Seven years later I’ve taken off 55 minutes from my first marathon, and still run to stay in shape and have something to work towards, but also for the many benefits it gives me: stress relief, alone time, as well as meeting new people, the runner’s high, traveling to new places, and the opportunity to be outside and enjoy the beauty and wonder of God’s creation.

Do you have a favorite place to train?
I train mostly on the Cherry Creek Trail system here in Parker, but I enjoy Deer Creek Canyon, Waterton Canyon, and Elk Meadow. For long runs the Highline Canal is great. I try to run on dirt trails whenever possible.

Do you have any advice for other runners?
Just to enjoy it and be grateful for what running does for you. Not every run is going to feel good, you don’t always want to get out there, but try to find something to be thankful for on every run, whether it be seeing a hawk, a beautiful sunset, or just for the peace and solitude of being outside.

What is your favorite race?
The Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab, Utah is definitely a favorite. I also enjoyed the Garden of the Gods 10-miler, the Mt. Evans Ascent, and being part of a team that participated in the Colorado Relay.

What did you enjoy this year?
Running has been such a blessing in my life, especially this year. It was the one constant in what was kind of a crazy year for me. Work kept me on the road a lot. Travel, deadlines, and start-ups can really wear you down, not to mention trying to keep all the other areas of life in balance. Running helped keep me going many times. Rarely did I go for a run where I didn’t feel better at the end than the beginning.

What might runners be interested to know?
A funny running story from this year: I love Colorado’s wildflowers and am known for identifying wildflowers while running. In July, my aunt and I went to Crested Butte to see the wildflowers and found over 75 different types, including a new favorite, the Little Pink Elephant. They’re pretty hard to find. A few weeks later I was on a training run for Pike’s Peak on the Barr Trail with some people I’d just met. Just above Barr Camp I spotted them on the side of the trail and said “Hey, look, Little Pink Elephants!” I got a few funny looks.

Loveland’s Tim Jones, 47, won the masters male division after a third place finish last year. The married father of three is an elementary physical education teacher and high school cross country coach. He holds a 2:16:05 PR in the marathon and ran in the Olympic Marathon Trials in 1996 and 2000. Erik Packard of Clifton was second and Lile Budden of Colorado Springs was third.

Why do you run?
Running provides a pleasurable quiet time to relax, reflect and escape from the tasks and stresses of everyday life.

How do you train?
The days of training and racing for a PR are behind me, but I still run almost every day. Currently, I focus on setting aside time to run with athletes I coach or friends who just want to get out to run for fun, with workout runs kept under an hour.

Do you have a favorite place to train?
I really enjoy running on the mountain trails between Loveland and Estes Park, especially the Kroiser Mountain Trail. A perfect day for me is sunny, no wind, and in the 50s, enjoying the rugged, narrow trail, and hopefully getting to see wildlife, like deer or elk.

What is your favorite race?
My favorite race in this year’s series was the Park-to-Park 10 Miler. The Park-to-Park was great for many reasons: a gradual downhill, good aid stations, and a well-marked course on well-shaded paths. The organizers, onlookers, and sponsors also provided encouragement through the finish line and refreshing post-race goodies. But my favorite race not in the series would probably be the Valley 5000, because it is held on a Friday night in late August.

Do you have any advice for others?
Be consistent in your training and listen to your body when training. Take a day off if your body needs the rest. Replace your shoes sooner rather than later. Runners often don’t realize that worn out shoes cause many aches and pains and can lead to more serious injuries. A trip to the store is cheaper than a visit to the doctor.

What are your goals for 2009?
Goals for 2009 include staying healthy and injury free as I train and run races that I have not previously run. Most importantly, I want to help other athletes accomplish their goals. I would like to see my high school athletes setting new PR’s and a fellow teacher qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Karen Smidt, 42, of Brighton, won the masters female division after a second place finish last year. Smidt rides a Harley to races and gives back to the sport by donating her time for the past eleven years as a counselor at Camp Isaiah, a Christian running camp held in the mountains in August. Parker’s Stella Heffron was second and Sheila Geere of Colorado Springs was third.

Why do you run?
I’ve been running for the past 32 years and have gone through several evolutions. Sometimes I run so I can eat more, sometimes for the competition, sometimes for the health benefits, but mostly for the sheer joy of it. Right now I run to satisfy my craving to be in the mountains.

How do you train?
I wish I could say that I have the perfect training regime that everyone should emulate, but the truth is I have horrible inconsistent habits that would make even the most patient coach cringe. My addiction to racing is so strong that I have a tendency to overdo it and sign up for races that are not in the “big picture” (although most times I’m not even sure what the big picture is). For example, my friend convinced me to pace her for the Big Horn Trail 100, so I jumped in and ran 65 miles the weekend before I had to race the Slacker Half Marathon as part of the series. I just couldn’t resist the temptation to race! This was also the same friend who asked me to join her for a midnight run up Longs Peak last September on a whim. Crazy thing was, I had never even been up Longs Peak, let alone run it in the dark. This is how I train - I do whatever catches my fancy. It’s not necessarily conducive to quick times, but fortunately I also have a strong work ethic so I make do. I usually train alone, but I will occasionally run with the Denver Trail Runners or the Incline Club.

What is your favorite race?
To choose a favorite race is like asking me to choose which of my daughters is my favorite. Each race has a unique quality that tugs at my heart a bit, so it’s hard to say any one is better than another. Despite this, I’d have to say that the Double (Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon) is on the top of my list since I keep coming back to it year after year.

Do you have any advice for other runners?
Follow your heart and don’t do as I do if you want to succeed in the 2009 series! It was pure tenacity that earned me the masters award this year. I am by no means a better runner than half the women who finished behind me in the series, but I can honestly say I am probably the most persistent. I don’t doubt that the only reason I won was because I entered every race in the series.

Bob Kessler won the 50-54 male division. Loveland’s John Victoria was second and Kevin Keihl of Westminster was third.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I am 52 years old, have a lovely wife and four beautiful daughters. We moved from Southern California to Highlands Ranch in July of 2007 as a result of a job transfer. I am an engineer for the United Launch Alliance.

Why do you run?
I have been a runner for 39 years, so I pretty much do it just out of habit, but also for the many health, social, and emotional benefits.

How do you train?
I usually put in 40-50 miles a week (65-75 if training for a marathon). Spring through fall I do a weekly track workout with the Rocky Mountain Road Runners so that I don’t get too slow in my old age. I also try to get a long trail run in on the weekend.

Do you have a favorite place to train?
I live near the Highline Canal Trail, which is great place to run. I also like running at Deer Creek Canyon and Lair O’ the Bear.

What is your favorite race?
I really enjoyed the Bolder Boulder 10K. It was amazing how they are able to get 50K+ runners through the course so smoothly.

Do you have any advice for other runners?
Stay healthy and injury-free by “listening” to your body. Be consistent in your training and good things will happen.

What did you enjoy this year?
For me this year was all about exploring the many varied and beautiful runs and races that Colorado has to offer. It was lots of fun.

What are your goals for 2009?
I think I will work on my leg speed and try to lower my 5K and 10K times, maybe a marathon in the fall.

Cindy Flora, 51, of Littleton won the 50-54 female division. Jan Kiehl of Westminster was second and Jenny Weber of Greeley was third.

Why do you run?
I run for many reasons. I run for the solace it brings. I run for that feeling that comes on very special runs when I feel like I have wings.

How do you train?
This series was the first time that I actually trained for a season. My training was pretty traditional; one long run and a speed workout each week as well as some very easy recovery runs. My speed workout consisted of a four to eight mile tempo run or mile and half mile repeats.

Do you have a favorite place to train?
My favorite place to train is along the Highline Canal. Where I live is very hilly so a flat course is a nice change, plus every half mile is marked. For me, the Highline Canal is like taking a mini vacation. In the spring I love the lilacs that line the trail. In the summer it is so lush and green. When there is water in the canal I feel like I am running next to a stream and in the fall the colors are stunning.

Do you have any advice for other runners?
My advice for other runners is the same advice my father gave me when we started running together when I was eighteen, “Don’t start off too fast and enjoy the scenery.”

What did you enjoy this year?
I sincerely enjoyed and appreciated the Colorado Runner Racing Series. For the first time I planned my days around my runs instead of just trying to fit them in. I will look back on this series and the training that led up to it with very fond memories. I met some absolutely wonderful people, made friends and saw parts of Colorado that I would not have otherwise seen.

What was your favorite race in the series?
I thought all of the races in this series were great, although the Lead King Loop was certainly a lesson in humility. My favorite was the Park to Park. That race was very well organized from start to finish. I loved the finish in Washington Park.

What are your goals for 2009?
Well, after the Lead King Loop I realized that I have never known the joy or agony of trail running. So, I plan on learning to love the trails, as long as there aren’t any snakes!

Boulder’s Simon Martin topped the 55-59 male division. Heath Hibbard of Montrose placed second and Littleton’s Devin Croft won third.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I live the life of a professional elite athlete only without the recognition, the sponsorship and the million-dollar winnings; I also have to work, and I turned 56 in December, but apart from that it is a very similar lifestyle. I moved to Boulder from London four years ago in pursuit of a more laid-back place to live and had no idea what I was getting into.

How do you train?
Carefully. My second year in Boulder I had a blisteringly successful year, taking 11 minutes off my 10K time, and I’ve been recovering ever since. I’m really grateful for advice from Lorraine Moller, who made me throw my Garmin away and taught me that training has to be fun. She put me on the road back. I since found my true “home” with Ric Rojas, who has been my day-by-day coach this year and has opened my eyes to a doing more with less style of training that suits me down to the ground. I have driven him crazy by constantly switching goals.

Most of my emphasis is on recovery after training, rather than the training itself; this involves lying on the sofa and drinking lots of tea. I believe that groaning and complaining a lot are key.

What is your favorite race?
Any race where I perform better than expected. Also almost any race where I come home with something more than yet another race t-shirt. I need to be able to stagger in the front door saying, “Look what I won today, honey!”

Do you have any advice for other runners?
The absolute best way to fail is to copy what everyone else is doing, and/or take advice from people who don’t really know why they get the results they do.

Apart from that, something from Ric: often the most important thing is showing up - consistency in training inevitably brings results. Look at the Racing Series: to do well you have to stay healthy and be consistent enough to turn in reasonable performances from January to November.

Is there anything about you that other runners might be interested to know?
I am British born and bred and regularly hallucinate that I am Seb Coe, Steve Ovett or Steve Cram, sometimes Lasse Viren, and more often than I like to admit, Paula Radcliffe. I am plagued by a drive to relentlessly explore new ideas about running (as well as my specialist field of complementary and alternative medicine). I benefit here from ongoing discussions with and feedback from team-mates Dwight Cornwell (winner of the 60-64 age group) and sprinter Steven Sashen, while Ric somehow succeeds in keeping me grounded in reality.

Jan Huie, 59, of Colorado Springs won the 55-59 female division. Boulder’s Diane Wild placed second and Marci Roschke was third.

Why do you run?
I run for fun and relaxation and the post-race goodies.

How do you train?
I don’t really train. I run about four days a week, and occasionally use the exercycle or elliptical trainer. We live in the Mountain Shadows area of Colorado Springs, about a four mile run from the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center, but that four miles includes running up and over Flying W Ranch Road, an interesting workout in itself. Of course, I love running and hiking in the Garden, but I enjoy running in the neighborhood. It’s scenic and there’s almost no level ground.

What is your favorite race?
Of the series races, my favorite has been the Durango Steamworks Half Marathon. I loved the small crowds, gently rolling terrain, and the great post-race barbecue around the health club swimming pool. Of the smaller races, I really like the Sharin’ O’ The Green in Ft. Collins. But the most scenic has to be the Quarry Loop, the “other” race at the Lead King Loop. I bowed out of Lead King due to a badly sprained ankle, and walked and jogged the 12.5K Quarry Loop. Stunning scenery, followed by a superb post-race barbecue and pot-luck supper.

Do you have any advice for other runners? What are your goals for 2009?
At this age, it’s as much about what you don’t do as about what you run. Lots of stretching and adequate recovery work for me. My goal for 2009 is to remain injury-free. If that results in some faster times, great, but staying healthy is more important.

Dwight Cornwell of Fort Collins won the 60-64 male division. He edged out Stephen Berger of Littleton and Lou Huie of Colorado Springs.

Why do you run?
There are a lot of reasons that I run: it is a habit, I enjoy it, it is a way of being social, it improves my health, it provides a competitive outlet, I get to set goals and try to achieve them, and it instills a sense of growth as I get faster and smarter about running. My wife runs so it is something we can do together. Of course my dog loves to run with us as well. It is exciting when you get a PR, and I love when I get into a fast rhythm on a long training run and feel the power build inside of me. It is a very kinesthetic experience for me.

How do you train?
Training is my favorite thing about running. I run 80 to 100 miles per week. I run easy three times a week, medium one time a week, and hard three times a week. The training week usually includes short intervals, long intervals, a LAT run, and a long run. I feel cross training is important to maintain a physical and mental balance. So my training week includes: elliptical sessions, high altitude training (www.Go2altitude.com), weight training, core exercises, breathing exercises, muscle activation training, range of motion exercises, and running drills. I also have a lot of equipment to do measurements to monitor my progress like: weight, % body fat, Saturated Oxygen (SpO2), spirometric data, blood pressure, energy levels, etc. This data helps me to determine what training works and what doesn’t for me.

Do you have a favorite place to train?
Magnolia Road near Boulder is my favorite place to run. It fills the training need for a long run, for altitude training, and for hills, provides plenty of fresh mountain air, to stay focused and in control (you will regret it if you go out too fast), and when it is really hot, cold, and/or windy, it becomes a will power run. It has fabulous vistas and a great surface to run on. Usually you get the opportunity to be inspired by some Kenyans, the Japanese women’s marathon team, CU team, or some famous elite athlete streaking by.

Do you have any advice for other runners?
One of the things that has worked for me this year to stay injury free is to focus on recovery. I wouldn’t pretend to think that I might have any special knowledge is this arena but I can share what I think worked for me: ice baths, stretching (low key), refueling immediately after a workout, afternoon naps, plenty of sleep, low level laser therapy, massages, running in a pool, chiropractic adjustments, yoga, and relaxation exercises. I don’t do them all every day.

Stephanie Wiecks or Palmer Lake won the female 60-64 division. Cathy Morgan of Fort Collins placed second and Brighton’s Sandra Rostie was third.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I recently turned 62 -egads! I used to think that was “SO OLD.” I live in Palmer Lake with my husband, Reid. I retired from American Airlines, started working for the Douglas County Library District, retired again, and now work two days a week at the Philip S. Miller Library because I like the people and the job. I love riding horses and most outdoor sports, I am a ceramicist and dabble in many art forms. I love life and try to live it to the fullest. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteo-arthritis throughout my joints (especially hips, knees, ankles) and am striving to remain as active as possible while challenging myself with new goals.

Why do you run?
I started running in the early 70s while living in Hawaii and it is a habit with me now. Running provides my balance, and it helps to keep me healthy. I enjoy the competition. I do not have a good training routine - I run for my pleasure mostly, walk when I feel like it. Next year I am determined to be more disciplined.

Do you have a favorite place to run?
Palmer Lake provides some of the most inspirational places to run. We are surrounded by the Pike National Forest, Ben Lomand and the Douglas County Open Space with the Spruce Mountain Trailhead, and our “Res Road” that leads to Limbach Canyon.

What is your favorite race?
I guess my favorite races would be the Pikes Peak Marathon, Barr Trail Mountain Race and the Lead King Loop in Marble. The Summer Round-up (part of the Triple Crown series in Colorado Springs) is also pretty and challenging.

Do you have advice for other runners?
My only advice is to believe in yourself and be positive in your approach to whatever you attempt.

What did you enjoy this year?
This year, I challenged myself with two running goals that I had never attempted before, and the commitment made me more focused and competitive. It led to new acquaintances and a few friends, plus, we traveled to places we had never been before.

Jim Romero of Denver ran in every single series race. He won the 65 and older category. Larry Avery of Boulder placed second and Littleton’s Jack Barry, 70, earned third.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I am retired and 68 years old. I live in South Denver.

Why do you run?
I run because I love to run and to stay healthy.

How do you train?
I run three days a week with friends my age on the South Platte River around the Nature Center and Chatfield. I also run with a trail group on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Do you have a favorite race?
I would say the Greenland Trail Run is my favorite race.

Do you have advice for other runners?
My advice to other runners is to run for fun, enjoy and stay healthy. I enjoyed running the Colorado Runners Series.

Do you have any goals for 2009?
My goal for 2009 is to continue running around the world. Australia is my next goal. I recently finished running a marathon in every continent. In February, I ran the Kilimanjaro Marathon for a second time and also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro for a second time.

Connie Ahrnsbark of Lakewood won the 65 and older female category. Myra Rhodes, 76, of Centennial was the oldest competitor in this year’s series. She competed in 12 races. Libby James of Fort Collins placed third.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I am 68 years old, live in Lakewood, and have been running all my life, even before running and racing were around. We just didn’t have any programs for women way back then.

How do you train?
I don’t really have a solid base for training, probably never really have.

Where is your favorite place to run?
I have lots of favorite places to run. Every new place becomes my favorite place until the next one comes along. I don’t believe any of us has enough time no matter our age to run all the beautiful places in the U.S. Utah is probably in second place for me right now, but I haven’t run a lot of those great places back east.

How was your running this year?
This year was stressful. I’m slowing down. I was injured after Park to Park so I literally did not run for about five weeks. I enjoyed this year’s series very much.

Do you have any goals for 2009?
My goal is just to wake up every day and hope to continue to run for a few more years. I have a great group of Colorado Masters that I run with every week and I have also trained/raced with my sister, Rosalie Murch for well over 35 years - there is just nothing better.