Colorado Runner

When the career of a track and field athlete comes to a close, few can accurately state they ever performed at a world-record level. It’s as exclusive of a group as you will find in the sport and Libby James has been able to place her name next to elite company well into her 70s. Age-grading is popular among masters distance runners. A process similar to a handicap in the sport of golf, age-grading evens the playing field by combining a runner’s age and performance to determine a final number that is an athlete’s age-grade percentage. That percentage indicates the [...]

Libby James, 76, of Fort Collins, Colorado ran a 1:45:56 half-marathon this past weekend at the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon, breaking the previous age group world record for women between the ages of 75-79. James ran the third-fastest 75-79 half marathon of all time in 1:50:43 at the Colorado Half Marathon in Fort Collins, Colo. in May 2012, missing the world record by 44 seconds.  The 75-year-old mother of four and grandmother of 12 blew away the previous record of 1:55:19 set in 2009 by Ginette Benard. Check out our interview with the newly crowned world record holder back in May 2012 [...]

On May 6, 2012, Libby James ran the 3rd fastest 75-79 half marathon of all time in 1:50:43 at the Colorado Half Marathon in Fort Collins.  She missed the world record by 44 seconds. This 75-year old speedster didn’t enter her first race until her 40’s, but she quickly began to make her mark.  Out of her long list of life accomplishments, possibly close to the top is her recent induction into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. The mother of four and grandmother of 12 set national records in the 5k (both 70-74 and 75-79 age groups) as well as the [...]

The Colorado Running Hall of Fame Selection Committee announces the 2012 inductees into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. The Colorado Running Hall of Fame recognizes Colorado residents for their achievement and contribution to the sport. The 2012 Colorado Hall of Fame inductee class consists of Danelle Ballengee, Garry Bjorklund, Ken Chlouber, Libby James, Jerry Quiller and Pablo Vigil. Danelle Ballengee, “Coach Nellie”, is known as one of the world’s premier adventure sports athletes, boasting four Pikes Peak Marathon wins, three Primal Quest adventure race victories, and six “U.S. Athlete of the Year” wins in four sports. She is the [...]

Colorado was well-represented at the 2011 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships at Jefferson Park in Seattle, Washington on Saturday. The Boulder Running Company/Adidas men took second place with 80 points in the open division, finishing just behind MacMillan Elite (72 points). Ian Burrell led the team with an 11th place, 30:03 performance on the 10k course. The BRC/Adidas women fared well with a second place prize, also. Alisha Williams led the two-time champs to a 107 point finish. Adidas/Team Rogue Elite was first with 74 points. Libby James raced in the 70 year old division achieving a 100.4 age-graded [...]

Libby James of Fort Collins set a new world best time for the 75-80 age group at the 2011 Aetna Park to Park 10M. James’s time of 1:19:22 was far superior to the old standard of 1:22:05 set by Louise Gilchrist of England on August 3, 2008. For more info on James, please see the current issue of Colorado Runner (September/October 2011), where we have a feature profile on her. Congratulations Libby!

Better late than never just may be Libby James’ motto. The 74 year old Fort Collins resident didn’t enter a race until her 40s. She has been setting records ever since. Libby took a few minutes recently to catch up with CRM. — Libby James doesn’t let the ground settle under her feet – not in running and not in life. The septuagenarian raised her own brood of four children decades ago, has taught life skills to teen moms, and is currently a teacher, magazine editor, freelance feature writer and record holder in the 70-74 year old age group for [...]