The thirteenth annual Rim Rock Run will be held on November 12’th, starting at 8am. This is the western slope’s premier running event, taking runners from gate to gate over the Colorado National Monument. It will showcase many of the top regional runners including last year’s winners Bernie Boettcher of Silt, Colorado, and Leanne Whitesides of Grand Junction, Colorado. A strong contingent is expected to contend for those titles this year. The race also features runners as old as 75 years of age and as young as 15.
There is a pre-race pasta dinner at Mesa State College in the Liff auditorium on Friday, November 11’th, starting at 6pm. The year’s featured speaker is Lisa Rainsberger of Colorado Springs. She was the winner of the Montreal Marathon (’84), Boston Marathon (’85), Chicago Marathon (’88 & ’89), Hoddaido Japan Marathon (’90), and has numerous other titles and awards. Tickets are $8.00 per person and the public is invited. Reservations are recommended. Phone: 243-4055.
The race is capped at 400 runners. As of 11/04/05 there are still entries available. Those wishing to run this year may go to www.rimrockrun.org to sign up. They can also sign up on www.active.com, or at the pasta dinner if slots are still available.
A tradition, there will be competition for the best Aid Station. These volunteers provide nourishment, fluids, and encouragement for the runners along the course. The winner is determined by a vote of the runners after the race is completed.
In addition to the aid station volunteers, many other volunteers assist to safely allow visitors access to the open overlooks along the course. More volunteers are stationed on designated blind corners to alert runners to traffic. Still others will help out at the start and finish, and behind the scenes to help ensure an orderly, safe race.
One lane of Rim Rock Drive will be open to traffic traveling from west to east (opposite of the runners) from Fruita to Grand Junction. The closed lane will reopen as runners pass designated points along the course.
The Mesa State Women’s Cross Country Team, as in the past, will be the beneficiary of the proceeds from the Rim Rock Run. For more information please contact Katie Hill at 970-241-0410 or Jeff Recker at 970-245-5186.