In Memory
Marc Witkes, a member of the Colorado Runner magazine staff, died suddenly in the last mile of the Tucson Marathon on Sunday, December 10. He was 40 years old.
Marc worked at Colorado Runner as an ad sales representative and a writer from his home in Durango. He had a passion for running that was contagious, and he is the reason that many people in southwestern Colorado are runners today. Matt Kelly, director of the Durango Marathon, said, “he was part of the fabric of Durango and the running community; he will be missed by many people.”
Marc served as the president of the Durango Motorless Transit running club for six years, from 1999 to 2005. The club’s current president Marjorie Brinton said Marc was one of the fittest people she knew.
The cause of Marc’s death had not been determined by police at the time of publication. Several of Marc’s friends, including Marjorie, were at the Tucson Marathon and said that Marc appeared to be his normal self during the race. She said, “I am still in disbelief that this happened. Marc was so upbeat and happy over the weekend and at the start of the race.” He collapsed near the finish and two people immediately performed CPR on him.
Marc was an accomplished ultrarunner and triathlete. He had competed in more than 30 marathons, more than 25 ultramarathons, as well as double and triple Ironmen triathlons. He was a regular participant of one of the most difficult races in the nation, the Hardrock 100. He had also completed the Sri Chinmoy 700-mile run and the Earth Journey Vermont, a 327-mile triathlon.
Marc, aka “Wiggy,” was a freelance writer for several sports publications, including Adventure Sports and Marathon & Beyond. He also wrote a column for the Durango Herald.
I will always remember Marc’s enthusiasm for competing in difficult races. He organized Wiggy’s Fun Run, a 19-mile event that followed Highway 550 over Coal Bank and Molas Pass. While that description alone would scare away most runners, Marc held the event in February, when the roads were often snow-covered. In 2004, he held the race after a 27-inch blizzard.
Marc set high goals for himself. He once wrote in Colorado Runner, “I have a special place in my heart for the trails within the West Side Mountain Park. If you are really daring, you can tackle the ‘Hogsback.’ Only the strongest can run this baby. Most runners will be reduced to a thigh shivering power hike.”
I think Marc thrived on finding and conquering those types of runs. He will be missed.
Derek and Jessica