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The Runner Box and Colorado Runner Mag have partnered to celebrate Colorado’s outstanding runners. Each month The Runner Box will award one of its jam-packed boxes of runner goodies to a runner that we select. Our first winner was Laura Thweatt, who won the U.S. cross country championships in February, and will lead the American women’s team into worlds next month in China.

When it comes to running, Joe Gray is a Jack of all Trades.  Whether it be a challenging mountain race, competitive cross country meet, or long distance road race, Gray is dominant and successful across each discipline.

As many of you know, the GPS running watch market has exploded. Back in the day, it was Garmin or nothing. Now with the likes of Tom Tom, Timex, Nike, Polar, Suunto and a whole host of apps for you phone, the choice can become overwhelming. Add into the mix all of the activity trackers, and what's a runner to do!

I first met Gavin McKenzie last August up in Leadville, Colorado. It was a few days before the Leadville Trail 100 MTB and the town was packed with athletes. I was meeting my friend Kendrick Callaway for a long weekend of running in the Sawatch Mountains on the famed Nolan’s 14 course. Kendrick had arranged to borrow a couple running packs from Gavin, and we were going to meet him at City on a Hill Coffee where he worked to pick them up.

For the longest time, Heather Utrata was a Denver-area road running favorite. She won a lot of races - some competitive and some not - including two straight Colfax Marathons (2009 + 2010). She was nominated for the Colorado Sportswoman of the Year award in 2012, the same year that she set her personal best in the marathon (2:41, Tucson Marathon). Utrata now races less, doesn't update her blog, and left Denver for Greeley.

Fit Snack, a curated monthly box filled with exclusive, health focused snack options, announces the release of its launch box. Each month Fit Snack subscribers will be motivated towards an active lifestyle with healthy snack selections, inspirational tips, and exclusive bonus items.

The 19th Annual Lafayette Quaker Oatmeal Festival kicked off Saturday morning, featuring an oatmeal breakfast, 5K race and health fair sponsored by Boulder Community Hospital/Community Medical Center.  The race course was short, not reaching the 5K distance, but rather a 4.275K distance.  As such, the results listed below are based on the 4.275K finish times.

Seen kicking through the finish line tape at such high profile races as the 2014 Rock 'n' Roll Denver and Chicago Half Marathons, Wacker's exciting finisher antics shouldn't distract you from his talent and drive to be the best he can be.