Derek Griffiths 1197 posts 0 comments

Ryan Hafer has experienced his share of injuries, often due to overtraining. Months before last year’s Bolder Boulder a lower leg injury kept him from running for 12 weeks. Hafer found Dr. Jeff Mathews who “wouldn’t give up” on treating it, and Hafer made a slow comeback to the starting line at the 2010 Bolder Boulder. By the time he hit the finish line, he completed a months-long physical, mental and spiritual breakthrough.

The Colorado Running Hall of Fame will hold its 5th annual induction ceremony for the 2011 class on Tuesday, April 19 at the Denver Athletic Club.

There were several noteworthy happenings at the 12th annual running of the Kenny Cline Memorial Sequoia Glen 5K.

A relatively unknown runner at the time, Kim Dobson burst onto the running scene in 2009 with a sub-3 hour marathon in Fort Collins and a shockingly fast first-time Ascent on Pikes Peak. The 26-year-old is a second grade teacher, passionate outdoors-woman, wife of a medical student, and a rising star in the Colorado running scene.

Olympic Bronze medalist and American record holder Shalane Flanagan (Portland, Ore.) dominated the women's field to win her fifth USA Cross Country title, while Brent Vaughn (Blackhawk, Colo.) surprised the men's field to win his first USA title Saturday at the 2011 USA Cross Country Championships.

Patient persistence, affection for the trails, and a strong endurance gene: descriptors that are otherwise known as traits that makes a ‘good’ ultra-runner. And if one combines ‘good’ traits with aggressive goals, a drive to leverage his personal exceptional abilities, and an unconquerable spirit? The result could be 27-year-old ultra-runner and Boulder resident, Anton Krupicka.

Some athletes do not particularly enjoy training on the treadmill as it mitigates the stimulus, the fresh air and even the social aspects of running outdoors. However, it is a valuable tool that can be used in a variety ways to improve your running.

At Denver races, especially if it's a marathon, you might hear cheers of 'Go, Heather, go'; possibly, they are encouraging Heather Utrata, a 28-year-old member of the Runner's Roost running team and ambitious runner and marathoner. Utrata began running to 'restore balance to her life' after a wild freshman year at CSU. In 2011, balance includes working as a front counter supervisor at the Englewood Recreation Center, enjoying time with Mars (her pet cat) and eyeing a berth in the 2012 Olympic Trials.