All Discussions Tagged 'Mile' - Pikes Peak Sports2024-03-29T11:48:29Zhttp://pikespeaksports.us/group/roadtrailrunning/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=Mile&feed=yes&xn_auth=noBoston champ Rotich, CSU's Mock win Garden of the Gods 10-milertag:pikespeaksports.us,2018-06-10:5021591:Topic:8026322018-06-10T20:32:33.293ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432800?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432800?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="400"></img></a> <strong>From Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. -</strong> Caroline Rotich enjoyed her somewhat lonely 10-mile run through one of country's most iconic parks Sunday morning as she cruised to a course record while winning the women's race in the 42nd Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run.</span></p>
<p>The 34-year-old Kenyan attained her dual goals of winning and breaking the course…</p>
<p><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432800?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="400" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432800?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="400" class="align-right"/></a><strong>From Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. -</strong> Caroline Rotich enjoyed her somewhat lonely 10-mile run through one of country's most iconic parks Sunday morning as she cruised to a course record while winning the women's race in the 42nd Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run.</span></p>
<p>The 34-year-old Kenyan attained her dual goals of winning and breaking the course record and did it largely by running alone. She tried to shadow some of the faster male runners but settled into her own pace shortly into the race.</p>
<p><strong>(Photos by Dionne Randolph)</strong></p>
<p><span>“We took off and it wasn’t long before I was mostly by myself,” Rotich said. “I could see some of the men ahead of me and wanted to catch them. I tried on the uphill portions but mostly ran by myself.”</span></p>
<p><span>Rotich, an internationally acclaimed runner who won the 2015 Boston Marathon, added the Garden of the Gods championship to a resume that includes victories in the Las Vegas Marathon and New York City Half Marathon.</span></p>
<p><span>She finished 11th overall, as Jerrell Mock, who recently concluded his outdoor track season at Colorado State University, won the men’s division in 51:17, 11 seconds ahead of Patrick Smyth of Santa Fe, N.M.</span><br/> <br/> <span>Rotich’s time of 57:36 eclipsed the women’s 10-mile course record by 67 seconds, which was set just a year ago by Elvin Kibert of Colorado Springs. Kibert was second behind Rotich, finishing in 1:01:14.</span><br/> <br/> <span>“I really wanted the course record, so I didn’t want to go out too fast because this course is so up and down,” Rotich said. “I like this type of course but it’s really hard on the legs going downhill. Where I lived in Kenya, there weren’t too many hills like this. It’s a really hard course, up and down throughout.</span><br/> <br/> <span>“I thought about trying to run with the lead (men) when we started out, but I knew I couldn’t or I would’ve died quickly. I wanted the course record, so I ran my own race.”</span><br/> <br/> <span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656433232?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656433232?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-left"/></a>Rotich, who lives in Santa Fe, visited friends in Colorado Springs last winter. She expects to return to defend her title, and said her ultimate goal remains qualifying for the Olympic Marathon.</span></p>
<p><span>“I loved running here, and I want to come back (to the Springs),” she said. “This was a fun day.”</span></p>
<p><span>Mock echoed that sentiment, especially since it helped to quell his disappointment at not qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships that concluded Saturday in Eugene, Ore. He qualified for the NCAA Outdoor 10,000 meters as a junior, but battled injuries his senior season.</span></p>
<p><span>“This was my first road race,” said the CSU grad. “I wanted to get one in while I was feeling fit, and since this is the peak of road racing season, I might keep going and do some more before I take a break. I want to get into (half marathons), eventually.”</span></p>
<p><span>Mock attended high school in Logan, Utah, before relocating to Fort Collins for college. He didn’t know what to expect in Sunday’s race, and simply jumped out front with the leaders at the outset.</span></p>
<p><span>“I wasn’t sure who would be here, but I knew we’d have to average about a 5:05 pace to be up front,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span>Mock and Smyth, a seven-time All-American distance runner at Notre Dame, battled throughout the race. Smyth, 31, who is eight years older than Mock, was pushing the pace on the downhill portions of the course.</span></p>
<p><span>“We were 1-2 for a long time,” Mock said. “I started trying to squeeze the uphills to get away.”</span><br/> <br/> <span>Smyth said he “lost contact” with Mock at about the 6.5-mile mark “on one of the uphills.”</span></p>
<p><span>“On each downhill, I’d try to cinch it up,” he said. “(Mock) really hung tough.”</span></p>
<p><span>Mock said he “hit a bit of a wall” in miles 8 and 9 but regrouped for the final mile to finish fast. He needed every bit of that late speed to hold off Smyth, who said he runs for the Nike Trail Team and will compete in three weeks in the Marathon de Mont Blanc in France.</span></p>
<p><span>“I heard this was a great race and wanted to try it out, especially since it’s not far from Santa Fe,” Smyth said. “It’s more of a road race than trail but nothing is flat and it’s a good test.”</span><br/> <span>Smyth said he’ll return to the Springs in August to race in the Pikes Peak Marathon.</span></p>
<p><span>Finishing third overall was Tesfaalem Mehari, 21, of Colorado Springs in 52:19. He was followed by Alanya Weldemariam, 39, of the Springs in 52:34 and Gebrekidan Abadi, 33, of Aurora in 52:47.</span></p>
<p><span>Ben Payne, 36, of Colorado Springs, was sixth in 53:50. After finishing, he was greeted by his wife and 11-month-old son, Palmer.</span></p>
<p><span>“This is a fun race, and it’s just two miles from my house,” said Payne, who also ran the Pikes Peak Ascent last August. “I’ve been running more for fun than competition lately, so I had to let the leaders go pretty early. Pacing yourself is important in this race because you can get in trouble early if you go too hard. This is one of the hardest courses with the altitude and the constant up and downs.”</span></p> Garden of the Gods bear becomes international media darlingtag:pikespeaksports.us,2017-06-19:5021591:Topic:7671462017-06-19T12:51:06.494ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432566?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432566?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> Everyone else ran 10 miles or 10K. The now famous Garden of the Gods bear ran about 60 feet and this is just a sampling of the media storm it created.</p>
<p>Race officials are now in contract talks with the bear. It's rumored that any deal will include appearance fees for promotional events, and a guaranteed surprise for runners on race day.</p>
<p>Special thanks to Don…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432566?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656432566?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-left"/></a>Everyone else ran 10 miles or 10K. The now famous Garden of the Gods bear ran about 60 feet and this is just a sampling of the media storm it created.</p>
<p>Race officials are now in contract talks with the bear. It's rumored that any deal will include appearance fees for promotional events, and a guaranteed surprise for runners on race day.</p>
<p>Special thanks to Don Sanborn for capturing the photos and gathering the links.</p>
<p><b>Newspapers</b></p>
<p>The Gazette: <a href="http://gazette.com/bear-crosses-through-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run/article/1604953" target="_blank">http://gazette.com/bear-crosses-through-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run/article/1604953</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Kansas City Star: <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article155656024.html" target="_blank">http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article155656024.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Sacramento Bee: <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article155613739.html" target="_blank">http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article155613739.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Denver Post: <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/12/bear-colorado-race/" target="_blank">http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/12/bear-colorado-race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Miami Herald: <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html" target="_blank">http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Wichita Eagle: <a href="http://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html" target="_blank">http://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Telegraph (Macon, GA): <a href="http://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html" target="_blank">http://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Olympian (Olympia, WA): <a href="http://www.theolympian.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html" target="_blank">http://www.theolympian.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The News Tribune (Tacoma, WA): <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html" target="_blank">http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>SunHerald (Gulfport, MS): <a href="http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html" target="_blank">http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/article155613739.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>USA Today: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/13/bear-crosses-road-during-colorado-race/391679001/" target="_blank">https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/13/bear-crosses-road-during-colorado-race/391679001/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Coloradoan (Ft. Collins, CO): <a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/local/colorado/2017/06/12/bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/388096001/" target="_blank">http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/local/colorado/2017/06/12/bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/388096001/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>MLive (Michigan): <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/us-world/index.ssf/2017/06/bear_startles_runners_on_color.html" target="_blank">http://www.mlive.com/news/us-world/index.ssf/2017/06/bear_startles_runners_on_color.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Napa Valley Register: <a href="http://napavalleyregister.com/news/weird-news/that-s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/article_61c3245f-1cad-5c6c-9f1b-837e893d7da5.html" target="_blank">http://napavalleyregister.com/news/weird-news/that-s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/article_61c3245f-1cad-5c6c-9f1b-837e893d7da5.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Prescott Daily Courier: <a href="https://www.dcourier.com/news/2017/jun/14/s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-r/" target="_blank">https://www.dcourier.com/news/2017/jun/14/s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-r/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Herald-Tribune (Sarasota): <a href="http://www.heraldtribune.com/zz/news/20170612/light-lunch-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race" target="_blank">http://www.heraldtribune.com/zz/news/20170612/light-lunch-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race</a></p>
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<p>The Journal (Cortez, CO): <a href="https://the-journal.com/articles/53006" target="_blank">https://the-journal.com/articles/53006</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Lawton Constitution (SW OK): <a href="http://swoknews.com/area/bear-takes-lead-colo-foot-race" target="_blank">http://swoknews.com/area/bear-takes-lead-colo-foot-race</a></p>
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<p>Droitwich Spa Advertiser (England and Wales): <a href="http://www.droitwichadvertiser.co.uk/NEWS/15341705.National_news__Bear_crosses_through_Colorado_race/" target="_blank">http://www.droitwichadvertiser.co.uk/NEWS/15341705.National_news__Bear_crosses_through_Colorado_race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Durango Herald: <a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/165271" target="_blank">https://durangoherald.com/articles/165271</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Springfield News-Sun: <a href="http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/national/bear-joins-colorado-race-surprises-runners/udeFFf5ahlYETuerokJdnJ/" target="_blank">http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/national/bear-joins-colorado-race-surprises-runners/udeFFf5ahlYETuerokJdnJ/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Daily Herald (Illinois): <a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170611/news/306119890" target="_blank">http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170611/news/306119890</a></p>
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<p>Pueblo Pulp: <a href="http://pueblopulp.com/colorado-bear-enters-garden-gods-race-didnt-win/" target="_blank">http://pueblopulp.com/colorado-bear-enters-garden-gods-race-didnt-win/</a></p>
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<p>The Pueblo Chieftain: <a href="http://www.chieftain.com/news/that-s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/article_4808e1bb-4e91-55f3-9114-d1bc0a1fb47c.html" target="_blank">http://www.chieftain.com/news/that-s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/article_4808e1bb-4e91-55f3-9114-d1bc0a1fb47c.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Journal Star (Peoria, IL): <a href="http://www.pjstar.com/zz/news/20170612/light-lunch-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race" target="_blank">http://www.pjstar.com/zz/news/20170612/light-lunch-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Huffington Post: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bear-scares-runners_us_593fd2fde4b0e84514ee2a14" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bear-scares-runners_us_593fd2fde4b0e84514ee2a14</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Magazines</b></p>
<p>People.com: <a href="http://people.com/pets/bear-steals-chickens-job-crosses-road-during-colorado-race/" target="_blank">http://people.com/pets/bear-steals-chickens-job-crosses-road-during-colorado-race/</a></p>
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<p>Canadian Running: <a href="http://runningmagazine.ca/garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run-bear/" target="_blank">http://runningmagazine.ca/garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run-bear/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Runner’s World: <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/6-times-when-animals-completely-disrupted-races" target="_blank">http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/6-times-when-animals-completely-disrupted-races</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Local TV Stations</b></p>
<p>*CBS Denver: <a href="http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/06/11/bear-race-garden-gods/" target="_blank">http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/06/11/bear-race-garden-gods/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>9News Denver: <a href="http://www.9news.com/travel/destinations/colorado-adventures/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/447865130" target="_blank">http://www.9news.com/travel/destinations/colorado-adventures/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/447865130</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>ABC 13 (Houston, TX): <a href="http://abc13.com/news/bear-scares-runners-during-colorado-race/2086858/" target="_blank">http://abc13.com/news/bear-scares-runners-during-colorado-race/2086858/</a></p>
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<p>WSOCTV (North Carolina): <a href="http://www.wsoctv.com/news/water-cooler/bear-joins-colorado-race-surprises-runners/532504825" target="_blank">http://www.wsoctv.com/news/water-cooler/bear-joins-colorado-race-surprises-runners/532504825</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>KIRO 7 (Seattle, WA): <a href="http://www.kiro7.com/news/trending-now/bear-joins-colorado-race-surprises-runners/532504579" target="_blank">http://www.kiro7.com/news/trending-now/bear-joins-colorado-race-surprises-runners/532504579</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 9 (Eden Prairie, MN): <a href="http://www.fox9.com/news/260428995-story" target="_blank">http://www.fox9.com/news/260428995-story</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 21 News: <a href="http://fox21news.com/2017/06/12/bear-runs-through-race-at-garden-of-the-gods/" target="_blank">http://fox21news.com/2017/06/12/bear-runs-through-race-at-garden-of-the-gods/</a></p>
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<p>Fox 5 San Diego: <a href="http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/06/11/bear-surprises-runners-during-colorado-race/" target="_blank">http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/06/11/bear-surprises-runners-during-colorado-race/</a></p>
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<p>WGN 9 (Chicago): <a href="http://wgntv.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://wgntv.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
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<p>KTVQ (Billings, MT): <a href="http://www.ktvq.com/story/35642031/bear-startles-colorado-runners" target="_blank">http://www.ktvq.com/story/35642031/bear-startles-colorado-runners</a></p>
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<p>WBTV (Charlotte, NC): <a href="http://www.wbtv.com/story/35639338/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race" target="_blank">http://www.wbtv.com/story/35639338/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race</a></p>
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<p>Fox 8 (High Point, NC): <a href="http://myfox8.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://myfox8.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>KFOR (Oklahoma City, OK): <a href="http://kfor.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://kfor.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
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<p>Fox 13 (Salt Lake City, UT): <a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox13now.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 8 (Cleveland, OH): <a href="http://fox8.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox8.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>News 3 (Memphis, TN): <a href="http://wreg.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://wreg.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>WQAD 8 (Moline, IL): <a href="http://wqad.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://wqad.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 61 (Hartford, CT): <a href="http://fox61.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox61.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>CBS 6 (Richmond, VA): <a href="http://wtvr.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://wtvr.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 6 (Milwaukee, WI): <a href="http://fox6now.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox6now.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Q13 Fox (Seattle, WA): <a href="http://q13fox.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://q13fox.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>PHL 17 (Philadelphia, PA): <a href="http://phl17.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://phl17.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 2 (St. Louis, MO): <a href="http://fox2now.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox2now.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 43 (York, PA): <a href="http://fox43.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox43.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>KTLA 5: <a href="http://ktla.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://ktla.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 17 (West Michigan): <a href="http://fox17online.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox17online.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 40 (Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto): <a href="http://fox40.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox40.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Fox 4 KC: <a href="http://fox4kc.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://fox4kc.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>7 KBZK (Bozeman, MT): <a href="http://www.kbzk.com/story/35642530/bear-startles-colorado-runners" target="_blank">http://www.kbzk.com/story/35642530/bear-startles-colorado-runners</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>CW 39 (Houston, TX): <a href="http://cw39.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://cw39.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>4 KXLF (Butte, MT): <a href="http://www.kxlf.com/story/35642530/bear-startles-colorado-runners" target="_blank">http://www.kxlf.com/story/35642530/bear-startles-colorado-runners</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>KPLR 11 (St. Louis, MO): <a href="http://kplr11.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/" target="_blank">http://kplr11.com/2017/06/12/bear-joins-race-through-colorado-park/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>NBC4 (LA): <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/weird/Bear-Colorado-Race-428045133.html" target="_blank">http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/weird/Bear-Colorado-Race-428045133.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<p><b>National TV Networks</b></p>
<p>The Weather Channel: <a href="https://weather.com/science/nature/news/colorago-garden-of-gods-bear-race" target="_blank">https://weather.com/science/nature/news/colorago-garden-of-gods-bear-race</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>ABC News: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/normal-runner-bear-crosses-colorado-race-47974269" target="_blank">http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/normal-runner-bear-crosses-colorado-race-47974269</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>International News</b></p>
<p>Daily Mail (UK): <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-4595072/That-s-no-normal-runner-Bear-crosses-Colorado-race.html" target="_blank">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-4595072/That-s-no-normal-runner-Bear-crosses-Colorado-race.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Belfast Telegraph: <a href="http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race-35815346.html" target="_blank">http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race-35815346.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Halesowen News (UK): <a href="http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/15341705.National_news__Bear_crosses_through_Colorado_race/" target="_blank">http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/15341705.National_news__Bear_crosses_through_Colorado_race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>L!FE (Russian?): <a href="https://life.ru/t/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/1016437/miedvied_napughal_uchastnikov_zabiegha_v_kolorado-springhs" target="_blank">https://life.ru/t/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/1016437/miedvied_napughal_uchastnikov_zabiegha_v_kolorado-springhs</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Independent (Ireland): <a href="http://www.independent.ie/world-news/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race-35815344.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race-35815344.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Telegraph & Argus (UK): <a href="http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/15341702.That___s_no_normal_runner__Bear_crosses_through_Colorado_race/" target="_blank">http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/15341702.That___s_no_normal_runner__Bear_crosses_through_Colorado_race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> Evening Express (UK): <a href="https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/pipe/news/international/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/" target="_blank">https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/pipe/news/international/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Emirates247 (Dubai): <a href="http://www.emirates247.com/offbeat/that-s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race-2017-06-12-1.654413" target="_blank">http://www.emirates247.com/offbeat/that-s-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race-2017-06-12-1.654413</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> ITV news: <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/2017-06-12/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crashes-us-race/" target="_blank">http://www.itv.com/news/2017-06-12/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crashes-us-race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> Kidsweek (Danish?): <a href="http://www.kidsweek.nl/dieren/beer-jaagt-hardlopers-stuipen-op-t-lijf" target="_blank">http://www.kidsweek.nl/dieren/beer-jaagt-hardlopers-stuipen-op-t-lijf</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> Haller Kreisblatt (German): <a href="http://www.haller-kreisblatt.de/ueberregional/aus_aller_welt/21819615_Achtung-Baer.html" target="_blank">http://www.haller-kreisblatt.de/ueberregional/aus_aller_welt/21819615_Achtung-Baer.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Blogs/General Internet:</b></p>
<p>MSN.com: <a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/whats-hot/omg-this-bear-interrupted-a-10-mile-race-to-cross-the-road/ar-BBCGOvA?li=BBnbfcL" target="_blank">http://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/whats-hot/omg-this-bear-interrupted-a-10-mile-race-to-cross-the-road/ar-BBCGOvA?li=BBnbfcL</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Wide Open Spaces: <a href="http://www.wideopenspaces.com/heard-one-bear-ran-10-mile-race-colorado/" target="_blank">http://www.wideopenspaces.com/heard-one-bear-ran-10-mile-race-colorado/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>GrindTV: <a href="http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/bear-disrupts-runner-race-colorado-photos/" target="_blank">http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/bear-disrupts-runner-race-colorado-photos/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>ARRL- The National Association for Amateur Radio: <a href="http://www.arrl.org/news/bear-is-unwanted-volunteer-as-ares-team-supports-colorado-road-race" target="_blank">http://www.arrl.org/news/bear-is-unwanted-volunteer-as-ares-team-supports-colorado-road-race</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> Outdoorhub.com: <a href="https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2017/06/12/bear-gives-runners-extra-pep-step-10-mile-race/" target="_blank">https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2017/06/12/bear-gives-runners-extra-pep-step-10-mile-race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> NewsExplored.com: <a href="http://newsexplored.co.uk/bear-surprises-runners-during-colorado-race/" target="_blank">http://newsexplored.co.uk/bear-surprises-runners-during-colorado-race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> Competitor.com: <a href="http://running.competitor.com/2017/06/news/black-bear-startles-runners-joins-10-miler-colorado_165133" target="_blank">http://running.competitor.com/2017/06/news/black-bear-startles-runners-joins-10-miler-colorado_165133</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> Aol. News: <a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/06/12/bear-surprises-runners-during-colorado-race/22138389/" target="_blank">https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/06/12/bear-surprises-runners-during-colorado-race/22138389/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<p><b>Radio</b></p>
<p> 101.9 King FM: <a href="http://kingfm.com/bear-runs-onto-colorado-race-course/" target="_blank">http://kingfm.com/bear-runs-onto-colorado-race-course/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> 94.3 X Front Range Alternative: <a href="http://thexfrontrange.com/a-bear-crosses-through-a-co-foot-race/" target="_blank">http://thexfrontrange.com/a-bear-crosses-through-a-co-foot-race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> KTAR News (Phoenix, AZ): <a href="https://ktar.com/story/1617228/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/" target="_blank">https://ktar.com/story/1617228/thats-no-normal-runner-bear-crosses-through-colorado-race/</a></p>
<p></p>
<p> </p> Course changes, big party planned for 41st Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run and 10Ktag:pikespeaksports.us,2017-05-11:5021591:Topic:7619232017-05-11T17:23:14.783ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656434394?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656434394?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="600"></img></a></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><strong>(Photo by Sean Holveck)</strong></p>
<p><strong>From Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc.</strong></p>
<p>MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. – A favorite local running race that meanders through one of the country’s most iconic landmarks will feature a new course and a new post-race celebration in 2017.</p>
<p>The Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run and 10K,…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656434394?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="600" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656434394?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="600" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><strong>(Photo by Sean Holveck)</strong></p>
<p><strong>From Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc.</strong></p>
<p>MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. – A favorite local running race that meanders through one of the country’s most iconic landmarks will feature a new course and a new post-race celebration in 2017.</p>
<p>The Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run and 10K, set for 7 a.m. June 11, will now begin on Gateway Rd. near the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center. The race courses circle through the towering red pinnacles and finish on the beautiful grounds of Rock Ledge Ranch, just in time for the start of the new Garden of the Gods Run Fest, featuring live music, food, beer and activities for adults and kids.</p>
<p>For online race registration and more information visit <a href="http://gardentenmile.com/">http://gardentenmile.com/</a>. The Run Fest will begin at 8 a.m. and is free to all.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656436375?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656436375?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-left"/></a>Race organizers created the new course layout and after party as a way to showcase the best of the Garden of the Gods, including historic Rock Ledge Ranch. The Run Fest will bring running organizations and the outdoor community together in an effort to increase recognition and support for the <a href="http://www.gardenofthegodsfoundation.com/">Garden of the Gods Foundation</a>, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing and protecting the park. The Garden of the Gods was donated to the city in 1909.</p>
<p>“We want to create a way for the race organization and our runners to provide financial assistance to the Garden of the Gods park and also show our appreciation for such a beautiful race venue,” says Ron Ilgen, President of Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc.</p>
<p>This year will mark the 41<sup>st</sup> running of the event, one of the most challenging road races in the country. Runners jokingly refer to the 10-miler as the “toughest half marathon they’ve ever run.” And the scenery is impossible to ignore. In fact, the Garden of the Gods has been recognized by travel website <a href="http://www.imfromdenver.com/this-colorado-park-was-named-the-most-beautiful-park-in-the-us/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork">TripAdvisor</a> as the No. 1 Park in the Country, and it recently was mentioned among such attractions as the Grand Canyon and Havasu Falls in Arizona.</p>
<p>It makes sense for the historic running race and the Garden of the Gods Foundation to form a partnership.</p>
<p>“We're very excited that this longtime event is stepping in to give something back to the park we love,” says Jan Martin, Garden of the Gods Foundation trustee. “It’ll help bring awareness to the years of service devoted to the park by the Garden of the Gods Foundation.”</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656438400?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656438400?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-right"/></a>Runners in the 10-mile and 10K races will experience the best of the Garden of the Gods. The courses are contained within park boundaries, and the finish in Rock Ledge Ranch will provide the perfect ending as participants pass farm animals and barns before landing at the Run Fest. The final half mile of the races will be run on gravel roads and a short trail section.</p>
<p>The Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run is the first leg in the Triple Crown of Running series, which continues on July 9 with the Summer Roundup Trail Run (<a href="http://summerroundup.com/">http://summerroundup.com/</a>) and culminates with the 62<sup>nd</sup> Running of the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon on Aug. 19-20 (<a href="http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/">http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/</a>.)</p> Girmay, Kibet endure tough course to capture Garden of the Gods 10-Mile run victoriestag:pikespeaksports.us,2016-06-12:5021591:Topic:7167992016-06-12T20:34:24.358ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656429312?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656429312?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650"></img></a> <strong>A strong field of elite runners flew from the starting line in the 2016 Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run and 10K on Sunday in Manitou Springs. Daniel Girmay, 19, (far right, green) was the overall winner.</strong></p>
<p><strong>VIDEO: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/start-of-the-2016-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run-and-10k" target="_blank">Race…</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656429312?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="650" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656429312?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650" class="align-center"/></a> <strong>A strong field of elite runners flew from the starting line in the 2016 Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run and 10K on Sunday in Manitou Springs. Daniel Girmay, 19, (far right, green) was the overall winner.</strong></p>
<p><strong>VIDEO: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/start-of-the-2016-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run-and-10k" target="_blank">Race start</a></strong><strong> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/page/finish-line-index" target="_blank">Results</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Dena Rosenberry</strong><br/> <strong>PikesPeakSports.us</strong></p>
<p>Sure, it’s beautiful. That's apparent - if you manage to shift your focus from the road in front of you to the sandstone spires in Garden of the Gods Park and the snow-capped backdrop of Pikes Peak.<br/> But every runner in the Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run notices the hills. You don’t have to look for them. You feel them.<br/>
“So many hills,” said Valentine Kibet, the women’s 10-Mile winner, smiling at the painful memory. With the finish line more than an hour in her past, Kibet even managed a laugh. “It was a tough race, but good,” she said.<br/>
Kibet finished the 40th annual race in 1 hour, 1 minute and 36 seconds, on par with her recent race times. The 26-year-old Kenyan, who comes from a family of accomplished runners, is living and training in Colorado Springs in hopes of topping the international women's half-marathon field.<br/>
Overall winner Daniel Girmay, who finished in 52:21, also is living and training in Colorado Springs. He was drawn to the benefits of training at altitude, but appreciates the scenery. The 19-year-old Ethiopian said the city park, often referred to as the most scenic in the nation, is a “good place to run.” <br/>
Saturday morning’s clouds did little to mask the heat of recent days for the runners.<br/>
“Oh my goodness, it was a tough one - hilly and hot,” said top women’s 10K finisher Alexis Wilbert, 31, of Colorado Springs, who finished in 38:57.<br/>
Wilbert regularly runs through the park - but from the northern edge. "From up on 30th Street, I know the hills, I know when to push. But there were some surprises today, coming from this side." Still, Wilbert finished second overall in the inaugural 10K event to winner Jake Dialesandro, 27, of Las Cruces, N.M., who crossed the finish line in 36:19.<br/>
Knowing the course is a key to finishing strong, said a foursome of local runners who have trained together for months, two for the 10 Mile race and two for the 10K. Finding a training partner might be key to finishing the race at all, they said.<br/>
Training partners get you out the door in the morning, said 10-miler Gloria Arodak, 25, of <br/>
Colorado Springs. You can't slack off because you're accountable to someone, added Riannon <br/>
McCord, 35, of Colorado Springs, who finished the 10K after training with Emily Palmer, 25. Arodak trained with Jessica Parton, 30. "We push each other," she said of Parton. "When she slows down, I push harder. If I slow, she picks up the pace. I know she won't give up and because of that, I won't either."<br/>
The 10-mile race was a step along the comeback trail for Gerald Romero, 44, of Colorado Springs, who finished in 1:06:45. The veteran local racer took a few months off during winter to heal from injury, followed by about six weeks of light running.<br/>
While he is familiar with the course, he didn't know what to expect from his body.<br/>
"It was awesome - a great race as always," said a smiling Romero, whose enthusiasm might be as familiar to spectators and other runners as his tattooed arms. "I'm real happy with that race. Now I just need to stay healthy."<br/>
Keeping his good health motivates Jay Survil, 57, to keep hitting the pavement. The Aurora runner, who topped his age group in last year's Triple Crown races, finished the 10 Mile race Sunday in 1:07:33. He was first in his age group - and set a personal reacord - at the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon on May 15 and also won his age group at the Colorado Marathon on May 1.<br/>
"You'll see me out here as long as I'm healthy," he said. "I'm driven. It's my thing."<br/>
Leading up to Sunday's race, Ian Guiterrez, 49, focused on training his 14-year-old daughter, Dana. They finished the race together in just over 51 minutes, and hardly looked winded. Now, he said, Dana will lead the training and he'll try to keep up.<br/>
"You need to find someone to run with you who'll keep it fun," Dana said.<br/>
The Garden of the Gods 10 Mile is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Running. Next up is the Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K on July 10, followed by the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon on Aug. 20 and 21.<br/>
Although the Ascent is effectively a half marathon and that distance is Kibet's focus, don't expect to see her at the start line in August. Asked if she would consider running up Barr Trail to the summit of Pikes Peak, Kibet laughed and gently shook her head.<br/>
“No, no, no,” Kibet said. “No running up the mountain.”<br/>
Garden of the Gods hills are more than enough.</p> Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run recordstag:pikespeaksports.us,2016-05-27:5021591:Topic:7152112016-05-27T14:34:42.672ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2653412507?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2653412507?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2">Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, 25, set the overall women's race record in 2014, covering the hily course in 55 minutes, 55 seconds. (Photo by Rob Lucas)</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">(These records are for the current race course, beginning and ending in Manitou Springs.)…</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2653412507?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="650" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2653412507?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650" class="align-center"/></a><span class="font-size-2">Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, 25, set the overall women's race record in 2014, covering the hily course in 55 minutes, 55 seconds. (Photo by Rob Lucas)</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">(These records are for the current race course, beginning and ending in Manitou Springs.)</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Men</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Overall</strong> - Simon Cheprot, 19, 50:31, 2009, Aurora, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>Master</strong> - Peter Fleming, 53, 59:32, 2014, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>0-14</strong> - Zachary Alhamra, 14, 1:04:58, 2011, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>15-19</strong> - Simon Cheprot, 19, 50:31, 2009, Aurora, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>20-24</strong> - Simon Cheprot, 20, 50:47, 2010, Aurora, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>25-29</strong> - Leonard Korir, 26, 50:47, 2013, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>30-34</strong> - Macdonald M Ondara, 30, 50:47, 2015, Santa Fe, N.M.</p>
<p><strong>35-39</strong> - Geofrey Terer, 37, 54:00, 2014, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>40-44</strong> - Scott W Lebo, 41, 1:00:02, 2008, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>45-49</strong> - Daniel G Vega, 45, 1:01:52, 2013, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>50-54</strong> - Peter Fleming, 53, 59:32, 2014, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>55-59</strong> - Charlie Gray, 56, 1:04:02, 2010, Pueblo, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>60-64</strong> - Dave Dooley, 62, 1:08:56, 2009, Erie, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>65-69</strong> - Dave Dooley, 66, 1:13:05, 2013, Erie, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>70-74</strong> - Glen L. Ash, 72. 1:29:02. 2009, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>75-79</strong> - Jim Umphrey, 75, 1:36:18, 2014, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>80-84</strong> - Kenneth A Green, 80, 1:49:56, 2009, Littleton, Colo.</p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Women</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Overall</strong> - Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, 25, 55:55, 2014, White Plains, DC</p>
<p><strong>Master</strong> - Nuta Olaru, 42, 1:01:13, 2013, Longmont, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>0-14</strong> - Kayli Tabares, 14, 1:13:50, 2014, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>15-19</strong> - Hannah A Green, 17, 1:09:19, 2008, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>20- 24</strong> - Belaynesh Gebre, 21, 58:49, 2009, Ethiopia/Flagstaff,Ariz.</p>
<p><strong>25-29</strong> - Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, 25, 55:55, 2014, White Plains, DC</p>
<p><strong>30-34</strong> - Zoila Gomez, 31, 1:02:31, 2010, Alamosa, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>35-39</strong> - Maria Portilla, 35, 1:02:20, 2007, Albuquerque, N.M.</p>
<p><strong>40-44</strong> - Nuta Olaru, 42, 1:01:13, 2013, Longmont, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>45-49</strong> - Rochelle A Persson, 45, 1:09:50, 2013, Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>50-54</strong> - Janet Rooney, 50, 1:12:28, 2014, Louisville, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>55-59</strong> - Delcia Litt, 57, 1:12:23, 2015, Erie, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>60-64</strong> - Carol A Kinzy, 63, 1:24:04, 2011, Pueblo, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>65-69</strong> - Connie Ahrnsbrak, 67, 1:32:08, 2007, Lakewood, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>70-74</strong> - Libby James, 74, 1:26:58, 2011, Fort Collins, Colo.</p>
<p><strong>75-79</strong> - Myra Rhodes, 75, 1:46:31, 2008, Centennial, Colo.</p>
<p>Special thanks to Dave Sorenson and our friends at <a href="http://pprrun.org/" target="_blank">Pikes Peak Road Runners</a> for maintaining a thorough list of Colorado Springs-area race records. </p> Sight-seeing and record breaking in the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Runtag:pikespeaksports.us,2014-06-08:5021591:Topic:5637482014-06-08T21:20:11.479ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656430024?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656430024?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> <strong>It was a great day for running and setting records in the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run on Sunday.</strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong>RESULTS: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/page/finish-line-index" target="_blank">Check out Finish Line Index</a><br></br> PHOTOS: …</strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656430024?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656430024?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><strong>It was a great day for running and setting records in the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run on Sunday.</strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong>RESULTS: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/page/finish-line-index" target="_blank">Check out Finish Line Index</a><br/> PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-gallery-1" target="_blank">Gallery 1</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run-gallery-2" target="_blank">Gallery 2</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run-gallery-3-2" target="_blank">Gallery 3</a></strong><br/>
<strong><strong>VIDEO: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/start-of-the-2014-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run" target="_blank">Start of the Garden 10 Mile</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/anton-krupicka-18th-at-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run" target="_blank">Interview with Anton Krupicka</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/aliphine-tuliamuk-bolton-breaks-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run" target="_blank">Interview Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, women's 10 mile record setter</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/peter-fleming-sets-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-masters-reord" target="_blank">Peter Fleming talks about setting men's masters record</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/adam-rich-sets-garden-of-the-gods-5k-record" target="_blank">Interview Adam Rich, 5K winner</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/jenny-smith-16-wins-the-garden-of-the-gods-5k" target="_blank">Interview with women's 5K winner Jenny Smith</a></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><strong>By Garry Harrington</strong></strong><strong><strong>, PikesPeakSports.us</strong></strong></p>
<p>MANITOU SPRINGS – When Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton looked around early in Sunday’s 38th annual Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run and saw no one challenging her, she decided to do a little sight-seeing.</p>
<p>“I looked back, and I didn’t see anyone, so I had time to look around at the scenery and it was beautiful,” said the 25-year-old Kenya native, who now lives and trains in Santa Fe, N.M. “When you’re running with a deep field, you don’t have that opportunity, but today I wasn’t really worried.”</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2653412507?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2653412507?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-right"/></a>Tuliamuk-Bolton’s effort was no stroll in the park, however. She got down to business too, shattering the women’s course record in a winning time of 55 minutes, 55 seconds, placing her eighth overall in a field of nearly 1,600 on a cool, overcast day that was perfect for fast times. Her time was nearly three minutes faster than the 58:44 put up by last year’s winner, Belainesh Gebre of Ethiopia. It was also more than three minutes ahead of her training partner, Simegn Yeshanbel of Ethiopia and Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was second Sunday in 58:59.</p>
<p>Tuliamuk-Bolton, a fourteen-time NCAA Division I All-American in track and cross country, bolted from the starting line and never looked back.</p>
<p>“It was a really good day for me,” said the 2013 Wichita Sate grad. “It was probably the hardest (10-mile) course I have ever run. Knowing that my PR is 52:16, this was an awesome result. I feel like I am in great shape.”</p>
<p>Yeshanbel, 28, who trains with Tuliamuk-Bolton at the Harambee Training Project in Santa Fe – along with Sunday’s men’s winner, McDonard Ondara – said she simply could not match the pace set by her teammate. “I tried to go with her,” said Yeshanbel, who was third last year in <br/> 1:03:03, “but I could stay with her only one mile.”</p>
<p>Third-place finisher Nuta Olaru, a native of Romania, who now lives in Longmont, said the two Africans set a blistering pace right from the gun. “Those girls started out too fast for me,’’ said the 43-year-old, who was second last year in 1:01:12, but was over a minute slower on Sunday in 1:03:15. “Their first mile was under 5:10. I couldn’t stay with them, so I just ran my pace.”</p>
<p>Ondara ran alone in the men’s race, winning in a time of 51:20, turning back fellow Kenyan Kevin Kochei, who was second in 52:20. Third was Austin Richmond of Erie in 53:37.</p>
<p>“Between miles three and four I began to pull away,” said Ondara, 29, who lives in Santa Fe. “(Kevin) fell back a little, and after mile five, I knew I had it. I didn’t even look back. I just kept focusing.”</p>
<p>Kochei, 24, who moved to Boulder just over a month ago from Kenya, had beaten Ondara at the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, Washington, five weeks ago, but the tables were turned on Sunday.</p>
<p>“My muscles were heavy today,” said Kochei, still reeling from a disappointing 16th-place at the Bolder Boulder on Memorial Day. “I tried to keep within distance going uphill, but my muscles hurt too much.”</p>
<p>Richmond, 28, was pleased with his effort, passing two other Kenyans in the second half of the race to nail down third. “My strategy was to work the uphills and once I got to the top I tried to carry it through on the downhills,” said Richmond, who would not appear to be a strong uphill runner, considering he grew up in Florida.</p>
<p>“Most people hear I’m from Florida and think I’m a flat-lander,” said Richmond, who trains with the Boulder Track Club, “but I’m from central Florida (he attended Webber International University in Babson Park) and there are actually some hills there. So this course played to my strengths.”</p>
<p>Kenyan runners also placed fourth and fifth as Geofrey Teror of Colorado Springs finished in 54:00, followed by Hillary Chesire in 54:39. Teror, 37, set a new age group record.</p>
<p>As usual, the course, which winds through Garden of the Gods Park, got high marks. “It was the toughest 10- miler I’ve ever done,” said Ondara, the winner. “It was tough, but I really liked it.”</p>
<p>In two weeks, Ondara will run his first-ever marathon in Duluth, Minn., and said his goal is to go under 2:10. “That is my hope,” he said.</p>
<p>Sunday’s race was the first leg of the Triple Crown of Running Series. The next race is the Summer Roundup trail run on July 6.</p>
<p>Notes</p>
<p>Peter Fleming, 53, of Colorado Springs set a new men’s masters course record as he finished 15th <br/> overall in 59:32. He beat Soctt Lebo's old record of 1:00:02 set in 2008. Henry Rodriguez Jr. of Artesia, N.M., broke the men’s 45-49 age group mark as he was 17th in 1:00:12.</p>
<p>Other age group record-setters included Janet Rooney of Louisville (women’s 50-54 in 1:12:28), 14-year-old Kayli Tabares of Colorado Springs (girls’ 14-and-under in 1:13:50), Delcia Litt of Erie (women’s 55-59 in 1:13:53), James Boughter of Colorado Springs (men’s 70-74 in 1:23:31), and Jim Umphrey of Colorado Springs (men’s 75-59 in 1:36:18).</p>
<p>Former Colorado College runner Anton Krupicka of Boulder was 18th overall in 1:01 to win the men’s 30-34 age division, despite missing the start by 20 seconds as he had run to his car to drop off his sunglasses. <br/> Considered one of the top ultra-runners in the country, Krupicka admitted he was a bit out of his league in a road 10-miler, as he is preparing for two big ultra events in Europe – the 119K Lavaredo Ultra in the Italian Dolomites at the end of June, and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Chamonix, France, in August. “I just have no leg speed,” he said.</p>
<p>In the 5K race, now in its third year, Adam Rich, 33, of Colorado Springs crushed the course record with a winning time of 16:16, while the women’s winner was 16-year-old Jenny Smith of Colorado Springs in 21:56. <br/> There were a record 456 finishers in the 5K.</p> Dahlberg, Mericle become thin-air champions in first Pikes Peak High-Altitude Miletag:pikespeaksports.us,2013-08-13:5021591:Topic:4871902013-08-13T23:20:25.487ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420659?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420659?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650"></img></a> <strong>Runners in the Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile surged through the first of six laps in the thin air atop Pikes Peak.</strong><br></br> <br></br> <strong>PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/pikes-peak-high-altitude-mile" target="_blank">Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile</a><br></br> VIDEO:…</strong></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420659?profile=original"><img width="650" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420659?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650"/></a><strong>Runners in the Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile surged through the first of six laps in the thin air atop Pikes Peak.</strong><br/> <br/> <strong>PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/pikes-peak-high-altitude-mile" target="_blank">Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile</a><br/> VIDEO: <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/scott-dahlberg-wins-inaugural-pikes-peak-high-altitude-mile" target="_blank">The men's race</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/fast-at-14-115-feet-nicole-mericle-wins-pikes-peak-high-altitude-" target="_blank">The women's race</a> ** <a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/interview-with-scott-dahlberg-winner-of-the-pikes-peak-high-altit" target="_blank">Interview with Scott Dahlberg</a> **<a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/nicole-mericle-tells-us-how-she-won-the-first-pikes-peak-high-alt" target="_blank">Interview with Nicole Mericle</a><br/></strong> <br/> <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656422417?profile=original"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656422417?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a>Scott Dahlberg gulped down the thin air at 14,115 feet, looked around and knew it was time to go.</p>
<p>With a quarter of a mile to run in the inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile, Dahlberg, an assistant cross country coach at Colorado State University, found himself in the lead pack with fast company.</p>
<p>The Kenyon duo of Sammy Kiplagat (the 2012 and 2013 winner of the Dallas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon), and Leonard Korir (2013 Garden of the Gods 10 Mile champ) pushed the pace. And Dey Dey, the blazing winner of the Bristol Mile (3:53) who grew up in war-ravaged Sudan, had tucked into their slipstream.</p>
<p>"I told myself I didn't come all the way up here to sit back," Dahlberg said. "If I'm going to do, it has to be now."</p>
<p>With the altitude burning away the last of his strength, Dahlberg kicked for the finish line and win in 4 minutes, 46 seconds on the summit of Pikes Peak.</p>
<p>"It's kind of uncharted territory running this hard of intensity at this high of elevation," said Dahlberg, a former high school state track champion at Peyton who now runs for the Boulder Running Company/Adidas team. "For me the strategy was just to feel it out as the race progressed. I could kind of feel that my breathing wasn't getting worse through the mid-way to about three quarters, so I just decided to push the threshold a little more, since it wasn't getting much worse and it panned out well."</p>
<p>A small crowd that gathered in the crisp sunlight atop the famous 14er cheered as the runners kicked for the finish line.</p>
<p>"I knew Dey Dey was right next to me and he has tremendous speed, but speed at 14,000 feet is a little different story," Dahlberg said. "So I just tried to give it everything I had at the end."</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424076?profile=original"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424076?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a>Kiplagat was second in 4:49.71, while Korir finished third in 4:51.93. Dey Dey was fourth, followed by Neil McDonagh of Manitou and Alex Nichols of Colorado Springs.</p>
<p>In the women's race, Boulder Running Company/Adidas teammates Nicole Mericle, Shannon Payne, Rochelle Kanuho and Adrian Chouinard were the only women runners to test themselves in the harsh altitude.</p>
<p>Mericle, of Boulder, took the win in 5:53.37. Payne, Colorado Springs, was second in 5:58.32, followed by Rochelle Kanuho of Flagstaff, Ariz., 6:09.98, and Adrian Chouinard, Colorado Springs, 6:13.37.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424655?profile=original"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424655?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a>"It pretty much felt like a normal mile, just slower," Mericle said. "I was able to move at the end. That was big worry that I was going to hit some big wall and then be crawling to the finish."</p>
<p>Payne took the lead early in the race and held it until the final two of six laps on the gravel course. She said the full-blast mile at high altitude hurt, but it was manageable.</p>
<p>"It was painful, but it was fun," said Payne. "With shorter races you can kind of bite the bullet."<br/> Organizers of the Triple Crown of Running added the Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile this year.</p>
<p>"The Pikes Peak races have always been for the mountain and trail runners," said Ron Ilgen, president of Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. "We wanted to add a race that would include a different kind of runner, get more people involved on Pikes Peak. I can't be any happier with the way things turned out today. We had great races and we have great champions in Scott and Nicole."</p>
<p>The Altitude Mile kicked off the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon week. The Ascent, a 13.32-mile race to Pikes Peak's summit, begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday in Manitou Springs. The marathon starts in Manitou Springs at 7 a.m. Sunday.</p> Fields are set for Tuesday's inaugural running of the Pikes Peak High-Altitude Miletag:pikespeaksports.us,2013-08-09:5021591:Topic:4865892013-08-09T19:26:40.790ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420367?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420367?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="325"></img></a> Some of the toughest middle-distance and mountain runners in the country will test their lungs and legs on Tuesday in the inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile at the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak.</p>
<p>It's going to be different than any other mile race.</p>
<p>"We've hosted the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent for years, starting in Manitou and running to the top of…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420367?profile=original"><img width="325" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656420367?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="325"/></a>Some of the toughest middle-distance and mountain runners in the country will test their lungs and legs on Tuesday in the inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile at the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak.</p>
<p>It's going to be different than any other mile race.</p>
<p>"We've hosted the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent for years, starting in Manitou and running to the top of the mountain and back," said race director Ron Ilgen. "But what will a mile run look like at 14,000-plus feet? We think it's going to be extremely difficult, but very exciting.</p>
<p>The men's race will begin at 9 a.m., with the women following at about 9:20 a.m. The summit will remain open to auto traffic during the Altitude Mile and the media and the public are invited to attend.<br/> Race fans should be prepared to drive and pay the regular fee at the Pikes Peak Highway toll gate. Or, van rides will be provided from Memorial Park, leaving at 7 a.m. on a first-come first-served basis. Riders will be charged only the highway toll fee.</p>
<p>Race organizers believe the Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile will be the highest competitive mile race ever contested in the United States and possibly the world.</p>
<p>So who will be the fastest at 14,000 feet, the track and road runners, or the high-altitude specialists?</p>
<p>The field includes American Distance Project runner Dey Dey, who won the Bristol and Pearl Street Mile races this summer, as well as Simon Gutierrez (above), a three-time Pikes Peak Ascent Champion.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421022?profile=original"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421022?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a>"It's going to be a gutsy race," Ilgen said. "We know that the mountain guys can run at altitude. But can they compete against runners with pure speed?"</p>
<p>There will be an awards ceremony at the summit and race winners will also be recognized at the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon Expo press conference at 1 p.m. Friday (Aug. 16) at Memorial Park.</p>
<p>There will be plenty of incentive to run fast. The Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile Champions will earn $1,000. Second place pays $500; third, $250; and the fourth-place runners will win $100.</p>
<p><strong>Men's field:</strong> Dey Dey, Colorado Springs (Bristol Mile, 3:53); Scott Dahlberg, Fort Collins (4:09 mile); Alex Nichols, Colorado Springs (second 2013 Pikes Peak Marathon); Simon Gutierrez, Colorado Springs (three-time Pikes Peak Ascent Champion); Liam Meirow, Dillon (4:18 mile); Leonard Korir, Colorado Springs (2013 Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run champion); Edwin Sang, Colorado Springs (4:07 mile); Anthony Mallory, Colorado Springs (4:10 mile); Isacc Chelimo, Boulder (1,500 3:50); Edwin Kipchumba; Roberto Mandje, Boulder (4:02 mile); Charles Hillig, Boulder (4:04 mile); Neil McDonagh, Manitou Springs (4:05 Bristol Mile); Matthew Perri, Denver (4:09 mile); Sammy Kiplagat Cheptoo (Dallas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon winner).</p>
<p><strong>Women's field:</strong> Nicole Mericle, (at right) Boulder (4:25 1,500 meters); Stephanie Bylander, Colorado Springs; Shannon Payne, Colorado Springs (5K 16:58); Adrian Chouinard, Colorado Springs (5K 17:07); Rochelle Kanuho (5:00 mile).<br/></p> Got Oxygen? New lung-bursting event coming to Pikes Peaktag:pikespeaksports.us,2013-07-02:5021591:Topic:4665432013-07-02T21:29:53.066ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424138?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424138?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> With a rust-colored cap of granite boulders, a hard-blue sky overhead, and precious little air to breathe, the summit of Pikes Peak is like an alien environment.</p>
<p>An elite field of runners will make this discovery at the inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile on Tuesday, Aug. 13. It certainly won't feel like Kansas. It won't even feel like planet earth.</p>
<p>Ground…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424138?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656424138?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a>With a rust-colored cap of granite boulders, a hard-blue sky overhead, and precious little air to breathe, the summit of Pikes Peak is like an alien environment.</p>
<p>An elite field of runners will make this discovery at the inaugural Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile on Tuesday, Aug. 13. It certainly won't feel like Kansas. It won't even feel like planet earth.</p>
<p>Ground control to Roger Bannister.</p>
<p>At the peak’s 14,115 foot summit, the air contains 43 percent less oxygen than at sea level. And while mountain runners in the famous Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent are familiar with the challenge, their sleek and fast middle-distance brethren of the flatlands have avoided such places … until now.</p>
<p>"We think the Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile will be the highest competitive mile race ever contested in the United States and possibly the world," said Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. President Ron Ilgen. "And we intend to fill this race with the best runners we can find."</p>
<p><strong>(Runners like Ellie Keyser, right, of Fort Collins know the challenge of Pikes Peak. But how will an elite miler perform on the summit?)</strong></p>
<p>Event organizers will invite track and cross-country athletes, middle-distance roadies and mountain runners. Ideally, the men’s and women’s fields will include 15 to 20 each. Runners who would like to participate are encouraged to apply by contacting Nancy Hobbs at <a href="mailto:nanohobbs@gmail.com">nanohobbs@gmail.com</a>, or (719) 573-4133. The final participants will be announced on Aug. 1.</p>
<p>The winners of last week’s Bristol Mile in Colorado Springs, Dey Dey (3:54), and Katie Rainsberger (4:38), will receive automatic entry (though they haven’t committed.) Ilgen said he will also invite the winners of next week’s Pearl Street Mile in Boulder.</p>
<p>And there will be plenty of incentive to run fast. The Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile Champions will earn $1,000. Second place pays $500; third, $250; and the fourth-place runners will win $100. The winners will also receive one-of-a-kind jackets commemorating their accomplishment.</p>
<p>Who will be the fastest at 14,000 feet?</p>
<p>“The curiosity aspect makes this very interesting," Ilgen said. "Pikes Peak is well known for running, and this race adds another facet to that. We know what the mountain runners can do here. But in a mile race, we can include a different kind of runner in the mix. It's going to be exciting. We're going to scratch a starting line on top of the mountain and line up and see who is the fastest."</p>
<p>The racing will begin with the women’s heat at 9 a.m., followed by the men at about 9:30 a.m.</p>
<p>Encircled by a ribbon of gravel road, the mostly flat and broad summit of Pikes Peak is roughly the size of four football fields. The course will be laid out by Scott Simmons, coach of the American Distance Project training group. The race will be chip timed with splits recorded.</p>
<p>Ilgen developed the idea years ago as he ran laps on the summit in preparation for the Pikes Peak Ascent.</p>
<p>"I always had this thought that we could have a race at the summit," Ilgen said. "It keeps with the tradition of Pikes Peak going back to 1936 when they first ran a race up the mountain. Those runners were pioneers. Now here we are almost 80 years later with the opportunity to explore this new frontier. How hard can we push ourselves in challenging environments?"</p>
<p>The Pikes Peak High-Altitude Mile kicks off the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent week, with the race expo beginning in Manitou Springs on Friday (Aug. 16) followed by the Pikes Peak Ascent on Saturday (Aug. 17) and the Marathon on Sunday.</p>
<p>The summit will remain open to auto traffic during the Altitude Mile. Members of the media will need credentials, and transportation from Manitou Springs to the summit will be provided for the runners, media and event staff. Television trucks will be allowed at the summit.</p>
<p>For media credentials, e-mail Ilgen at <a href="mailto:rpilgen@gmail.com">rpilgen@gmail.com</a>.</p> Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run hills are tough, Leonard Korir is toughertag:pikespeaksports.us,2013-06-09:5021591:Topic:4545332013-06-09T20:35:54.096ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421353?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421353?profile=original" width="268"></img></a> <strong>By Lindsey Grewe<br></br> PikesPeakSports.us</strong></p>
<p>“The hills, the hills, the hills!”</p>
<p>It was the only thing Leonard Korir could think about while powering through the monstrous ups and downs that have broken many a runner’s heart over the 37 years that the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run has been held.</p>
<p>The former NCAA standout at Iona College is no…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421353?profile=original"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421353?profile=original" width="268"/></a><strong>By Lindsey Grewe<br/> PikesPeakSports.us</strong></p>
<p>“The hills, the hills, the hills!”</p>
<p>It was the only thing Leonard Korir could think about while powering through the monstrous ups and downs that have broken many a runner’s heart over the 37 years that the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run has been held.</p>
<p>The former NCAA standout at Iona College is no stranger to tough races, but said Sunday's race was the hardest he had he could remember.</p>
<p>“I knew there were hills, but I thought maybe just one, two, three…four at the most. But after six miles I was still seeing hills, at eight miles I was praying! With just two miles to go, it looked like five!”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pikespeaksports.us/group/roadtrailrunning/forum/topics/gebre-sets-garden-of-the-gods-10-mile-run-women-s-course-record-a" target="_blank">Women's race story: Belainesh Gebre sets course record</a></p>
<p>Korir trains in Colorado Springs and grew up at 8,000 feet in Kenya, but said he has never gotten used to running hills in high elevation.</p>
<p>“The altitude affects me a lot…hills in altitude are so hard,” he said, adding that he prefers training at altitude and then racing at sea level.</p>
<p>Korir settled into third for most of the race, then made his move in the final mile to take the win in 50:48, seconds ahead of Ernest Kebenei (50:55) both men broke the previous age group record for men 25-29. Daniel Kipkoech was third in 51:06.</p>
<p>The hills didn’t faze one of the youngest runners of the day, 9-year-old Alden Kruse, who shrugged when asked how tough the course was.</p>
<p>“I knew what was coming…I just tried to use my energy on the hills, just do my best,” Kruse said.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421503?profile=original"><img width="180" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656421503?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="180"/></a>Kruse started running at 7 to help with baseball, and has placed at the Garden of the Gods 10 miler in both tries. Last year, he was second in his age group, this year he finished third - but was a minute faster - with a time of 1:40:31.</p>
<p>Masters winner David Scudamora was also uncertain if he had won until he crossed the line. Picking people off as the miles ticked down, Scudamora said he knew he was able to pull away from some of the other top masters runners, but wasn’t positive if he’d passed all of them.</p>
<p>“Didn’t know for certain if the guys in front of me were old guys [chuckles] or not!”</p>
<p>Scudamora actually crossed the finish line with time to spare, holding off second place winner Peter Fleming by 36 seconds. Scudamora finished in 1:00:11, Fleming in 1:00:47.</p>
<p>Scudamora is used to racing at a high level—in 2000 he ran in the Olympic Trials—but says its been a new experience over the last few years as he’s delved into the world of masters racing. After an eight-year layoff, he returned to running a few years ago and says it’s been a reinvigorating experience.</p>
<p>“It’s been fun coming back…I’ve rediscovered the joy of competing,” he said.</p>
<p>The race also served as the USA Track and Field Colorado 10 Mile State Championship. Andy Wacker of Boulder finshed fifth overall in 52:48, but won the state championship. Brandon Birdsong of Colorado Springs was second (53:18), followed by Jeffrey Eggletson of Boulder (53:56).</p>