Here's a look at the start of the XTERRA 12K and 24K races on Sunday (April 6, 2014) at Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
The 24K became an act of survival as a muddy course threatened to swallow all who dared to negotiate it.
Caked with mud from the knees down, Johnathan Marsh, 29, and his girlfriend Nicole Clement, 25, took the wins. It was the first race in Colorado for the Lakewood couple. Marsh finished in 1:31:05 (the course was shorter than advertised.) Clement crossed the line in 1:40:41.
Cory Rose (27, 1:35:13) was second in the men's race, with Darren Rapaport (41, 1:36:52) finishing third.
Missy Ross (47, 1:57:51) and Laura Nichols (30, 1:58:17) placed second and third in the women's race.
Roberto Mandje, 32, took the top spot in the men's 12K with a time of 41 minutes, 44 seconds. Ron Thomasson, 49, was second (46:26), followed by Rick Shoulberg, 53, in 50:47.
In the women's 12K, Lindsay Krause, 36, cruised to the win in 47:32, followed by Rebecca Blatt (34, 52:44) and Trudi Jackson (40, 54:04.)