Calhan, CO (27 July 2006) — The inaugural Teva Paint Mines 6K Run and Walk on Thursday, July 27 was enjoyed by 100 participants ranging in age from 10 to 74. The venue in Calhan, Colorado, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park, was official dedicated in 2005 and was the perfect site for a run.
“The mystical and historical place made a wonderful evening away from the city and the memories are priceless. I truly enjoyed the event and I’m looking to run it again next year,” said Tania Pacev, 47, Littleton, CO.
Pacev will represent the United States on the National 100Km Team at the IAU World Cup 100Km Road Race in Misari, South Korea this October. Pacev’s time of 26:03 over the six kilometer Paint Mines course was good enough for second place overall among the women and first in the masters division.
Shannon Payne, 20, Colorado Springs, (left, photo by Nancy Hobbs) won the women’s division timed in 23:40 while Ashlee Withrow, 19, Florence, rounded out the top three with a time of 26:53.
For the men, race-day registrant Daryn Parker, 25, Manitou Springs, (below, photo by Nancy Hobbs) bettered second place finisher Adam Rich, 25, Colorado Springs, by a mere six seconds stopping the clock at 19:52. Gerald Romero, 34, Colorado Springs, finished in third position timed in 21:45.
Kevin Clark, coach of the Harrison High School cross country team, brought 13 of his team members to compete in the race. “It was a great workout for our team and the kids all had a great time,” said Clark.
Six states including Missouri, New York, Minnesota, Iowa, Virginia, and Colorado, were represented in the entries. There was nearly a 50/50 split between male and female participants with 48 women and 53 men.
In addition to individual entries, there were also families like the Brummonds from Iowa who competed and couples including Martina and Don Ritchie who wrote this note following the race, “Just a huge “thank you” for putting on a wonderful and well organized race. The course was beautiful & fantastic to run. Even my husband (who is just getting back into running), enjoyed himself. Please put it on again next year!!”
Kate Raphael, second place masters woman echoed these sentiments in her post event evaluation, “I thought it was a great race. I am spreading the word for next year.”
The six-kilometer trail race was introduced as part of the 101st El Paso County Fair which kicked off July 22 for an eight-day schedule concluding on July 29.
“This year we wanted to offer some new programs during Fair Week and this was just one of the many fun activities to enjoy,” said Nancy Hobbs, Community Outreach Coordinator for El Paso County Parks and Leisure Services.
The Paint Mines are named for their colorful clays that were collected by American Indians to make paint. The Park encompasses 769 acres with five miles of developed trails. The race course was held entirely within the Park on eight-foot wide crushed limestone trails as well as some short sections on single track sandy trail. The start and finish was at the same point with the first .5 kilometers heading somewhat downhill on a crushed limestone trail changing to a sandy single track trail for approximately one kilometer, and then crushed limestone for approximately 3.5 kilometers (this section was rather rolling with some nice short climbs and incredible vistas of the Paint Mines). The course returned to sand for a short distance, and then back to crushed limestone to the finish. There was one more climb after the final patch of sand.
The course received rave reviews, but was harder than most runners thought it would be. Sara Wulfkuhle, 31, Falcon, winner of the 30-39 year age group summed her experience up with the following note, “Great race…very hard! But Great! The massages, prizes, awards, organization, were all perfect! Thanks for the hard work you put into this race to make it happen.”
The volunteers on course were led by Thomas Lightbody who organized the course logistics and pre-race details for his Eagle Scout Project. Lightbody had course marshals at each juncture on course and staffed two aid stations as well as a start/finish refreshment stop. At the finish line participants enjoyed grapes and bananas provided by Safeway, and Gatorade Endurance formula and Aquafina water provided by Pepsi- Cola/Lane Sales and Gatorade. The Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy provided post race massages.
Roger Allison, who dressed up in Western wear, served as race announcer and Jerry Collins was the official race starter dressed in period clothing to honor the American West. Collins fired his muzzle loader at the start of the race.
Timing and scoring for the event was provided by the Colorado Running Company. Every competitor stayed for the awards ceremony following the race. The top male and female overall received a gift certificate for a pair of Teva X-1 trail running shoes and Teva gift certificates for shoes and sandals were also presented to the top male and female in age divisions 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+. There were random prize drawings with prizes donated by FuelBelt, The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running, and more.
The El Paso County Parks and Leisure Services Department was well represented with competitors Ken Pals and Allison Plute, and support staff led by Tim Stickel, East District Supervisor, and maintenance staffers Carlos Greco and Dave Hedges