What were you doing five years ago? You might have been gearing up for a fall marathon or you may have been complaining about the cost of gas to get to your favorite weekend 5K. (The average price of gas in 2003 was approximately $1.70 a gallon – wow, what a difference!) September of 2003 was a monumental month for us because that’s when the first issue of Colorado Runner hit the newsstands.
Birthdays are meant to be celebrated, so for Colorado Runner’s fifth anniversary we are showcasing a series of 11 covers that feature some of the best running moments in Colorado over the past five years and also highlight the beauty of living and exercising in the Rocky Mountains. Our very first cover showed Anita Ortiz of Eagle, who was 39 at the time, as she ascended Pikes Peak in August, 2003 to win the female division of the Pikes Peak Ascent in 2:52:11. Many faithful readers may also remember our fifth cover in May, 2004 where Colleen De Reuck won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on her way to race at the Athens Olympics.
Our five-year anniversary issue is an incredible testament to the support from our advertisers, even though economic times may be uncertain, as well as the dedication of the writers and photographers who offer us submissions for each issue. Most importantly, we are thankful to the loyal reading of each issue by our devoted subscribers. We strive to be a voice for the running community in the Rocky Mountains.
Happy trails!
Jessica and Derek