Pueblo runners shatter Roundup records
There’s nothing like a trail run to bring out the beast in a runner.
In this instance, it was Pueblo runners who put on an eye-opening display in the July 8 Summer Roundup Trial Run that the running communities in Pueblo and Colorado Springs are probably still taking about. Aaron Rubalcaba-Lopez and Lauren Dunsmoor smashed course records while capturing the men’s and women’s titles in the 12K (7.44 miles) trail run held at Bear Creek Park in Colorado Springs.
Rubalcaba-Lopez sped to a 45:20 time and chopped 40 seconds off the previous course record while besting the second-place finisher by almost two minutes. The 22-year-old prepped at Pueblo South High School and just completed four years of running for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Dunsmoor sped to a 53:47 time to easily shatter the previous women’s course record of 56:04. The 23-year-old is training for her senior year of cross country running at Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Jordan Montera of Pueblo West ran the course in 57:31 and broke 14-and-under division record by more than 10 minutes. Montera also was 34th overall in the male division field. He will be attending Pueblo West High School this fall.
Two other Pueblo runners had incredible races. Stephanie Wurtz, 24, a Channel 13 news reporter since moving here recently from Kansas, finished fifth in the women’s field with a 58:15 time. She has run seven marathons in the past three years and has run Boston twice. And Glenn Clemons, 46, was 21st in the men’s field with a time of 55:18.
The Summer Roundup is part of the Triple Crown of Running series that also includes the Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run and the Pikes Peak Ascent (or ascent portion of the Pikes Peak Marathon) next month. The Roundup is made for hill runners, since it takes runners up nearly 1,000 feet in elevation during the opening 3.7 miles before turning around and descending the same route. There were 634 finishers this year.
Cycling
Registration forms have been distributed for the second annual Pueblo Child Advocacy Bike Ride scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 11 from the Target Distribution Center at the Airport Industrial Park to the Transportation Test Center. There will be a spaghetti lunch afterward, with the site to be determined. As a benefit to children who are abuse victims, the cause alone makes this event a winner. Call 583-6332 for information.
Leadville could experience a traffic jam of spectators on Aug. 11 when the last two winners of the Tour de France — Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis –are expected to ride in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. Landis has confirmed he will be competing, and Armstrong was training on the course last week after announcing his intention to do the race last November.
Running
Rubalcaba-Lopez followed his Summer Roundup by finishing fifth overall Sunday in the Barr Mountain Trail Race, a grueling 12-mile run that starts at an elevation of 6,520 feet in Manitou Springs and ascends 3,630 before the course turns around and heads back to the start. Rubalcaba’s time was 1:37. The race was run by high-altitude phenom Matt Carpenter, 42, in 1:29. Runners from Pueblo, Canon City and Rye were in the field that was limited to 400 runners and the field for which filled in seven days.
Susan Gebhart of Penrose was among the 318 finishers in the Leadville Trail Marathon held July 7. Gebhart’s time of 5:58 was among the faster on the rugged terrain course in which finish times ranged from 3:51 to 10:37, and only the winner completed the course under 4 hours. Competitors came from Florida, California, Texas, Minnesota and just about every state in between.
Former Puebloan Marijane Martinez, now living in Las Vegas, NV, was selected the top female masters runner for 2007 by the Las Vegas Track Club. Martinez is currently training for the St. George Marathon to be held Oct. 6 in Utah.
Swimming
Congratulations to Cecil Townsend, 59, of Avondale for completing the 6K open-water swim in Prospect Lake in Colorado Springs last month. A retired teacher, Townsend runs the Swim America program at Pueblo County High School and swims with the Pueblo Poolhardies masters team.
Multi-sport
Michael Orendorff, 56, of Pueblo won his age division at both the EAS Boulder Sprint and Prospect Lake triathlons. The Boulder sprint is part of a three-race series that also includes the Boulder Peak on July 22 and a half-Ironman on Aug. 12, and it attracts stellar athletes. Mike won his age division in it last year. At the Prospect Lake Tri, he was 27th overall in the entire field, but sixth among non-professionals. The pros were attracted by good prize money, and finishing first was top-ranked U.S. triathlete Hunter Kemper. Other nearby folks placing in their age divisions in the Prospect Lake Tri were Stacey Diaz and Mickey Moore of Pueblo and Jane Chess of Florence, all placing third. Orendorff, by the way, was ranked third in his age division in 2006 by USA Triathlon.
A low number of entries caused the Pueblo YMCA to cancel what would have been the inaugural Splash & Dash aquathon (swim and run) on July 14 at the Rock Canyon Swim Beach. A late decision to open the swim beach hurt the YMCA’s promotional efforts, and the cancellation appears to be part of its backpedaling out of race management with the exception of the Frostbite Five in February. Other Y races previously eliminated were the Y-Bi Classic Duathlon and the Ordinary Mortals Triathlon, both popular events with local and out-of-the-area athletes.
Looking for a deal on a triathlon? In the Lamar Tinman on Aug. 18, the cost of gasoline to drive from Pueblo to the Lamar Community Center and back will probably be more than the $12 adult entry fee (it’s $6 for kids). Distances are a 500-meter swim, 15-mile bike and 3.2-mile run for adults (much shorter for the kids). Oh, and you get a T-shirt for that entry fee, too.
Aftermath
Five area runners tested the grueling Collegiate Peaks race last month, with Susan Gebhart of Penrose among the 52 finishers in the 50-mile division in the time of 9:58. Completing the 25-mile run were Pueblo’s Michael Orendorff (3:51) and Joe Bulow (5:47) and Canon City’s Roy (4:39) and Marcia Hughes (5:04).
Among the 449 finishers in last month’s Colfax Marathon in Denver were Puebloans Stephanie Wurtz (3:33) and Carl Bartecchi (5:03), Pueblo West residents Laurel (5:00) and James Wright (5:07), and Salida runners Bryan Boyle (4:31) and Cheryl Cook-McCoy (5:37).
Race Calendar
• Aug. 4 – Moonlight Madness (Prediction Series race), 5M, 7:30 p.m., 5395 Verde Rd. (564-1443).
• Aug. 11 – Pueblo Child Advocacy Center Bike Ride, 38M, 8 a.m., Target Distribution Center (583-6332).
• Aug. 25 – Tunnel Drive Run (Prediction Series race), 5M, 7:30 a.m., Canon City (719) 784-6514).
• Sept. 9 – South Shore Adventure (Prediction Series race), 10.4K, Pedros Point Trailhead south of Lake Pueblo (543-2052).
• Sept. 23 – Hot to Trot, 5K run, 2M walk and Kiddie K, 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., Union Avenue (251-3189).
Websites:
•Grand Prix of Running: www.pikespeakmarathon.org
• Southern Colorado Runners: www.socorunners.org
Send comments and fitness information to Gary Franchi via e-mail at [email protected].