The Dam Run to showcase John Martin Reservoir State Park

October, 2002 Fit to be Tied Column

From the Pueblo Chieftain
by Gary Franchi

The Dam Run to showcase John Martin Reservoir State Park

Stan Hren still remembers being entranced by the scenery the first time he ran the The Dam Race at the John Martin Reservoir in Hasty a few years ago.

“I got taken by the beauty of it,” Hren recalled of the 10-kilometer race. “When we were going over the dam, I thought the view was just spectacular.”

Unfortunately, the number of runners who shared Hren’s experience dwindled over the years, and the race was eventually discontinued. But Stan didn’t forget the glow he received that day, and he always dreamed of rekindling that feeling by resuscitating the event.

Following more than a year of planning and jumping through various hoops, Hren is realizing his dream. The Dam Run, as it’s called now, will take place on Sunday, Nov. 10, at the John Martin Reservoir State Park east of Las Animas. It will include the 10K run at 9 a.m. and a one-mile walk at 9:05 a.m

The race will start near the Lake Hasty campground below the John Martin Dam, cross over the dam and return to the start. Thus, it will cover the entire length of the dam.

Hren, a 60-year-old Las Animas pharmacist who stays fit by running and competes in road races of varying distances all over the state, envisions The Dam Run as being a “happening” in his home region and a premier annual fall event. By spreading the word on the race while on his many racing ventures during the past year, he’s expecting to draw racers from all over the state.

“I really want to showcase Southeast Colorado and the State Park,” Hren said. “This is a beautiful treasure that is under-utilized, and I’d really like people to see it.”

The events leading up to this point in time are intriguing. A $6 million grant turned John Martin Reservoir into a beautiful state park. However, about the time that it was completed, 9/11 happened last year, and the dam was closed by the federal government.

In order to receive approval to conduct the race, Hren had to secure a race permit not only from the state park folks but also from the federal government.

“But I’ve had great cooperation from everyone,” Hren pointed out.

He has been busy doing what is necessary to ensure a top-notch race. Scores of volunteers have already been lined up, and the Southern Colorado Runners will lend expertise and assistance.

“It’s very important for me to put on a quality event,” Hren said. “I think this could be the premier fall event in Southeast Colorado.”

For those traveling from out of the area, Hren has arranged with the Best Western Bents Fort Inn to offer a special room rate, and an awards ceremony and luncheon will take place at noon at the Las Animas Fire Department. For lodging information, call either (719) 456-0011 or 1-800-508-1234.

Race entry forms are available at the YMCA in Pueblo. For more information, call Hren at (719) 456-3110 (nights).

Running Notes

Two other new races have been added to the racing calendar, and they will both take place this month. Both are 5K run/walks, with one scheduled in Pueblo and the other in Canon City.

• This Saturday (Oct. 12) is the Soaring Eagles, scheduled on the University of Southern Colorado campus. The race is a benefit to the Soaring Eagles Autism Clinic, a non-profit organization that works to help chidlren get the help they need. Race time is 8 a.m.
• The following Saturday, Oct. 19, racing returns to downtown Cañon City with the inaugural Main Street Mosey. Long-time runners in this area probably remember what a treat it was to race in downtown Cañon City in the old Fremont Bank series many years ago. The “Mosey” will start at 5th and Main at 8 a.m.
• Pueblo’s Maddy Tormoen was the overall winner in the female division of the Grand Prix of Running Half-Marathon held Sept. 29 on a tough, hilly Air Force Academy course. Tormoen sped to a 1:29:03 time. Jill Montera of Pueblo was 12th overall among women in 1:52:42. Rich Hadley of Florence was 11th overall among the men in 1:29:03.
• Marv Bradley of Cañon City continues his quest to run a marathon in all 50 states. Number 45 for Bradley, 62, was the Stumpy’s Marathon in the Delaware city of Newark on Sept. 8. The very difficult trail run, which included a trek through a deep creek, made for slow times, and Marv was happy to settle for a 5:36 time. Marv will run four marathons in the northeast part of the country during the next month, and the 50-state journey will conclude Dec. 8 with the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii.

Multi-sport notes

• John Butler, 35, had the fastest swim time in the entire field as he led the four Puebloans who completed the Tenderfoot Triathlon in Salida on Sept. 21. Butler was 10th overall with a 2:38:06 time over the course that included a 1,000-meter swim (his split was 15:59), 40K (24.8M) bike and 10K (6.2M) run. Other Puebloans were Rocky Khosla, 43, 28th overall with a 2:59:51 time; Jan Dudley, 47, 22nd overall in the women’s division with a 3:08:48; and 76-year-old immortal Gerald Puls, the lone septuagenarian in the field, who finished in 4:40:14.
• In the duathlon that included a 40K bike and a 10K run, three Puebloans were among the top five women and were seventh and eighth among all males. On the women’s side, Katherine Frank was second in 2:18:07, Katherine Butler third in 2:18:24 and Susan Stewart fifth in 3:10:26. For the males, Joe Dvorsky was seventh in 2:10:03 and Tomas Duran eighth in 2:11:50.

Upcoming Pueblo-area Races

* Oct. 12 – Soaring Eagles Run/Walk, 5K, 8 a.m., USC campus (489-2605).
* Oct. 19 – Main Street Mosey, 5K run/walk, 8 a.m., downtown Cañon City (543-6770).
* Oct. 26 – Harvest Poker Prediction Run, 5M, 5 p.m., Lovell Park in Pueblo West (564-9303).
* Nov. 10 – The Dam Run, 10K run/1M walk, 9 a.m., John Martin Resrvoir State Park, Hasty (719-456-3110).
* Nov. 23 – Atalanta 5K, run/walk, 9 a.m., City Park (549-2236).
* Nov. 30 – Temple Canyon Prediction Run, 4M, Canon City (784-6514).

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