Highcountry Living

Running the Colorado Relay lets you feel like a kid again

About midway through this past weekend’s Colorado Relay, it hit me why I like these relays so much — beyond the obvious joys of competitive running, that is.

It’s like a sleep-over for adults.

For 24 hours we got to forget about frustrations at work, obligations at home and play with our friends. We ran hard when it was our turn but got to act like kids playing hookey when we weren’t running. We got to be around hundreds of like-minded strangers who, we could plainly see, were having just as much fun as we were.

We ran from Georgetown to Carbondale on a 10-person team, starting Friday morning and finishing Saturday morning (running time for our team: 24 hours, 13 minutes). We got to run under a nearly full moon in Eagle County and got to see the sun rise on Mount Sopris. Nearly 1,000 runners took part on a weekend that also included the Leadville Trail 100, the Pikes Peak Ascent and the Pikes Peak Marathon. And mind you, this is only two weeks after Colorado’s other great relay, the Wild West Relay from Fort Collins to Steamboat.

It’s a bummer the Guanella Pass closure caused the Colorado Relay to be re-routed this year and last year, but that was a minor disappointment weighed against all of the things that make this relay such a blast. So much fun to share a passion for running on a team with your friends.

It was a great sleep-over — and I’ve almost fully recovered from the associated sleep deprivation.

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Taste the USA’s Best Beers at the Great American Beer Festival

Denver, Colorado hosts the country’s greatest gathering of brewers and beer-lovers at the 29th annual Great American Beer Festival, September 16-18, 2010.
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Beer Tastings and Brewery Tours at the Denver Beer Fest 2010

From beer and food pairings to tastings and tours of Colorado’s top microbreweries, there’s fun for everyone at the Denver Beer Fest, September 10-19, 2010.
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First Descents outdoors camp for cancer patients takes donations

The link for the First Descents web site didn’t make it into Tuesday’s Outdoor Extremes story on Ryan Sutter’s 10.10.10 challenge. For those who would like to contribute to the camp (Sutter is hoping to inspire 10,000 people to donate $10 each), the link is:

www.FirstDescents.org

I’ve helped out as a safety kayaker at the camp founded 10 years ago by pro paddler Brad Ludden and can testify that it truly makes a difference in the lives of young adults with cancer. It’s incredibly empowering and an undeniably worthy cause. Rest assured, all donations will go toward expanding camp offerings and giving more cancer victims an opportunity to experience the week-long camps free of charge.

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Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon still ranks as one of Colorado’s best races

The Bolder Boulder justifiably gets a lot of attention for being Colorado’s signature road race, but as far as I’m concerned, the scenic Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon ranks right with it on the list of must-do races.

I never miss it, except in years when it occurs during a Summer Olympics, and the race just keeps getting better and better. Georgetown-Idaho Springs was founded the same year as the Bolder Boulder (1979), and this past weekend the 32nd edition set records for registrants (more than 3,200) and finishers (nearly 2,800).

Even though we’re running on the frontage road of an interstate highway, I’m always surprised how the race feels like a run through a mountain park. Somehow the vehicle noise and exhaust from I-70 never seem to intrude on the experience. You’re more likely to hear the babbling of Clear Creek than trucks and cars.

The first mile and a half — uphill at nearly 8,500 feet — is always a tricky challenge: Go hard, flirt with oxygen debt, but woe be to those who go over that line. The rest of the race is an interesting balancing act, racing at altitude while running downhill (more than 900 feet of descent). And every once in a while there’s an uphill that reminds you most of the race is a half-mile higher than Denver.

I’ve been running this race since the early ’80s, and I’m really glad it continues to thrive.

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Weekend Vacation in Dillon, Colorado

The town of Dillon in Summit County, Colorado offers hiking, biking, boating on Lake Dillon and dining in the high Rocky Mountains.
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Crested Butte Summer Vacation is a Rocky Mountain High

Nine thousand feet up, in a ski town far, far away: Crested Butte, Colorado is a great place for a summer
vacation.
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Bishop Castle, Colorado: Free Attraction in Colorado’s Mountains

There are lots of crowded tourist attractions in Southern Colorado that require planning and cost money. Bishop Castle is off the beaten path and free.
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Brewery Tour: The Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado

Denver may be the craft brewery capital of the United States, but the mile high city’s brewing tradition began at the Coors brewery in Golden, CO.
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Factory Tours for the Family: Celestial Seasonings Tea Company

The Celestial Seasonings factory tour is a great vacation idea for families on a budget when visiting the Denver, Colorado area.
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