May11 Written by:liz 5/11/2008 8:34 PM
Celebrating Colfax Avenue
The Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon is ready to roll on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 6:00 am in City Park with a redesigned course, an exciting charity partners program, and 5,000 athletes of all levels participating in the 26.2-mile marathon, the half-marathon and the 5-person relay.
The Colorado Colfax Marathon is more than a test of stamina for the athletes. It’s an exciting, uplifting experience for the whole community. It’s a reflection of the revitalization and evolution of Colfax Avenue, from Aurora, to Denver, to Lakewood. It celebrates the healthy lifestyles that make Denver one of the fittest cities in the nation. And it brings the metro community together in the most unexpected ways – how many other marathons are based on the cooperation of three cities to shine a spotlight on a beloved and historic street?
The marathon has always benefited kids in Colorado, but this year, it launched the exciting Charity Partners program. Over 41 charities partnered with the marathon, recruiting runners and volunteers to participate in the event and raise funds -- and awareness -- for their causes.
Charity Partners Program
When the Colorado Colfax Marathon debuted in 2006,MetroCareRing, an organization that provides food and basic necessities to over 9,000 Denver and Aurora families in need, found an opportunity to raise funds to help keep its pantry shelves stocked. They put five relay teams together and in a matter of months raised $10,000 for their organization. They did it again in 2007. On May 18th, 2008, they hope to do it again with an anticipated 20 relay teams raising $20,000.
“Spring is when our reserves from the holidays start to run low in the food pantry,” said Jon Holmer, MetroCareRing’s Executive Director. “We also provide funds for bus tokens, work boots and tools, identification documents and utility assistance, so this is a good opportunity to increase our funding.”
Inspired in part by their success, organizers of the 2008 Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon have partnered with 41 local charities, hoping to bring community awareness to their causes, and raise funds in the process.
“This program works so well in Colorado because it appeals to the kind and giving nature of our athletically fit community,” said Jean Townsend, manager of the Charity Partner program. “We take the worry out of event planning so our charity partners can focus on fundraising and broadening their visibility.”
Sports and Fitness Expo
The Sports and Fitness Expo promises to be fun for the whole family. It will be held at Marathon Village’s tented pavilions in City Park, just west of the Museum of Nature & Science. Registered runners will pick up their race packets on Friday, May 16 from noon to 7:00pm, and Saturday, May 17 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Runners can also register in person at the Expo. Online registration closes on May 16, 2008.
Visit the booths of some of our 41 charity partners, including Colorado Youth for a Change, Habitat for Humanity, Threshold Passages, Freedom Service Dogs, and Prostate Cancer Education Council, who is sponsoring $3,000 in prize money for the winner of the men’s master’s (over 40) marathon.
Grab a massage by The Denver School of Massage Therapy, browse the running apparel and accessories on display, and stop by the grill, where our sponsor, Safeway, will be cooking up good eats.
Bring the kids on Saturday morning for the Marathon Milers One-Mile Fun Run, featuring Surround Sound, a rock band from Superior whose members are all between 10 and 12 years old, and Danielle Scimeca, Miss Colorado Teen US. She’ll be handing out medals and signing autographs for the kids.
Colorado Kids Marathon Milers
On Saturday, May 17 at 10:00 am, kids kindergarten through 8th grade will participate in the Marathon Milers One-Mile Fun Run/Walk. The event encourages kids to run and walk to improve their fitness, lead a healthy lifestyle and prevent childhood obesity. Colorado Kids is the official charity of the Colfax Marathon. Colorado Kids receives the net proceeds from the race. They provide funding for fitness and obesity prevention programs for elementary school children in Aurora, Denver and Lakewood.
Wheelchair Track & Field USA National Wheelchair Marathon Championships
Colfax is host of the Wheelchair Marathon Championships for the third year, attracting elite and amateur athletes to a course with long straight-aways, few turns and modest hills. Make sure to watch for these incredible athletes on the course. Watch for some Paralympic athletes to compete!
Relay Challenge: Municipal Cup, Corporate Relay and Relay
“The Denver Dashers” versus “The Broomfield Blazers”. The Phidippides Track Club challenges the Rocky Mountain Road Runners. Corporate competition from 12 FirstBank relay teams, from all over the state and nine URS Engineering relay teams.
These are just a handful of the relay teams who will be tearing up the marathon course this year, out to win the Municipal Cup, the Corporate Challenge, or just bragging rights to say they did it.
Teams of five people will run in legs of 10K, 5K, 10K, 5K and 12K. It’s not too late to register your team at www.coloradocolfaxmarathon.org.
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