Fit to be Tied Column
May 12, 2010From the Pueblo Chieftain
by Gary Franchi
Criterium racing returns to Pueblo on Sunday
Carla Flores has been a cycling extraordinaire for many years and now
she wants to give back to the sport by bringing criterium racing back
to Pueblo after a two-year hiatus.
So, she has teamed with Angelo’s Pizza owner Richard Foresta and
long-time friend Ron Ferguson to stage the Angelo’s Criterium de
Pueblo this Sunday in the Union Avenue Historic District. It will include
12 different divisions and all categories and ages of competitors, even
a shorter race for kids 8 and under (free use of helmets), and racing
will begin at 8 a.m. until 6 o’clock. She’s especially hoping
to lure some veteran cyclists back into competition.
“I’d really like to get some Pueblo master people back to
racing,” said Flores, who wants to make the event an annual addition
to the state calendar. Although the event is scheduled a day after another
criterium in Colorado, she hopes to draw some out-of-town entries as well.
“There are lots of cyclists in Colorado Springs, Denver and Boulder
and we figure to get some of those.”
Racers must have an American Cycling Association membership, and one-day
ACA licenses can be purchased at race check-in. This will be Schwab Cycling
production and Great Divide Ski, Bike & Hike will provide mechanical
support. There will be $5,000 distributed in prize money and merchandise,
and it will includes primes for particular course loops.
Criterium racing provides an exciting rush for cyclists, with speed and
tactics like drafting, blocking and overtaking the modus operandi. It’s
a spectator’s delight too, with viewers able to see a good chunk
of a race from one location. That will certainly be possible Sunday for
those who get situated anywhere along the course that measures eight-tenths
of a mile and includes Union Avenue, C St., D St. and Victoria Ave.
Registration is available at Angelo’s Pizza on the Riverwalk or
online at MadSync.org. Race day registration will begin at 7 a.m. and
will close 30 minutes prior to each category start. Proceeds will go to
the Dorcy Cancer Center at St. Mary-Corwin Hospital. The kids race is
free (parents must sign a release form).
The event includes some extra fun frills on the eve of the event and while
it is taking place. At 6:30 Saturday evening, there will be a costume
cruiser bike parade, and a party with music, beer and pizza for $10 on
the outdoor patio at Angelo’s. The costume winner will get a front-row
seat for the criterium the next day. Registration for Sunday will take
place there that entire day, and there will be a movie showing there.
Sunday will include a festival that will include close to 30 vendors on
Victoria Ave., and it will have an “Earth Day in May” theme.
For more information, contact Flores at 406-3939 or at carlann7@yahoo.com.
Running
The memory of Rio Martinez will be rekindled in the Greenhorn Valley
on May 29 with the 13th annual Run for Rio, a race that pays tribute to
the former Rye High School student/athlete who died in an accident in
1997 just prior to the start of his senior year. The race is based at
Rye High on a beautiful and rolling course through the neighborhood streets
of Rye at a 6,900-foot altitude. The race helps fund a scholarship for
a graduating Rye High student each year and also promotes the Colorado
Organ & Tissue Donor Registry since Rio’s organs were donated
to the registry.
For the first time since the race was founded in Pueblo more than 30 years
ago, the Women’s Distance Festival on June 26 will not be held in
City Park. The new venue for the 5K run/walk will be on the new trail
around Minnequa Lake. Look for details on this soon.
Runners and walkers will get to test themselves on the Spank Blasing course
on June 5 when the Prevent-a-Thon 5K run and 2M walk to combat diabetes
will be held at CSU-Pueblo with an 8 a.m. start. The following week (June
12) will be the Spirit Fest 5K on the Riverwalk, with the overall first
place male and female getting a membership to World Gym of Pueblo.
Marathons
Marathoners on cropping up like weeds in spring. First we had two locals successfully complete the Boston Marathon last month when Gregory Berryman, 54, of Pueblo West ran a 3:44 and Catherine Gomez of Pueblo finished in 4:02. Then there were 15 Pueblo/Pueblo West finishers in the Colorado Marathon in Fort Collins on Mother’s Day (May 9) and three more at the Colfax Marathon in Denver this past Sunday. Shawn Loppnow led the Colorado Marathon contingent in 3:31 and others were Christopher Pittman (3:48), Dave Diaz (3:52), Denise Crepeau (3:58), Tarryn Haas (3:58), Kris Spinuzzi (4:08), Chris Obert (4:24, Victor Boley (4:30), Laurie Hadley (4:32), Paul LaBar (4:36), Rebecca Medina (4:42), Kelly Firestone (4:45), Patricia Cisneros (4:47), Tamra Rudolph (4:57) and Marilyn Vargas (4:58). Running the Colfax were Robert Santoyo (3:55), Carol Kinzy (4:09) and Paula McCabe (4:12). And Cheryl Cook-McCoy, 65, ran the Trestle Valley Marathon in Minot, ND, late last month in 5:39.
Bolder Boulder
Like the Spring Runoff in March, the Bolder Boulder will have its 32nd annual 10K run on Memorial Day, and it will be another extravaganza, with eight bands and numerous other forms of entertainment along the course. There will be 88 waves this year, and runners need a qualifying time of 68 minutes or better to get into one of the first 32 waves. Qualifying race distances are anywhere from two miles to marathon distance. Join Pueblo-area runners in Section 215 of Folsom Stadium after you race.
Race Calendar
o Sunday - Yappy Dog (Prediction Series race), 8.6M, 8 a.m., South Mesa Elementary School, barnhartaccount@gmail.com.o May 29 - Run for Rio, 5K run/walk, 8 a.m., Rye High School, jeffaco@earthlink.net.
o June 5 - Diabetes Prevent-a-thon, 5K, 8 a.m., CSU-Pueblo, pueblotriathlon@msn.com.
o June 6 - Skyline Drive, 10K run & 5K walk, 7:30 a.m. run, 8 a.m. walk, Graydene Park in Canon Citiy, 275-1578.
o June 12 - Spirit Fest on the Riverwalk, 5K run & 1M fun run for 8-under, 8 a.m., South Main/Riverwalk, 334-1150.
o June 26 - Women's Distance Festival, 5K, 7 a.m., Minnequa Lake, moreskovich@comcast.net.
o July 4 - Liberty Point 5K, run/walk , 7:30 a.m., Pueblo West, 583-4455.
o July 17 - Mosaic Run, 5K run/walk, 8 a.m., 142 S. Stardust Dr., Pueblo West, 671-3745.
Send comments and fitness information to Gary Franchi via e-mail at garyf@bresnan.net.
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