SCR RUNNER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Females:

Cheryl Farrer Age: 37
Cheryl was the race director for Lion's Roar which was extremely well organized and successful. She did an excellent job fundraising for the Fountain International Magnet School. Her accomplishments include being the 5th overall female and 1st in her age group in the Spank Blasing 5K, 2nd in her age group at the Liberty Point 5K and 3rd in her age group at the Atalanta 5K.

Paulette Arns Age: 58
Paulette is the SCR Treasurer, handles computerized race registration and results at running events, does finish line work at the Corporate Cup 5K, bike & l Mile events, and is an active volunteer for SCR.
Her accomplishments include overall walker at the Women's Distance Festival & Atalanta events; Spank Blasing - 2nd in age group; Skyline Drive 10K - 2nd in age group; Fit 'n Fun 5K - 3rd in age group.
She has participated in 32 marathons, 25 ultra-marathons - 12 50 Milers & 13 50K's; several European style cross country events (these involve fording streams, climbing up muddy river banks with ropes & jumping over straw bales).
She always tries to encourage others to achieve their goals, both runners & race organizers and is a regular blood donor to Bon Fils Blood Center.

Kim Arline Age: 43
Kim has made many contributions to the club and running community, among which is helping to put on the Run 4 Trails Run. She helps out at and participates in many races put on by the club and is involved in community work outside of the club also.
Kim helped at the Women’s Distance Festival, which she then participated in with her daughter. She helped out at the Boys and Girls Club of Pueblo Family 5K. Kim also is very involved in community work that has made cycling safer in our community and also worked on videos for pedestrian safety, especially for kids walking to school. She was recognized in an article in the Pueblo Chieftain for her hard work raising awareness for cycling and promoting cycling to work and also safety for cyclists on the roads.
Kim completed her first Pikes Peak Ascent in 4:13. That is amazing! I believe Kim had just gotten over a broken arm when she started training for the Pikes Peak Ascent. That is a hard enough race to train for when you're healthy, let alone getting over a broken arm.

SCR activities include: working the finish line, processing results, learning club software, and serving as a volunteer at local races. Kim was Race Director for Run 4 Trails raising awareness & money for Pueblo West trail system. She helped create Pacer program providing discount races for local youth to encourage interest in running. YMCA Tri Club for youth: volunteer coach on running and cycling Fall 2010-Spring 2011 Pueblo West Schools: Safe Routes to School Coordinator trying to get kids active walking/biking to school, wrote grants for bike path and educational video series on bike/pedestrian safety now on local public access channels PACE (Pueblo Active Community Environments)volunteer
Through PACE (Pueblo Active Community Environments) she distributed a new bike map, launched webpage www.activepueblo.net, organized Pueblo's first Bike to Work events and first Bike Commuter Cup Challenge in 2010. She taught bike law/safety to Pueblo Police Officers during their 2010 annual training. Kim also organized first Walk/Bike to School day in Pueblo West and 95 kids rode their bike plus over 70 kids walked to the middle school!
Usually in top third of her age group in non-local races and likes to stay above center of mass for all participants. Was given 1st place female finisher in the 2009 Moab Marathon (race was officially cancelled due to the blizzard conditions) because only 7 women were crazy enough to run that day. Ran the Greenland 50 km trail run in 2009 for her one and only Ultra.
Kim completed her 5th marathon and 3rd half marathon this fall. She prefers distance, trails and nice scenery to large crowds or popular road races but supports local shorter distance races if they fit into her training plan.
She ran high school track and while in the Army. But running in military formation taught her a lot of bad habits losing her own stride and suffered knee problems. After a 15 year break from running her friends convinced her to join their 2007 Colorado Relay team and try running again. After reading Chi Running, she found her own stride again, met a lot of great people running and found running recharges her batteries, prevents migraine headaches, and is a great way to see more of the world no matter what kind of weather!

Marilyn Vargas Age: 46
Marilyn has been involved with the Pueblo West Parks and Rec. Youth soccer and basketball coach for the past 6 years. She has also volunteered time for Bike to School day as well as volunteering with various events for Amazing Grace Fellowship/focus on fundraising for Mosaic Youth Group. She has assisted and co-directed the 1st annual Mosiac 5K run and assisted SCR with a number of local races. She is the 1st year director of SCR Pueblo Pacers, which is still in the building phase. Marilyn was featured in the July 22, 2010 Pueblo Chieftan “Fit to by Tied” column by Gary Franchi. Gary chronicled Marilyn’s journey to health beginning in the summer of 2006. Between then and now, Marilyn has literally cut her body weight in half and has become a fine athlete and marathon runner. This year, she had the opportunity to run 2 marathons and made it a personal choice to dedicate each marathon to someone who can’t run due to some physical illness, and to raise funds to help them, their family etc. The Colorado Marathon in 2010 was dedicated to friend and co-worker Judy Hill who lost her battle with breast cancer 3 days after the marathon. Marilyn is mother to six adopted children who often join Marilyn in local races.

Males:

Mark Gurule Age: 48
Mark is an inspirational runner. Right after he crossed the finish line in the 2005 Spring Runoff, he collapsed. Medical tests determined that he had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, exercised induced asthma and was considered at risk for heart problems. Mark took the bull by the horns and through diet and exercise he lost weight and was able to get his medical conditions under control. In short, he decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle and take control of his own health.
A few short years later, Mark qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon by running a 3:22 at the 2008 PF Chang Rock N Roll Marathon. In 2008 he set a course record for Masters at the State Games 5k (20:08). Mark continues to participate in many local races including the following in 2010: the Rock Canyon Half, the Turkey Trot, the Hot to Trot, the Spring Runoff, and others. He posted a 3:35:26 in his first Pikes Peak Ascent. Most of the time he places among the top three in his division. He is planning to run the 2011 San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon.
Mark has served as a volunteer coach and mentor in both basketball and cross country. His volunteer activities include working with and being a role model for “at risk youths” including working with probation officers in an effort to assist kids to get “on the right track”. Mark and his wife Debbie have worked with Hilbert Navarro the past couple years to host runners from Mexico for the Cinco and Spring Runoff. Mark and Debbie have 3 kids and 3 grandkids (Jeremy 29, Taylor 20, Marcus 16, Izzy 3, Jeremiah 2, and Kingston 1).

Shawn Loppnow Age: 43
Shawn shows up at just about every race to help out, whether he is running in it or not! (Like the Atatlanta and Women's Distance Festival which are all women's races). He also hosts a Predict Run called Shawn's Shuffle.
Shawn is an awesome runner! Just a FEW of the 2010 races he has competed in are Garden of the Gods 10 mile run which he did in 1:15:58, Colorado Marathon in 3:31:40, Spank Blasing 10K in 42:43 placing 2nd in his age group, Spring Runoff 10 mile in 1:13:59, Denver Rock and Roll Marathon in 3:26 and most recent he won his age group in the Turkey Trot 5K in 21:06. Shawn competes in races of all distances and generally places in his division. Again – he is an awesome runner!
Shawn is an inspiration because he is so generous with his time in addition to being an awesome runner. He also quit smoking to run for YMCA corporate cup and running is one of the important items that kept him from smoking.

Brian Ropp Age: 47
Is an active member of the running club who has helped to host two predict runs in 2010, the Mad Max and Lone Tree races. Brian has also helped behind the scenes at many local races working at the finish line or helping with race registration. He was an integral part of the Rock Canyon Half Marathon. Dave Diaz (race director) stated he would have been lost without the help of Brian. Although Brian has competed in many challenging races from 5K to marathons, he is very humble and modest. His achievements include: Fourth overall in the 5k panther run, sixth overall in the Spiritfest 5k, 11th overall and 2nd in his age group for the 2010 Blossom day 5k, 1st in his age at the 2010 Rescue Run 5k, 7th in his age in the 2010 PPRR Winter Series out of 33. He’s done five Pike’s Peak Ascents, the last one in 2009, and was 1st overall in SCR 2010 prediction series.