NEWS AND STORIES

Run/Walk to Beat Pancreatic Cancer

The second-annual Run To Beat Pancreatic Cancer was held in Colorado Springs, CO on April 3rd, 2016. This year’s race featured a 5k run with an accompanying 1 mile walk in beautiful North Monument Valley Park. Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in Colorado, a state known for attracting people who are seeking an active, outdoor lifestyle. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain just one hour between Denver and Pueblo, Colorado Springs is the perfect location to attract participants from all points on the Front Range.

As any race director will tell you, the weeks and final days  leading up to an event are marked by event-planning stress and general mayhem. However, it is incredibly rewarding to see all of the hard work come together and pay off as runners and walkers enjoy themselves. I could not have asked for better weather on the morning of April 3rd. When we arrived to set up on race morning, it was in the mid-30s, but temperatures rose quickly, eventually topping out in the 60s. Conditions were perfect for a fast run or a leisurely stroll. We had an incredible turnout, with over 500 registered walkers and runners. Some came because they wanted to run our flat and fast course, compete with friends and possibly earn some awards. Others came because they have been personally touched by pancreatic cancer and wanted to fundraise for a cause they care about.

Dino Verrelli giving last minute instructions at the starting line.
Dino Verrelli giving last minute instructions at the starting line.

Then, the pack of runners and walkers were off!

The lead pack of runners, photo courtesy of Tim Bergsten with Pikes Peak Sports.
The lead pack of runners, photo courtesy of Tim Bergsten with Pikes Peak Sports.
Project Purple alumni runners, Brian Cover and Felicia Minson, traveled from Pueblo to race together.
Project Purple alumni runners, Brian Cover and Felicia Minson, traveled from Pueblo to race together. Photo Courtesy of Tim Bergsten at Pikes Peak Sports.
Photo courtesy of Pikes Peak Sports
More Project Purple awesomeness. Michael Meehan and Mark Thomas enjoying their second Project Purple Colorado Springs 5k. Mark has also run with our Pioneer Program in the past. Photo courtesy of Pikes Peak Sports
Walkers enjoying the beautiful weather. I love the sea of purple race shirts. Photo courtesy of Pikes Peak Sports.
Walkers enjoying the beautiful weather. I love the sea of purple race shirts. Photo courtesy of Pikes Peak Sports.
Team Money
Team Money crossing the finish line together.
At the finish line, with overall men's winner Stephen Vangampleare, who won in 17:15, and women's champion for the second year, Kristina Mascarenas, who won in 19:35.
At the finish line, with overall men’s winner Stephen Vangampleare, who won in 17:15, and women’s champion for the second year, Kristina Mascarenas, who won in 19:35.

Thanks to Peak Embroidered Apparel, we had beautiful technical race shirts.

The beautiful race shirt
The beautiful race shirt
The back of our race T
The back of our race T-shirt

Our award winners received these beautiful medals.

Medal design by our very own Elizabeth Mauldin
Medal design by our very own Elizabeth Mauldin

We also had prizes and raffle gifts to give out from Boulder Running company, Colorado Running Company, Red Leg Brewing Company, Sonterra Grill and Over Easy. Who doesn’t love to win some swag? Thanks so much to these businesses for providing gifts for our participants!

Prizes are awesome, but the best gift for me was seeing hundreds of people out having fun on race day. We have a tremendous community in Colorado Springs, and the spirit of giving is alive and well here.

Jenny, Tori & Gina enjoying the beautiful morning.
Jenny, Tori & Gina enjoying the beautiful morning.
Tracey & Meghan
Tracey & Meghan
Kim, JoAnne & Diane
Kim, JoAnne & Diane
Phil, Kristen & Saba
Phil, Kristen & Saba
A few members of the large group of CU ROTC students who came down from Boulder to join us.
A few members of the large group of CU ROTC students who came down from Boulder to join us.

None of this would be possible without our fabulous sponsors. Thank you to Dr. Scott Suter, of Suter Orthodontics. Not only is a terrific orthodontist, he is also a runner!

Tonia & Dr. Scott Suter
Tonia & Dr. Scott Suter
Dr. Suter and his staff all came out to run and walk with us on Sunday.
Dr. Suter and his staff all came out to run and walk with us on Sunday.

Thank you to Penrose-St. Francis Health Systems, Associates in Gastroenterology, Marco’s Pizza and Jack Quinn’s Running Club, Michael Everson Insurance Agency and Rocky Mountain Prosthetic Dentistry for their support of this event. The generosity of these businesses contributed greatly to the success of this event and we are grateful for the community support.

Associates in Gastroenterology brought a team to the run/walk.
Associates in Gastroenterology brought a team to the run/walk.
More of the Associates in Gastroenterology team!
More of the Associates in Gastroenterology team!
Anne from Penrose with her daughter
Andrea from Penrose with her daughter.
Mark and Barb of Jack Quinn's Running Club, one of our gracious sponsors.
Mark and Barb of Jack Quinn’s Running Club, one of our gracious sponsors.

 

Sponsor Michael Everson flying by the camera. Photo courtesy of Tim Bergsten and Pikes Peak Sports
Sponsor Michael Everson flying by the camera. Photo courtesy of Tim Bergsten and Pikes Peak Sports
Marco's Pizza truck, Basil, made a special appearance.
Marco’s Pizza truck, Basil, made a special appearance.

Finally, no event of this magnitude can succeed without the help of volunteers. We had dozens of volunteers come out to help with the race and we needed every single one of them.

The crew from Athleta in Colorado Springs
The crew from Athleta in Colorado Springs
Moms and daughters working packet pick-up together.
Moms and daughters working packet pick-up together.

Thank you to Tim Bergsten of Pikes Peak Sports for taking photos and video of the event.

To view video of the race start, click here:

http://www.pikespeaksports.us/video/start-of-the-run-to-beat-pancreatic-cancer

To view race photos from the event, click here:

http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/gallery-1-run-to-beat-pancreatic-cancer-5k

and here:

http://www.pikespeaksports.us/photo/albums/gallery-2-run-to-beat-pancreatic-cancer

For anyone wishing to donate to this race, general donations can still be made here:

https://www.crowdrise.com/generaldonations52

We are already looking ahead to next year. We hope to make next year’s run/walk an even bigger and better event! Thank you to everyone who came out to Run/Walk to Beat Pancreatic Cancer this year. Registration information will be coming soon for the 2017 event!

Yours truly, the race director, getting a much-needed pick-me-up after the Run/Walk to Beat Pancreatic Cancer
Yours truly, the race director, getting a much-needed pick-me-up after the Run/Walk to Beat Pancreatic Cancer

 

 

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