The winner of Saturday’s XTERRA Marathon lives in Crested Butte, but he’s no stranger to the trails of Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

Marshall Thomson, 33, who ran with a comfortable lead for 26.2 miles, raced here on a whim in spring after a ski race he’d entered was canceled. He enjoyed the park so much he came back for more.

“It’s a great course — super cool trails and they’re in really good shape,” said Thomson shortly after he crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 5 minutes and 12.46 seconds. “Of course, it was a bit warmer when I was here at the XTERRA in April.”

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The race course followed hilly trails on the slopes of a fog-shrouded Cheyenne Mountain, and racers battled a chilly mist and occasional snowflakes throughout the morning.Lars Kjerengtroen, 33, was the second marathoner across the finish line, some 18 minutes after Thomson.

Thomson said he heard another runner for the first mile or so, but soon was alone on the trail.

“That was cool, because I saw lots of animals, lots deer. Not a few here and there, but a dozen or more at a time.”

Shannon Meredith, of Colorado Springs, wasn’t alone on the trail, but she ran away with the women’s race, finishing in 3:56:53.39 — sixth overall.

“It was a great morning to run,” Meredith said. “I felt good and I really liked the course. I loved running in and out of the trees.”

The 41-year-old runner began adding distance to her races in early 2011 and is setting her sights on the 2013 Leadville Trail 100 after dropping out at mile 87 this year with a shin injury.

After two weeks’ rest following the August race she hit the trails again, but hadn’t raced until Saturday.

“That was part of the reason to run today, to test myself, to regain my confidence,” she said.

Meredith’s friend Jean Whitt, of Colorado Springs, gave up her usual runs on smooth roads for 13.1 miles on the park’s gravel trails. The half marathon included an 800-foot climb.

“It was a lot tougher than I expected, but it was great,” said Whitt, who finished in 2:46:00. “I got to about mile 5 and thought, ‘Isn’t it mile 13 yet?’ But it was a great challenge.”

Chad Ackison, 38, won the half marathon in 1:28:38.71, about seven minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.

Kim Baugh, 32, won the women’s half marathon in 1:47:54.76.

The 4th annual XTERRA Marathon of Trail Races, which included a marathon, half marathon and 5K, kicked off the 2012-13 XTERRA Colorado Trail Run Series. The series continues in spring with races at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in April, Jamestown in June, Beaver Creek in July, and Granby in August.

Winfield Scott Stratton Photo by

The XTERRA Marathon of Trail Races, which included a marathon, half marathon and 5K, was held at Cheyenne Mountain State Park on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Photo by Dena Rosenberry, The Gazette