Colorado Springs runners brave cold to compete in Super Half Marathon and 5K
Not even temperatures in the low 20s could stop more than 1,100 runners from taking part in the fourth annual Super Half Marathon & Game Day 5K on Sunday morning.
Downtown Colorado Springs was the place to be for avid runners of all levels and ages, and they came out in droves despite sub-freezing weather to kick off Super Bowl Sunday in style. Race festivities included an appearance by Woodland Park High School cheerleaders and performances by the school’s band and ensemble.
Runners took off from Colorado Avenue next to the Saigon Café and made their way along the Jack Quinn’s Running Club route to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail. After completing an out-and-back pattern, they finished just south of the Bijou Street bridge.
Peter Maksimow of Manitou Springs successfully defended his title in the half marathon, finishing in a brisk 1 hour, 15 minutes and 40 seconds. That was 90 seconds faster than second-place Stephen VanGampleare, and Tommy Manning took third in 1:18:01.
Maksimow, sporting a handlebar mustache and mutton chops, was in a jovial mood after taking the title.
“I’m just here so I don’t get fined,” he joked, quoting Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.
The first half of the race was slightly uphill, and runners had to contend with a noticeable headwind that initially slowed the pace. Maksimow, who coaches running and runs for Team Colorado, picked up the pace on the way back in.
“On the way back, I knew we were going to have the wind at our back and it’s faster and downhill,” said Maksimow, 36, who ran at Whittier College outside Los Angeles. “Going out was just a warm-up, especially with that wind, and I didn’t want to beat myself up too much. Coming back, there was an endless cheer tunnel of people, and that was pretty motivating.
“I’d choose this over making millions of dollars playing in the NFL any day.”
Sarah Young, who works in finance for USA Volleyball, was the women’s half marathon champion after crossing the line in 1:27:09. Ilea Eskildsen of Colorado Springs finished second in 1:28:03, while Monica Folts of Denver was third in 1:28:09.
Young, who finished 20th overall, was happy with her race.
“The main goal of today was to just go out controlled and be able to run my own race,” she said. “It was a little rough on the way out, so I was trying not to go too hard. I was happy on the way back and got my pace down to what I wanted it to be and just held it there.”
Young said the race was a good tuneup as she trains to run in the Los Angeles Marathon on March 15.
“I was just trying to hold marathon pace,” Young said. “A couple of my friends had done this 5K, and it was just a really good setup in my training plan.”
The 5K finishers crossed the line after a short jaunt through town, with Kenny Foster of Colorado Springs winning in a course-record of 16:26. Simon Gutierrez was second in 16:46, with Sam Welch taking third in 17:48.
Alexis Wilbert, a psychologist at Colorado College, set a women’s course record and finished seventh overall with her time of 18:50. Rochelle Persson was second in 20:38, with Donna Garcia-Gutierrez placing third in 21:48.
Wilbert, 29, is a competitive runner who ran track in while at Colby College in Maine.
“It felt good, and it was good running conditions,” said Wilbert, who gave birth to her first son, Chauncey, less than 10 months ago. “This is great, and it’s always fun to do something like this and then go celebrate with friends later.”
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
Rochelle Persson sets a new Master Course and Age Record with a time of 20:38 at the 2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
Peter Maksimow wins the 2015 Super Half Marathon with a time of 1:15:40 Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
Rochelle Persson sets a new Master Course and Age Record with a time of 20:38 at the 2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
Runner Tommy Manning finishes the 2015 Super Half Marathon with a time of 1:18:01 Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
Runner Olivia Long finishes the 5K with a time of 30:01 at the 2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
Tamara Rogers runs the 5K with a time of 26:00 even at the 2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
Peter Maksimow wins the 2015 Super Half Marathon with a time of 1:15:40 Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
2015 Super Half Marathon and 5K Saturday February 1, 2015. Photo by Jeff Kearney
