A rite of spring returns as Colfax Marathon races attract 16,000 runners – Denver, Colorado

With lilac bushes in full bloom near the start line of the city park, the Corfax Marathon returned to its traditional position as a Colorado runner’s spring ritual on Sunday for the first time since the pandemic.

The city’s largest running event attracted an estimated 11,000 people in marathons, half marathons, 10 miles and marathon relays. An additional 5,000 people ran in the 5km race on Saturday. The return to a near-normal state after a pandemic was in the minds of many.

“It’s great to see the community still want to be here. It’s not lost, and people’s desire to do something and get something done hasn’t diminished at all.” 38-year-old Patrick Rizzo, who finished second in the half marathon, said. marathon. “The positive feelings are returning in the atmosphere of friendship.”

The Corfax Marathon Race began in 2006. Canceled in May 2020 and postponed from May to October 2021 due to COVID-19. It has traditionally been ranked as the second largest running event in Colorado after Boulder Boulder Memorial Day 10K.

Littleton’s Al Herzl, 66, hosts annual marathons, including last October’s marathon, to maintain his winning streak.

“It’s huge,” Herzl said. “I’m very happy that this has become a staple of Colorado. That’s great.”

Adam Alban ran a half marathon in April, despite having endured a bout of COVID.

“It completely confused my training,” said 51-year-old Alban, who lives in Alvada. “I had to rest for a few weeks, and when I came back I was certainly not as strong as before, but it’s nice to be here with everyone.”

Christa Kamb held a marathon with two friends to benefit World Vision, a belief-based humanitarian non-profit organization that provides clean drinking water to poverty-stricken countries around the world. She stopped running during the pandemic.

“I wasn’t motivated,” said Kambu, 40, who lives in Aurora. “I didn’t feel like I had the energy because my life was so different, when I was working from home or with my kids at school. Now that things are starting to return to normal. , This kind of energy is contagious and it’s a lot of fun to go out. “

Aurora’s Victoria Mugo has overcome another type of medical crisis. She had a Sunday half marathon, even though she lost her hands and lower limbs in 2019 due to sepsis after she suffered from pneumonia.

“I was a mother and I was three years old, so I really broke me,” said 41-year-old Mugo. Running was always mine. My goal was that if I could stand up again and just walk, I could be a better mother, a better sister, a better friend, a better partner. This is a big achievement for me, as it’s only been three years old. This is another boost in my life. It doesn’t matter how life breaks you, you can stand up and decide to do something about it. “

Like many runners, being robbed of a race event during a pandemic was difficult for Adam Pop, who lost his right lower limb while working as an Air Force bomb squad engineer in Afghanistan.

“When these events are a huge part of our lives, you really lose that community, your sense of purpose, and everything else that makes a lot of sense to me and this community,” Golden said. 43-year-old Pop said. “Returning to this feels like we’re back to normal, and we’re glad we’re back.”