COACH GUY BLOG

This year was the 42nd running of “America’s friendliest marathon”! The three races are always held on the same day, with the 8k starting first at 7 am, the half at 7:30 am, and finally the Marathon at 7:45 am. So what is it that makes this event so friendly and special? Well, it could be how the community comes together – from the Sportsbackers, who put on great events in and around the river city – to the volunteers, who devote their time to make sure every aspect of the event runs smoothly – to the party zones, where people offer encouragement when it’s needed most – to the runners themselves, who endured months of training, coming together to compete and complete their goals.

Improvements in fitness occur when the body is recovering from the rigors of training, not during the actual run. That’s when the body is being challenged and broken down. This is why it’s important to recovery properly, ensuring that tough workout will improve fitness during a training cycle.

"Running with Purpose" can mean many things. Let me start by saying that having a purpose in anything you do is one of the most contributing factors to overall success. Having purpose in running puts training in perspective. It's present when you need to be reminded of your goals, whatever they may be.

The Imogene Pass Run is a point to point mountain race that takes place every September in the majestic San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It starts in the quaint mountain town of Ouray, and finishes in the once coal mining town of Telluride, Colorado. This 17.1 mile mountain race is mostly run on a old mining dirt road, starting just below 8,000ft and climbing 10 miles to the summit of Imogene pass, which is just over 13,000ft.