This year we have eliminated the Half Marathon event to reduce congestion on the out and back portion of the course and enable us to increase the size of our marathon field. Registration is limited to 250 entrants and we expect to start 200 marathon runners on race day.

SmartWool and Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists have signed on to sponsor the 2012 event and we would like to welcome Justin K. Liddle DMD, LLC and Countryside Animal Hospital as new sponsors this year.

Our generous sponsors and contributors and hard working volunteers have helped make the Blue Sky Marathon a success each year. In 2011, we raised over $8,000 for our beneficiaries and we hope to continue to improve on this in 2012.

In addition to providing a generous donation to help make this event possible, Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists will provide:

• 3 certificates for either a running video analysis or free PT session to include in the post-race raffle
• Massage and ASTYM treatments at the post race.
• An exclusive Blue Sky Marathon offer for a Trigger Point Dry Needling or ASTYM session for $25 for each participant (limit one per participant, valid through 10/31/2011).

Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists is your primary care provider for all your orthopaedic needs. Specialists in sports injuries, neck and back pain, chronic pain, and women’s health. Providing expert care including spinal manipulation, trigger point dry needling, and the only clinic in Colorado certified to provide ASTYM, a revolutionary treatment for chronic tendon pain including plantar fasciitis.

For more information about Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists, please visit www.colpts.com.

2010 Overall Male Winner, Chris Grauch’s Race Report.

Matt Perry’s Race Report

Ashley Waddell’s Race Report

Report from Tower’s Aid Station Captain, Nick Clark

This is a great video presentation by Chris Grauch:

Comments:

I had a wonderful day at the Blue Sky race. It seem everyone was enjoying just as much as me if not more! The perfect event.

Thanks to all the Fort Collins Trail Runners that worked to make the race happen.

To me the community feel is a big part of what elevates this race. All the volunteers were completely dedicated. That was impressive – thanks! Besides the running, it was a real treat to meet many local runners and share a story.

Don Walker

Once again a wonderful job to you all. I enjoyed the new course even more than last year, though the walk at the end hurt (it reminded me of my many, many mountain climbing days, when all you want to do see the car and you’ve still got a long walk back to the car). I love how you call us by our name – when you’re suffering little things like that can really help. And the spread at the end, goodie bags and aid station were all great.

Thanks for putting on a great race.

Dan England

What a great event! This was my second half marathon, and my first trail half marathon. I have never had so much fun during a race – beautiful weather, gorgeous trails, and super friendly volunteers made this my favorite event to date. My husband and I got married three weeks ago and then backpacked the Colorado Trail for two weeks – so there was not a lot of training for this race! Maybe not my best time, but I certainly had the best time. Thanks for all your hard work – I’ll definitely be there next year!

Joselyne (Sulzner) Perry

Many thanks for a wonderful race. The race was incredibly well organized, the volunteers were wonderful, the course was beautiful, and the other runners were very friendly. The volunteers actually radioed names of runners to the Indian Summer aid station, and I was greeted by first name when I arrived at the aid station. Thanks! That was a very special touch. I really enjoyed the morning, and I hope that the Fort Collins runners continue organizing this event. It was probably one of the most enjoyable races that I have run.

Michael Wunsch

If you have any comments, videos, photos, or blog posts to share, please email us at info@blueskymarathon.com.

We had 80 runners in the marathon and 105 runners in the half marathon this year. In the marathon race, Chris Grauch from Boulder took an early lead and after the first 9 mile loop, Sam Malmberg was just seconds behind. But Chris was able to continue building his lead throughout the race and finished in 3:26:38 safely in first place with Sam just over 4 minutes behind.

In the women’s marathon Becky Flowers took the lead early in the start with Jennifer Malmberg trailing just a couple steps behind. On the final return trip over the Indian Summer hill, Jennifer made a move into first place and managed to build a 5 minute lead in the last 6 miles to win the race with a new women’s course record of 4:16:47. Second and third place finishers Becky Flowers and Kristy Falcon also broke the original 2008 women’s course record.

Overall Marathon winners, Chris Grauch and Jennifer Malmberg. Photos by Erin Bibeau Photography

In the half marathon, Michael Jackson from Loveland took first place for the men’s race in 1:32:18 and Sarah Hansen from Fort Collins finished first for the women in 1:42:10. No records were broken in the half marathon race but Sarah’s time was just 26 seconds behind the original 2008 women’s record.

Overall Half Marathon winners, Michael Jackson and Sarah Hansen. Photos by Erin Bibeau Photography

Some of the more remarkable running performances of the day were further back in the pack. Danielle Heath became our youngest female half marathon finisher at age 17. Mary Gilbert tied the record for our oldest female half marathon finisher at age 61. Kathy Kirsling became our oldest female marathon finisher completing her first marathon at age 61. It’s never too late to start! Bill Moyle’s 2008 record for our oldest male finisher still stands at age 69. This year at age 71, Bill completed the marathon but arrived at the finish line after the timing crew had already shut off the clock.

Jackson Chamberlain, age 12, was another late arrival at the finish line. Jackson has already finished the half marathon two years in a row and had set out to become our youngest marathon finisher this year. Unfortunately he didn’t make the time cut off at the Indian Summer South aid station and was out of the race by mile 15.5. But instead of riding out with the aid station volunteers or taking the short cut on the half marathon route back to the start, Jackson retraced his steps along the marathon course back up and over the Indian Summer hill to complete over 21 miles of the course – the longest he’s ever run. Chris Michael became our youngest male marathon finisher this year at age 20 so Jackson has a few years left to

Volunteers greeted Bill Moyle with a line in the dirt where the finish tent used to be.

At the end of the day it seemed like everyone had a great time and we were able to raise a lot of money for a good cause. Almost all of our race expenses were covered by donations and contributions from our generous local business sponsors. As a result we were able to raise over $7,000 to distribute to the Larimer County Parks and Open Spaces, Larimer County Search and Rescue, Athletes in Tandem, and local youth running programs.

Some runners had more fun than others. Photo by Running Guru

Official results, photo’s from Running Guru, and a more detailed report will be updated this week.

If you have any comments, feedback, or suggestions, please email us at info@blueskymarathon.com. We welcome your feedback to help make our 2011 event even better.

And if you forgot something at the race, please email us. Several items were left at the finish area. If they are not claimed by the end of this month, we will donate any useable clothing to charity.

We hope everyone enjoyed the race this year and hope to see you again next year.

The Blue Sky Events committee is happy to have SmartWool on board as both a supplier of an eco-friendly product and as a local Colorado business.

Based in Steamboat Springs, CO, SmartWool is a year-round apparel brand whose products are inspired by living and playing in the mountains. SmartWool products are created to get the most out of the inherent benefits of Merino wool while delivering extraordinary comfort through intelligent and thoughtful products, allowing mountain athletes to do what they love to do longer.

For information on the full range of SmartWool® products or to find a dealer near you, please log onto SmartWool’s website: www.SmartWool.com or visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/smartwool or twitter: http://twitter.com/smartwooligans.

Final registration lists have been updated along with additional information about our registration change and transfer policy.

Active at Altitude is a magnificent mountain lodge in Estes Park, CO, specializing in running camps and running vacations, Groups from 1 to 15 can be accommodated in beautiful spacious rooms with a variety of room options. The lodge is situated at 8,200 feet, close to a myriad of trails in Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park. Camps and vacations can be created to match your specific needs and gives you an opportunity to run, train, and live in one of the most beautiful, challenging and inspiring training terrains anywhere in the USA. For more details see www.activeataltitude.com.

There are still spots left open for the Marathon.

Confirmed entrants lists have been posted on the Registration page.

In addition to providing a generous donation to help make this event possible, Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists will donate 3 certificates for either a running video analysis or free PT session to include in the post-race raffle.

Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists is your primary care provider for all your orthopaedic needs. Specialists in sports injuries, neck and back pain, chronic pain, and women’s health. Providing expert care including spinal manipulation, trigger point dry needling, and the only clinic in Colorado certified to provide ASTYM (www.astym.com), a revolutionary treatment for chronic tendon pain including plantar fasciitis.

For more information about Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists, please visit www.colpts.com.