Final Race Day Communication

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Blue Sky Marathon

Dear Blue Sky Marathon Runner

The seventh running of the Blue Sky Marathon is almost here. We hope your training has gone well!

All information relevant to the event is available from the race website here, but we would like to bring your attention to a few key points:

The weather forecast for Sunday is showing a high of 75 degrees with bright sunshine. Please be aware that the last 16 miles of the course has little to no shade, so things will likely feel pretty toasty from late morning onwards. Please carry ample water, especially on the out and back section from Indian Summer South through the Devils Backbone trails (miles 15 – 20).
By popular demand, we are keeping the slight course re-route from last year in the early Horsetooth miles: https://www.blueskymarathon.com/course-information/
An optional packet pickup will be available on Saturday from 4pm to 7pm at Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists. We will be handing out bibs on race morning to ensure we have an accurate list of starters, so the COLPTS pick-up will be for T’s and race bags only. Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists is located at: 115 E Harmony Rd., Ste. 160, Fort Collins, CO 80525
Packet and bib pick up will be available on race morning at the Blue Sky trailhead from 5:30am to 6:45am. Please give yourself enough time to pick up your stuff and get to and from your car, if necessary. Limited parking is available at the trailhead for carpools of two or more runners (first come, first serve) and additional parking will be at the Marina off Shoreline Drive, a half mile from the start. A map is available on the race day info page.
We will also have a start/finish gear drop area, if you want to avoid heading back to your car before the race starts – or think you might need or want to drop something when coming back through at mile 8 after the Horsetooth loop. Bags should be labeled (we’ll have duct tape and sharpies at the start). There are no other drop bag locations on course.
Late registration (cash & check only) will be available on Saturday at packet pick up and on race morning.
The race will start promptly at 7:00am.
Aid stations will be checking bib numbers. Please make sure your bib is visible from the front. It would also be helpful if you could call out your number as you cruise through.
This is a cup-less race. We ask that all runners carry a water bottle or hydration pack for refills at the aid stations.
The four aid stations (six total, as the two Indian Summer aid stations are visited twice) will have water, Tailwind sports drink & S-Cap electrolyte capsules, in addition to assorted snacks and fruit.
The South Hunter turnaround is a checkpoint only – no water or aid. A volunteer will be marking bibs as people come through to make sure the loop is completed.
As a courtesy to other runners on the trail (and per the terms of our insurance policy), we ask that you not wear headphones.
Please pocket any trash and dispose of it at aid stations or at the start/finish.
Trails are open to the public. Watch for bikers and yield to horses.
We have a great BBQ planned with beef burgers, black bean burgers, vegan salads, cookies, chips, and soft drinks. If you want a beer post-race, please note that park rules allow 3.2 in cans only. We may have a few of those stashed if you forget to bring your own and want one.
Additional meals can be purchased at the BBQ for family and friends for a $10 donation to Animal House Rescue, one of the race beneficiaries.
In addition to finisher awards, we have overall and age group awards (Open: under 40, outside top three; Masters: 40 and older, outside top three; Grandmasters: 50+). We have gift cards to Runners Roost Colorado for award winners and Altra running shoes for the overall winners.

Thank you to Colorado Physical Specialists, Justin Liddle DMD, Altra Running, Fort Collins Running Club, and Countryside Vetfor their support in helping us make this event possible.

Thank you also to all our wonderful product and service sponsors: Runners Roost, Succeed, Erin Bibeau Photography, Tailwind Nutrition, Whole Foods, Salus Natural Body Care, Great Harvest Bread, and Kristel Liddle LMT.

If you have questions that are not answered here on the website, then please email. We will do our level best to respond in a timely manner.

We sincerely look forward to seeing you all on Sunday morning!

Nick Clark & Pete Stevenson
Gnar Runners, LLC

New 2014 Course

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Blue Sky Marathon

Based on positive feedback from the 2013 course re-route, we decided to make the changes permanent.

We’ve updated our Course Info page with new detailed maps, mileage splits, and directions. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the updated route.

Injury Prevention Advice from Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Blue Sky Marathon

This article from our top Blue Sky Marathon and Black Squirrel Half Marathon sponsor, Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists discusses the key stabilizing muscles for running and what you can do to strengthen them to help decrease your chance of injury.

Runners commonly suffer from overuse injuries such as knee pain (“runner’s knee”, IT band syndrome, patellar tendinitis), achilles tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis. Despite the variety of injuries that afflict runners, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce your risk and keep your running pain free.

Some of you may already be doing core exercises to help with your running. The back and abdominal muscles commonly strengthened with core exercises are an integral part of any run-strengthening program. However, ensuring adequate strength of the hip abductor and hip external rotator muscles are frequently overlooked. These hip muscles are important for stabilizing your knee each time your foot hits the ground. Too much movement of the knee can result in pain under and around the knee cap, or pain in the IT band or patellar tendon.

The hip abductors and external rotators are also needed for controlling excessive foot pronation (foot rolling inward). Contrary to popular belief, foot pronation is not a bad thing. It is important to assist with shock absorption when your foot hits the ground. However, too much pronation may be a contributing factor to overuse running injuries. Excessive pronation can be controlled by orthotics or a motion controlled/stability shoe. It can also be controlled by strengthening the hip abductors and external rotators as well as muscles of the foot and ankle. If the excessive movement can be controlled by strengthening these muscles, it generally makes more sense to help our body do what it was designed to do and strengthen the muscles as opposed to using an external support.

As you can see, weakness in the hip muscles will result in decreased stability in the hip, knee, ankle and foot. In addition to good strength, you must also have good control. Think of good control like a complex engine that constantly makes minor adjustments to function at peak performance. When your foot strikes the ground, your hip muscles must quickly contract to control your leg motion without you thinking about it. A loss of control can set you up for a multitude of overuse injuries. The good news is you can dramatically reduce your risk of injury by improving your hip muscle strength and control.

So how do you know if you have weakness or poor control of these hip muscles? Performing a single leg mini squat is a simple test that you can do to give you an idea of how much hip control you have.

The following video shows how to perform a single leg mini squat.

Good hip control is demonstrated by maintaining level hips and your knee moving directly over your foot without collapsing inward. If you do not have good control doing the single leg mini squat (a static exercise), you likely have less control with more dynamic exercises such as running.

Your physical therapist or personal trainer can help you determine the best exercises for your hip muscles. Visit ColPTs.com for an example of a good dynamic core and hip exercise to help you continue running injury free.

Drs. Tim Flynn and Terry Gebhardt are physical therapists and owners of Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists.

Bluebird Skies at the 2013 Blue Sky Marathon

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Blue Sky Marathon

The lead men charge down the Stout Trail in the early going. Photo: Eric Lee

It was a beautiful morning for the sixth running of the Blue Sky Marathon, perhaps the best weather in the event’s history. A total of 169 runners toed the line, with 161 making it through to the finish, proving once again that the Blue Sky Marathon is a deceptively challenging course.

Runners make their way along the Stout Trail, with Horsetooth Reservoir as their backdrop. Photo: Eric Lee.

Due to heavy rains in the weeks leading up to the race, the County asked us to stay off the Shoreline/Nomad loop early in the race, so a re-route was devised to add back in the lost valley mileage, with runners detouring on Herrington, Loggers and Carey Springs near the top of the Towers climb. Post-race feedback suggested that the new detour was in fact an improvement on the old course, so we’ll likely be keeping that route for future renditions of the race. Officially, the new loop added 350 feet of climbing but lost three-tenths of a mile. We’re calling it a wash. We think the course ran 26.8 miles with 3,700 feet of climbing. Not too shabby.

Kyle and Nick coming down off the Indian Summer loop. Photo: Erin Bibeau

Justin Liddle takes flight on his way to a 3rd place finish and mega PR. Photo: Eric Lee

In the men’s race, Broomfield’s Kyle O’Brien erased a two-minute deficit on the leaders at the 9 mile start/finish aid station to register the win in the race’s second fastest time ever (3:20:18), six minutes off Steve Folkerts’ 2009 course record of 3:13. Locals Nick Davis (3:26:12) and Justin Liddle (3:28:33) filled out the podium spots. A record 13 runners dipped under the magical four-hour mark.

Our first finisher over four hours, Meghan Spieker, was the overall women’s winner in a time of 4:02:25, leading from pillar to post. Like Kyle, Meghan posted the second-fastest time in the race’s history but was still five minutes off Kaija Staley’s mark from 2012 (3:57:39). Rocky Mountain Runner buds, Gina Ellis (4:09:39) and Mallory Peterson (4:11:17), rounded out the top three.

Meghan Spieker – women’s winner. Photo: Erin Bibeau

The Master’s divisions were won by Chuck Radford (3:43:30) and Laurie Anderson (4:56:00), while the Open divisions (39 & under) were won by Sam Malmberg (3:30:22) and Rosalie Teenwen (4:14:33).

Rosalie leads the Louisiana contingent. Photo: Erin Bibeau

Rosalie was part of a large and boisterous contingent from Louisiana who we were especially pleased to be hosting. Indeed, Douglas Swenson from Baton Rouge, LA received a rousing ovation as he cruised into the finish line as our final finisher. We were told by our aid station volunteers that he sported a beaming smile the whole way around – which just goes to show that trail running ain’t always about how fast you run, but about how much fun you’re having.

And our races could never have the fun atmosphere that we aspire to promote without the amazing support of our fantastic volunteers. As always, you guys got rave reviews from the runners and we simply could not do this without you. Thank you everyone – we consider ourselves extremely lucky be part of such a supportive trail running community here in The Fort.

Doug Swenson. Photo: Erin Bibeau.

Prizes included gift certificates to Runners Roost Fort Collins, in addition to photo prints from our wonderful on-course photographer, Erin Bibeau, whose gallery from the race can be viewed here, with digital downloads available starting at just a dollar. In addition we handed out special awards in recognition of four runners who, this year, completed their fifth Blue Sky Marathons: Scott Slusher, Mark Warburton, Cat Speights and Sam Malmberg. Thanks for the support guys!

We also couldn’t put on the types of races that we aspire to put on without the help of our wonderful sponsors, all of whom are tireless supporters of the Northern Colorado running scene. So thank you Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists, Justin Liddle DMD, Countryside Vet, Runners Roost, Succeed, Great Harvest, IZZE and Powered by Plants.

We love our sponsors. Photo: Erin Bibeau.

Blue Sky marks the end of the season for us at Gnar Runners, but we are already looking forward to bigger and better things for 2014. If you enjoyed Blue Sky, consider running the 25 or 50 mile Quad Rock races in May, the Black Squirrel Half Marathon in September, or – our newest event – the Towers 10k Hill Climb and Descent in the spring (date TBD). Better yet, run them all and earn the title of GrandGnarMan or GrandGnarWoman (details coming soon).

See you next year! Photo: Erin Bibeau.

Thanks again for a great season. See you in 2014!

Nick & Pete

Be GnarFul out there!

Bluesky Marathon to go Ahead as Planned

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Blue Sky Marathon

Many of Colorado’s Front Range communities, including Fort Collins, were severely impacted by recent weather and flooding. However, the Bluesky course was not impacted and is currently in good shape. As such, we will be moving forward with the event as planned with no alterations to the course or any other details.

Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists Sponsor the Blue Sky Marathon

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Blue Sky Marathon

We are very pleased to have Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists as the presenting sponsor for the inaugural Black Squirrel Half Marathon and sixth running of the Blue Sky Marathon.

In addition to supporting the Blue Sky Marathon for the last five years, and the Quad Rock races for the last two years, Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists has helped many local runners get back out onto the trails by fixing IT band syndrome, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinitis, back pain, and all forms of muscle and joint strains, aches, and pains. Partners Terry Gebhardt and Tim Flynn are both accomplished ultra runners and know how important running is for those who love to run.

Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists is now offering running assessments through video analysis to help improve running performance and decrease the risk of future injuries. In addition to a full examination, runners can receive specific recommendations for individual exercises to correct faulty mechanics and improve running performance.

We are also very fortunate to have several other local businesses supporting our races.

Local trail and ultrarunners Cat Speights and Justin Liddle have once again stepped up to show their support for the Fort Collins running community with sponsorship of the Black Squirrel Half Marathon and the Blue Sky Marathon.

Justin Liddle (DMD), an accredited and trusted Fort Collins prosthodontist, specializes in a wide variety of complex dental treatments. Justin is also an avid trail runner and will be running in both the Half Marathon and Marathon.

Dr Catherine Speights is the go-to small animal vet in the running community (and beyond). Her practice, Countryside Animal Hospital, specializes in personalized care of dogs and cats in a home-like setting. Look for Cat at the front of the women’s field in both the Half Marathon and Marathon.

Runners Roost Fort Collins donates race equipment and product prizes. Succeed will stock our aid stations with Ultra Sports Drink and S! Caps. And our post race BBQ will include healthy vegan salads from Powered by Plants, Izze sodas, and goodies from Great Harvest Bread Co.

Please consider supporting our sponsors – they are all local to Fort Collins and we couldn’t do this without their kind help.

Registration Open for Blue Sky Marathon & Black Squirrel Half

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Blue Sky Marathon

Gnar Runners Events is pleased to announce that registration has opened for both the Blue Sky Marathon (click to register) and a new trail race, the Black Squirrel Half Marathon.

Management of the Blue Sky Marathon, now in its sixth year, has been transferred from Blue Sky Events to Gnar Runners, but the original mission remains: to raise funds for running- and outdoor-related beneficiaries, and to put on a race that showcases local Fort Collins trails and appeals to a broad section of the running community. For 2013, the race has received approval from Larimer County to expand the field to 275 runners. We have added an extra hour to the race cut-off, now eight hours, to give a broader range of runners adequate time to finish.

The new Black Squirrel Half Marathon will begin and end at Soldier Canyon in Lory State Park on August 31, and like the Blue Sky Marathon is designed to appeal to new and experienced trail runners alike. The course is a fun, single loop around the park, and like all Gnar Runner events will conclude with a post-race BBQ. Registration will be capped at 350 runners.

A discount is available for the Blue Sky and Black Squirrel races for those who register for both at the same time. The early-bird registration fee for the Black and Blue Double is just $99.

We are especially pleased to announce that Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists is backing the Black and Blue Double as the top sponsor, and will be onsite after both races.

Thanks for a Successful 2012 Race!

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Blue Sky Marathon

Once again, our Blue Sky Marathon was a huge success thanks to our generous sponsors and hard working volunteers.

We had ideal running weather this year. The 7am start was a bit chilly but runners quickly warmed up on the climb up Towers Road and the rest of the day was comfortably cool with gorgeous clear blue skies.

128 runners started the race this year. 116 finished under the official 7 hour cut off. Another 5 runners made were recognized for finishing the full course just over the cut off.

Ryan Burch won the race in 3:21:28. A perfect homecoming for Ryan’s first race after returning from basic training earlier in September.

Ryan Burch running through Indian Summer. (Photo by Erin Bibeau)

Kaija Staley won the women’s race in a course record time of 3:57:39. The previous course record was 4:16:47. Kaija is the only woman who has run the race under 4 hours.

And thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we were able to raise over $8,000 for our beneficiaries this year. Funds will be distributed to local trail projects, Larimer County Search and Rescue, and other outdoor programs.

Runners make their way across the valley towards Coyote Ridge during the 2012 Blue Sky Marathon. (Photo by Erin Bibeau)