Organizers of the Denver Marathon have come up with a novel way to reward runners who train and race with a partner: twofers.
Anyone who registers Wednesday for the Oct. 14 marathon or half-marathon will receive a free entry for a friend or family member.
“Running a marathon isn’t easy, and many runners who train for a marathon need the support and motivation of another running partner and that added inspiration to make it to the finish line,” executive race director Anton Villatoro said.
To receive a free registration, runners need to register online for the marathon or half-marathon at www.denvermarathon.com before 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday. They will receive a Denver Marathon Buddy Pass code in their confirmation e-mail that is good for one free entry to the marathon or half-marathon.
WINTER TRIATHLON: Meet at Devil’s Thumb
It might seem a little cold for a triathlon, but USA Triathlon will conduct its Winter National Championship on Sunday at Devil’s Thumb.
The event consists of a 5K run (no snowshoes), a 10K bike and an 8K cross country ski. The run and bike will take place on hard-packed snow.
To enter, you must be a member of USA Triathlon. If you don’t have a card, you can purchase a one-day license for the event.
“This is a chance to race in a national championship in a relatively new and exciting sport at a national and world-class level,” race director Barry Siff said.
The race begins at 9:30 a.m. Information: www.5430sports.com.
FUNDRAISER: Help for Ballengee
A benefit dinner for adventure racer Danelle Ballengee will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at BD’s Mongolian Barbecue in Boulder.
Ballengee, a two-time world champion, was severely injured in a training mishap near Moab last month and faces huge medical bills.
Information: 303-442-0041.
SKI AND SNOWBOARD: Hall of Famers selected
Moguls freestylist Jonny Moseley, aerialist Trace Worthington and alpine racer Julie Parisien were named to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame last week.
Moseley won an Olympic gold medal in 1998 with his 360 “mute grab” and created the off-axis “dinner roll” in 2002. Worthington won 37 World Cup events and three world championships medals. Parisien finished fourth in slalom at the 1992 Olympics.
SKELETON: U.S. racers shine
Breckenridge skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender finished third Friday at the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Teammate Noelle Pikus-Pace won the gold medal with a record margin of 1.56 seconds to become the first U.S. woman to claim the title.Uhlaender won the first four World Cup skeleton races this winter.
“Tracks like Igls, Austria and St. Moritz are a challenge for me, because they’re glider tracks instead of driving tracks,” Uhlaender said. “I’m happy to know that I’m starting to catch the rhythm of these European tracks.”
RALLY RACING: Pastrana atop podium
Defending Rally America national champion and multiple X Games medalist Travis Pastrana began the 2007 season atop the podium last weekend at the Sno*Drift Rally in Lewiston, Mich. Pastrana, from Annapolis, Md., and European co-driver Christian Edstrom raced to victory in a field of more than 50 competitors in the only winter rally race of the season, navigating through wet snow and icy conditions in the two-day, 17-stage event.
NORDIC SKIING: Bound for Japan
Ski jumper Clint Jones and nordic combined skiers Bryan Fletcher and Johnny Spillane, all of Steamboat Springs, are on the U.S. team for the World Nordic Ski Championships in Sapporo, Japan, which start Feb. 22.
(COMPILED BY THE DENVER POST)
