T-minus soon and counting before the biggest and best and most fun runs in Colorado shoot off their starting guns.
Only 10 days separate runners from the Colfax Marathon. There are only 24 days until the Bolder Boulder. And the Denver Marathon, the last big race of the season in October, will sneak up quicker than a blink. And the Colorado Marathon — down the picturesque Poudre Canyon near Fort Collins — takes place Sunday at 7 a.m.
It’s time to get crackin’. Stretch the hamstrings and string up the laces. It’s run time. You can do it.
In the meantime, this Mother’s Day weekend will offer plenty of tuneups and qualifiers. Some of the smattering:
Saturday
Westminster Blazing Bullets Trail Run, 8 a.m.
A 10K and 5K at Christopher Fields in Westminster. Presented by the Westminster Fire and Police departments, to raise funds for city artwork.
Race for Wishes 5K, 9 a.m.
Around Ferril Lake at City Park in Denver, on a USA Track and Field certified course. Also a family fun run and a 1K. For the Colorado Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Telegraph Horse Gulch Trail Run, 9 a.m.
A 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run at Horse Gulch in Durango.
Columbine High School’s Run For Remembrance, 8 a.m.
A 5K competitive race and a 5K walk/run at Clement Park.
Grand Valley Marathon, 6:30 a.m.
Also a half-marathon, 10K and 5K. At Palisdade Park, on Main Street in Palisade.
Sunday
Mother’s Day Title 9K, 9 a.m.
A 9.9K (6.1 miles) race on mostly unpaved trails around the Boulder Reservoir.
Mothers’ Day 5K, 9 a.m.
Family fun run at City Park in Denver. Includes free admission to the Denver Zoo.
Rocky Run 5K, 9 a.m.
At Salisbury Equestrian Park in Parker.
Mother’s Day Mile, 1 p.m.
The best finish line of the weekend: Runners greeted with roses and homemade pie at the end. In Glenwood Springs.
5K Walk-n-Roll, 8 a.m.
At Washington Park in Denver, in support of the Spina Bifida Association.
AROUND THE STATE
Stick around for lacrosse.
The Denver Pioneers men’s lacrosse team hosted its home finale at Invesco Field at Mile High. Now it’s Air Force’s turn in a big stadium.
The Falcons host the Pioneers in a regular season-ending game Saturday at 1 p.m. in Falcon Stadium — the home of AFA football.
It’ll be the 69th meeting between the rivals, with Air Force holding a 52-16 advantage in the series. But Denver (11-4, 6-0 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference) already has an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and beat the Falcons earlier in the year.
Air Force (1-12, 0-6) is led by junior Zack Carroll’s 28 points (with a team-leading 20 goals).
Denver is paced by Alex Demopoulos’ 49 points (32 goals). The Pioneers will learn their tournament seed at the NCAA’s selection show Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Can anyone stop Metro?
Most everything went as planned during the first round of the RMAC softball tournament Thursday in Denver, with three of the top four seeds winning. The lone upset? No. 7 Regis, playing on its home field, topped No. 2 Western New Mexico 6-3 in the double-elimination bracket.
For top-seeded Metro State, its 6-1 victory over Nebraska-Kearney at Auraria Field was the Roadrunners’ 17th consecutive victory. They are 41-3, ranked No. 1 in the region, and rolling toward the NCAA Division II Tournament.
But a weekend’s worth of games remain. The RMAC championship game likely will be decided Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Auraria Field, unless a second game is needed immediately after.
Check for the updated bracket.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Same as it ever was.
Could it be a surprise to anybody anywhere that the nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball game this weekend on ESPN pits two teams painfully familiar to fans of other teams?
Wanna take a guess which AL East teams will play the centerpiece game? Here’s a hint: It’s not the Tampa Bay Rays.
The New York Yankees travel to Boston to face the Red Sox on Sunday, with first pitch off at 6:05 p.m. The Pinstripes get A.J. Burnett (4-0, 1.99 ERA) on the mound. But the struggling Red Sox have yet to decide on the pitcher.
If the big-spenders are too much to stomach, check out the National League’s leading contender for the Cy Young Award earlier in the afternoon. Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez (6-0, 0.87) throws against the Dodgers in Los Angeles starting at 2 p.m. That game airs on FSN.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Du the Duathlon.
The Barkin’ Dog Duathlon will race its 12th edition Saturday, starting at 7:15 a.m., at Cherry Creek State Park. There are three legs — a 5K run, 34K bike and another 5K run — over rolling roads, trails and paths.
Organizers say it’s the largest duathlon in Colorado after it moved from Keenesburg five years ago. And it’s part of the Denver Duathlon Series. Check for information.
Also find the Livestrong Day bike ride Saturday from Wheat Ridge Cyclery to Red Rocks Park. The 38-mile ride, starting at 9 a.m. and led by seven-time Tour de France racer Ron Kiefel, goes to support Lance Armstrong’s foundation ().
