BENEFITS
The Bear Chase Race Endurance Festival
Sept. 27-28: The two-day festival includes 100K, 50 mile and 50K races on Sept. 27, and a half marathon and 10K on Sept. 28. Start times and fees vary. All runners must park at Bandimere Speedway and take a shuttle to the start. Proceeds benefit open space preservation in Lakewood. Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Morrison Road, Lakewood, bearchaserace.com
bRUNch 5K Festival
Sept. 28: A celebration of the end of bRUNching season includes a timed USA Track & Field Certified 5K around Stapleton Central Park followed by food and drinks from local restaurants, including Jax Fish House Glendale, Panzano, The Grubbery, Breckenridge Brewery and others. 8:30-9:15 a.m. check-in, 9:30 a.m. 5K start. $50 adults, $30 ages 4-12 and non-runners. Proceeds benefit Metro CareRing, a local hunger-relief organization. 8801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., brunchrunning.com/race-series/
Colorado Symphony 5K Run/Walk
Sept. 20: A kickoff for the CSO’s upcoming 2014-15 season includes a 5K and Kids Fun Run led by Dinger, the Colorado Rockies mascot. Various ensembles will perform along the route and a finish-line concert is also included. 7:45 a.m. registration and packet pickup, 8:45 a.m. kids fun run, 9 a.m. 5K, 10 a.m. awards ceremony, 10:30 a.m. concert and grand prize giveaway. Fees vary, each registration includes a T-shirt and free tickets to an upcoming CSO performance (some concerts are excluded). Teams and pets welcome. Proceeds benefit Colorado Symphony Kids, an outreach and education program that serves more than 30,000 students each year. Post-race festivities include vendors, entertainment and more. Sloan’s Lake, West 17th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard, coloradosymphony.org/Events/Colorado-Symphony-5K
Color Fun Fest 5K
Sept. 20: All ages are welcome to this 5K where participants run through five color stations and celebrate with a finish-line festival offering DJs, vendors and food, 2:30-10 p.m. Runs begin at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. $60, $75 day of event; free for children 12 and under if registered online. Proceeds benefit Free Arts for Abused Children. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City, colorfunfest5k .com/locations/denver-2014/
Dumb Friends League Wag ‘n’ Trail
Sept. 20: The 10th annual benefit for the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center in Castle Rock. Participants are encouraged to raise funds. Teams and dogs welcome. You may hike the 1.6-mile trail at your own pace between 8 a.m. and noon. Demonstrations, refreshments and pet-related vendors included. Glendale Farm Open Space located north of Castle Rock, 303-751-5772 ext. 1378, ddfl.org/wnt
Hop, Skip & a Jump Start
Sept. 21: The eighth annual benefit for the Children’s Museum of Denver’s includes a Fitness Expo, stroller-friendly 5K along the South Platte River, Infant Crawl, Kid Course and Toddler Trot. 7:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. 5K and Expo opens, 10:15 a.m. Mini Meets begin. Fees vary. Prizes will be awarded. 2121 Children’s Museum Drive, 303-561-0104, email lisaa@cmdenver.org, mychildsmuseum.org
Lafayette Quest Scavenger Hunt
Sept. 27: The annual family-friendly community event, 9-11 a.m., invites teams to follow clues, look for checkpoint stations, participate in healthy challenges, perform “silly human tricks” and more using smartphone technology to earn points. $20 per person, $30 on race day, free for children age 6 and under. Prizes will be awarded. Proceeds will be used to combat childhood obesity and fund scholarships at the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center. Register online until 3 p.m. Sept. 26. Registration on Sept. 27 is 7:30-8:30 a.m. The race begins and ends at Bob L. Burger Inline Skate Rink, 111 W. Baseline Road, Lafayette, 303-665-0469, cityoflafayette.com
Mustang Stampede 5K Memorial Scholarship Run/Walk
Sept. 27: The annual benefit for the Lisa Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund that honors the life of Nelson, a faculty member and coach at Ralston Valley High School who passed away in March 2013 from cervical cancer. Two senior student athletes receive college scholarships from the proceeds. The 5K begins at 9 a.m. and is followed by a pancake breakfast. $20 in advance, $10 students, $25 on race day. The race starts and ends at Ralston Valley High School, 13355 W. 80th Ave., Arvada,
Zumba for a Cause
Sept. 17-Oct. 29: One-hour classes offered at 6 p.m. every Wednesday to benefit services and programs at DCCV (Denver Center for Crime Victims). $5 per class. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Studio, 119 Park Avenue West, 303-860-0660
SPECIAL EVENTS
Boulder Book Store
Sept. 17:Mark Allen, author, coach, motivational speaker and six-time Hawaii Ironman World Champion, will discuss and sign “The Art of Competition, ” 7:30 p.m. Vouchers are $5, and include a $5 coupon. 1107 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-447-2074, boulderbookstore.net
The Cancer Center at Lutheran Medical Center
Sept. 27: Providing free men’s health screenings including cholesterol, sleep apnea, PSA, prostate cancer (for ages 40-75, some restrictions apply), testicular cancer (for ages 15-35), blood pressure, fitness and others along with educational information, 9-11:30 a.m. Appointments required. 8300 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge, 303-689-4595
Mesa Verde National Park’s Hike and Bike
Sept. 27: The annual outing on Wetherill Mesa for hikers and cyclists. Wetherill Mesa is closed for the season but will re-open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Wetherill Mesa Road is located near mile 15 on the park road, just past Far View Lodge. Visitors should drive 12 miles to the Wetherill Mesa information kiosk where the tram road begins. Hikers and bicycle riders can ride or hike along the 5.5 mile long tram loop road. There are several historic sites along the way and park rangers and volunteers will be on-site to answer questions. Entrance fees will be waived for participants. Picnics and water are encouraged or you may purchase lunch at the kiosk. 970-529-4465
Pura Vida Fitness Club and Spa
Sept. 19: Hosting a free yoga workshop, “Coming Home,” with live music, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Reservations not required. 2955 E. First Ave., e-mail heatherb@puravidaclub.com,
Studio Anjali
Sept. 18-20: “Uplift, Elevate & Excel” is the theme of a Kundalini Yoga & Meditation workshop with Onkar Kaur. The cost is $35 per class, $40 for drop-ins, $25 for Westin members. Call for reservations. Studio Anjali is also hosting “Do it Daily,” a 31-day yoga commitment starting Oct. 1. Call or visit the website for details. The Westin, 126 Riverfront Lane, Avon, 970-790-2051, athleticclubwestin.com
Tattered Cover, Highlands Ranch
Sept. 15: Author Tony Parker will discuss and sign “The Best Front Range Hikes for Children,” 7 p.m. 9315 Dorchester St., 303-470-7050, tatteredcover.com
ONGOING
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Those who run or hike 100 trail miles in the park may earn a Castlewood Canyon State Park 100 Mile Challenge Coin. Keep track of your miles and bring your log to the Visitor Center when you have completed the challenge. 2989 S State Highway 83, Franktown, 303-688-5242, cpw.state.co.us
Civic Center MOVES
Through Sept. 30: Part of the series of Rocky Mountain Boot Camps offered by Visit Denver. Civic Center MOVES is for all fitness levels. Weekly classes in Civic Center Park include yoga 6-7 p.m. Mondays and 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Tuesdays, boot camp 12:15-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Fitness Tribe 6:15-7 a.m. Wednesdays and Full-Body Workout 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays. Free. Visit the website for the complete list of programs: visitdenver.com/get-fit
Feisty Fit Females
A free exercise group for female cancer survivors meets the final Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 303-798-7614,
Hatha Yoga with Jan
Through Sept. 30: Classes 5:45-7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30-9:45 a.m. Saturdays. $5 minimum donation for charity. St. John’s Cathedral, 1350 Washington St., 303-894-0648,
L-Town Nutrition
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: Ongoing classes focus on fitness and nutrition, 5:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Saturdays. Free. Reservations recommended, drop-ins welcome. 1360 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, 303-730-2038, e-mail ltownnutrition@gmail.com
Compiled by Vickie Heath, The Denver Post
Mail items at least 10-14 days in advance to Fitness Calendar, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202; fax 303-954-1679, e-mail living@denverpost.com
