Heidy Lozano shed more than a few tears Sunday morning after winning the women’s Colfax Marathon at an age when many marathoners are beginning to wonder if it isn’t time to take up a less-challenging hobby.
“I’m 53! This is amazing,” said Lozano, who had never won a marathon before. “I thought I would never win a marathon, and I’m 53? Time was running out.”
It wasn’t the only admirable achievement in her running career. She won the masters division at the 2007 Boston Marathon ( 2:56:03). But to become a marathon winner at 53, that was special. Lozano finished in 3 hours, 10 minutes, 41 seconds.
“I did it for everybody that gives up on themselves because of age,” Lozano said. “This is a huge success for me. Wow.”
There was another population Lozano ran in hopes of inspiring. The Boulder resident works for a nonprofit, Mental Health Partners, which operates community mental health centers. She is passionate about her work, and that fueled the strong emotions she felt after crossing the finish line.
“I did it for all those people who battle all of that — depression, anxiety — because I feel like I have a gift that I am able to overcome,” Lozano said. “I just thought, ‘At 53, why not?’ So much of that is what’s in your mind, what you put in there, what you wake up with each day. I did it for them, to be an inspiration to never give up on yourself.”
The men’s marathon winner had to dig deep to avoid giving up. Patrick Rizzo was cruising along at a 5:30-mile pace until Mile 21, when he bonked and began cramping. That really shouldn’t have been a surprise, considering the Colorado Springs resident ran the Illinois Marathon on April 30, finishing fourth.
“Two marathons in three weeks was a horrible idea,” Rizzo said. “I’m doing my best not to throw up right now.”
Colfax was important to him, though. Sunday marked the end of his road racing career as he turns his focus to trail running. Like Lozano, he had never been a marathon winner, and he wanted to go out as one.
He walked several times the last 3 miles, worrying the big lead he had built was evaporating. When a runner in the marathon relay passed him near the finish, he thought he had lost too much time.
“Did I just blow it at 26 miles?” he said of his thoughts. “I was very happy when I saw the (winner’s) banner waiting for me.”
The result left him with mixed emotions. He wasn’t thrilled with his time (2:32:35), but he fought and he finished and he won.
“I fell a little short of a great race,” Rizzo said. “I separate personal bests and personal records. A personal record is what the clock tells you. Today was a personal best in that I actually ran out of calories. I did everything I could to do my best, and that’s a personal-best kind of day.”
There was inspiration in that. And there was inspiration in Lozano’s emotional finish.
“Life is a gift,” she said. “We just have to live each day to the fullest. Today I did this — and I’m shocked.”
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or @johnmeyer
How many runners finished each race?
Marathon: 1,260
Half-marathon: 4,951
10-mile: 1,012
Relay: 5,915
Total: 13,138
