Dear Athlete,
  

If there's one weapon all of us need in our "athlete arsenal" when an injury appears, it's having immediate access to a doc who "gets" it! Mine happens to be Dr. Tod Sweeney who made the journey to Lake Placid to work with the US Ski Team prior to Vancouver.  Anyway he talks our language and helped me recently to start recovery from a bad pull, and over the past month I've bumped into friends in the same boat. Makes me wonder if the transition from fall to winter conditions plays a role?

So what's new?

We're putting on a crazy race, The Anything is Possible 5K (more like an adventure, but it will be timed by Hallucinations Sports!) this Sunday morning...race STARTS at 1:50am on top of Cherry Creek Dam and finishes before you started! Daylight Savings time ends at 1:50am! Crazy huh? We'll have a brightly lit start and finish, but bring a headlamp or flashlight if you're not used to running in the dark (JUST looked at weather on 9News and weather.com and we'll have no rain/snow that night!). We'll even have hot chocolate at the finish!

Our 7th Annual Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon Weekend has launched for next May. The "first 500 get a screamin deal" promotion has been a big hit and prices are currently way lower than the larger halfs and marathons in the country! Features also include a great new "ultimate urban tour" on the marathon and relay. Folks loved the new course this year - our famous half ran right through an Aurora fire station - and we're making a couple of fun additions for May 2012. We've also decided to extend the time limit on the half to 4 hours, which gives you a chance to get a photo taken with a firefighter, or to enjoy it more if it's your first half marathon. Click and see!

The 24th Annual Runnin' of the Green Lucky 7K, like the Colfax Marathon, is featuring "chip in bib" timing for the 1st time ever! Now even better news! They're offering a Holiday Special if you sign up right after Thanksgiving until December 31st, the cost is ONLY $25! Go to Runners Roost (near I-25/ S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver) to register in-store and get your bib with chip or register online.

One of my best friends in the fitness world is Sally Edwards! I've mentioned her over the years (Triathlon Hall of Fame and women's fitness pioneer!) and recently I caught up with her at the Danskin Triathlon in Palm Springs! 

Sally_Edwards

When BKB signs on a new event, we get excited! Next June 2nd, the Louisville Chamber of Commerce will roll out the 3rd Annual Taste of Louisville Half Marathon & 5K Race! The course starts and finishes in the heart of Louisville and after the event you get to satisfy your appetite at the 22nd Annual Taste of Louisville! Registration has not opened yet (please ignore any links to registration on other web sites. The official non-profit website will go live shortly and we'll tell you about it here!).

Those of you that follow NBC's Biggest Loser Show will like the next video! I chatted with the 2011 winner and runner-up (also in Palm Springs where Danskin wraps up next season in 2012)! 

Biggest_Loser

November is packed with fantastic events and three "must do's" are the Race For Fetal Hope 5K (this one might sell out at Washington Park on November 13th!!), the Gobble Wobble 5K on November 19th in Green Valley Ranch , and Thanksgiving's all-time fav'the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot 4 Mile!

Meanwhile, I'll be heading to events around the country and get back in time for the Turkey Trot!

Say, "hi" if you're at the Women's Half Marathon on November 6th in Scottsdale, or in St Petersburg on November 20th! In-between I'll be at the Norfolk Freedom Half Marathon in Virginia!

Good luck in your training and racing!