Well, this time there were no packs of rabbits and attack roosters to welcome participants to this year's Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge (perhaps due to the success of marauding coyotes on the Luallin Ranch in Louisville, also CCCC World Headquarters).  Instead everyone was treated to perfect fall weather - clear, perky blue skies and temperatures in the mid-50s.  The course was awash in fall colors with trees still with all their leaves.

There were other positives this year as well, despite the challenge of a freshly plowed field (good for about a mile of heavy trudging), it was bone dry compared to the soggy conditions of last year.  Heck, and no one got lost this year(!).  The top 3 runners in the 2000 event were well on their way to Broomfield when they realized that something was awry.  This year's strategic positioning of several more race volunteers and orange cones ensured that everyone found their way.

Overall winner Chris Valenti of Boulder finished the challenging classic cross country course in 32:28, a comfortable one minute margin over second place finisher, Bill Fanselow.  Laurie Mizener-Edwards, also of Boulder, finished nearly 5 minutes ahead of another Laurie -- last year's female winner and CMRA newsletter editor Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn.

This year's event brought out 77 participants, a 22 percent increase over last year's field. Rosalia Murch finished in 1:15, the only racewalker competitor.

A hearty thanks from the co-race directors to all the volunteers that made it happen. Along the course there was Corrinne Murphy, Kathleen Moreau, Rollie Erickson, and Luallin family members Donna Luallin (mom), Lori Dill (sister), and Gary Luallin (brother).  Kate and Mark Sellers served as restroom monitors. Joe Baird, Jim Price, and Jerry Murch ably handled finish line duties (with Jerry doing double duty on race registration with wife Rosalia). Joe Sanchez assisted with equipment logistics as usual. Nate Pierce reprised his role as pace biker.

Also many thanks to our commercial race sponsors and supporters for prize drawing merchandise:  Runner's Choice of Boulder, the Arvada Great Harvest Bakery, Louisville's Blue Parrot Restaurant, and the Old Louisville Inn (who also served post-race brunch to a number of participants).  A volunteer from the Boulder School of Massage Therapy treated participants to free massages after the race.  Our appreciation to Wendy Scopine of SKIPIX.COM, who took action photos of all race participants and posted to their Web site (www.skipix.com) for viewing and purchase.

What really makes this a unique CMRA event is not just the featured cross country course, but ODell Brewing Company “Easy Street Wheat” beer samples for tasting at the race finish.  This is the only CMRA event that features beer as a thirst quencher for undernourished race participants.  A very special thanks once again to ODell Brewing Company Sales Manager Rick Newell, who made this possible.  Rick not only awarded a case of ODell beer to the male and female race winners, but also contributed t-shirts, hats, and other items to the prize drawing.

For those of you that haven't yet had the opportunity to participate in this event to date, you're missing a different kind of race --- so we'll expect to see you next year -- on October 13, 2002 --for a unique CMRA experience!