Just short of 60 runners and walkers competed in the Fairmount 5k on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, in addition to 11 kids running the ½ mile race. While this was a relatively small turnout for this race, it was not surprising considering we had a miscommunication about the date, so the date was corrected on the website only a couple of weeks before the race, as well as the fact that the afternoon of the race, temperatures reached the mid-90's, which may have scared a few runners off. However, it was a competitive race, with a course record on the men's side, by about 40 seconds, on the new course we've run since 2010. This blazing fast time of 16:10 was run by Lewi Mani, age 23, on a very warm evening. Second place went to Joseph Manilafasha in 16:25, a time that would have won any of the previous 5 years, and third to Luis Ronquillo in 17:07. Eleven men ran under 20 minutes, including Shad Mika in the 35-39 category at 18:19, Hector Martinez at 31 in 18:27 and three 40-plus year olds, Scott Kukel, 41, at 18:57, Mike Quispe, 48, in 19:26 and Jonathan Fenske, 45, in 19:56.

On the women's side, Sam Skeen, age 15, won in 22:13, with second place going to Theresa Jockers, age 54(!), in 23:37, a fantastic time. Third place went to Jitka O'Farrell, age 37, in 24:40. Also worth highlighting is Claradene Stewart, age 66, in an amazing time of 29:11.

Other noteworthy times: Jim Romero, age 75, in 28:54, Bill Smitham, age 71, in 27:18, closely followed by Ed Youngberg, age 72, in 27:21, and Bill Faulkner, age 74, in 28:37. Wayne Stewart, 68, barely beat out his wife in 28:26, and Bob Irving, age 60, ran an impressive time of 22:57. Also, Jim Perry, age 54, in 22:45, and Dave Rothenberger, age 46, in 20:15. Our high school categories were won by Riverz Flores in 18:46, with Jesus Lazo just behind him in 18:51, and Justin Perry, 15, ran 19:20. Grace Clark won the high school girls' in 27:17.

Ed Gussie won the now lonelier walking category in 42:19-quite a fast walking pace! We need to convince some more walkers to race to give him company.

The kids' race was well-attended by enthusiastic youngsters, as usual. Evan Raymond, age 8, won the half mile course in 3:45, with Teo Moreau, 7, second in 4:07. Kylee Ruhsen, also 7, was the first girl in 4:31, with Clara Rutledge, 9, just behind her in 4:36, and Lydia, only 5 years old, just behind Clara in 4:44.

I'd like to thank the many volunteers who helped with putting on this race, starting with Jen Forker, whose patience in replying to my many emails and requests for help with volunteers was much appreciated. Jen also picked up the Great Harvest bread and ran registration with help from Pat Tolleson, Cliff Jurgens and Dan Shaw. Thank you to my reliable finish line crew headed up by Rob Fisher, Joe Baird and Ken Randall and I think I'm forgetting someone-sorry. Thanks to my very important parking volunteers-Jeremey Gee, Ed Youngberg and Rich Ruhsen for keeping people from parking on the access road to the park, preventing neighbors' complaints and ensuring that we will be able to continue to use this venue for the race. Thanks also to Rich Ruhsen for bringing the bags of ice. Thanks to Adam Feerst for lending me your course markings again. Thank you to Gayle and Ruben Zorrilla for running the water station, and to the street crossing volunteer, Suzanne Buntrock. Thank you to Tom Chambers for getting the ribbons in order, and Jim Romero for bringing them to the race. Thank you to Ed Youngberg also for bringing the water coolers to the race full of ice water-very helpful! Thank you to our babysitting crew, Hope Clark, Mason Puckett and Janelle Bober, and to my course sweeper, Jacques Moreau. Thank you to those who slaved over the grill for the picnic on a hot night-Fran and Doug Schneider and Bob Irving. Also to Jen Forker's husband, who I believe started the grill, and to Bill Faulkner and Ed Youngberg (again!) who brought the grilling stuff (don't ask me what exactly!). And to Scott McFarlane for compiling the results. Thank you to my co-director, Monica Ryan, for all your help as always. And last but not least, thank you to Great Harvest for all the delicious bread and Boulder Running Company and Runner's High in Golden for the gift certificates and Runner's Roost Lakewood for the prizes. Apologies to anyone who helped out and whose name I may have left out. As is apparent, this race had a LOT of volunteers (seems like I need more each year), and it wouldn't work without all of you.