We had another great turnout for the Fairmount 5K trail run and race walk on Aug. 2 with 84 runners and two walkers. What else did we have going for us this year? Cooler evening temperatures!

At this year's run, we had comparably cool temperatures from recent years, when our racers ran in mid-90 degree heat. At the 6:30 p.m. race start, temperatures were about 70 degrees and we were gifted with a misting of light rain (absolutely, I put in a request for that).

We host this race as early in August as we can, hoping our high school friends will join us. We were not disappointed! Thanks go to Hector Martinez and Jeff Young for bringing their North High School athletes to our August race. They push the rest of us to run harder!

Our overall (OA) winner was Justin Perry, age 17, with a time of 18:45. Our OA female finisher was Kayla Young, 18, with a time of 19:53. Go to our website (www.cmrarun.org) to see the rest of the results and where our Masters runners fit in among the young'uns. You'll be pleasantly surprised! (Hint: Half of the Top 10 finishers were in their 40s and 50s.)

This was my first year directing the August race. Previously, I directed the Amazing Race at Matthews-Winters Park in September for four years. We retired that race so we could move our Bluffs Regional Park race from April, where inclement weather resulted in that race's cancelation in 2015 and 2016, to September and drier conditions.

I'm grateful for Monica Ryan, who has been the assistant race director (ARD) for this race for many years. She provided invaluable ARD work, including marking the race route and hauling supplies to the park. She had her own sidekick in town on race day - her daughter, Kylee, age 9, who helped mark the course!

We started the racing off with the Kids' Fun Run - about 15 young ones raced around the walking track at the park and finished with ribbons. That's always a fun run to spectate.

The runners and race walkers took off at the same time. We had no mishaps.

I'd like to thank all of the volunteers without whom this (or any CMRA) race would not be possible. At registration in August, we had Registration Lead Patty Jones and Ruth Clymor, Lisa Atencio and Shelley (a friend of Monica's). Thank you!

Our parking attendants - and this really matters because the dog kennel across the street from the park is very sensitive about parking during events such as ours -were Ed Youngberg, Jim Romero, Bill Smitham and Ken Randall. Thanks to you, fellas!

Our course marshals were my husband, Jim Clarke, and Bill Smitham, who is re-entering the CMRA scene after a brief hiatus - thank you!

Our water station attendants were the dynamic duo Laurie Nakauchi and Kurt Hardester - thank you!

Our finish line workers - we can't host a race without you - were the dream team of Joe Baird, Rob Fisher and Scott McFarlane with special guest appearances by Mike Vanoni and this race's former director Kristin Paul Moreau. Monica Ryan and I also worked the finish line. Thanks to the whole gang!

Our course sweepers were newlyweds Meg McWilliam and Cam McWilliam. It is a big deal when someone offers to clean the course of flags and other markers, so a big thanks to Meg and Cam.

We never know what we're going to get from one year to the next for the picnic. A few years ago, all we had were bags of chips to go with our burgers and hotdogs (and that was fine). This year members outdid themselves - we had lots of great vittles - sides, desserts, fruit and veggies. It was a smorgasbord. Thank you to everyone who chipped in food to round out our excellent potluck meal.

Our biggest picnic thanks go to club President Lisa Atencio and her father, George Solorzano, who got the grill briquettes lighted. George grilled our hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers. I know there are waits involved in this; every year we try to make it better (some years we succeed better than others). I appreciate everyone's patience at the grills. We have a new and improved plan for next year's picnic that I hope will solve the waiting scene.

Bill Faulkner removed the hot coals at the end of the evening - the 3rd or 4th year he's done this for the club, and I'm always grateful. Thanks, Bill.

Clean up is one of the toughest jobs after this race, thanks to the picnic that is probably attended by 100+ folks. A very big thank you to Lisa Atencio, Elizabeth Kinsey, Monica Ryan, Melissa Wood and Ruth Clymor. I was pretty darn tired by the end of the night and it was dark. Thank you so much for staying to help clean up the park.

Our continued thanks to the Prospect Recreation & Park District for continuing to allow CMRA to host its August race and picnic at Fairmount Park in Golden. We really appreciate how the district trusts and works with us.