Maureen’s Race

“Lord, please give me a downhill course with a tailwind.  I promise I won’t blow it.”

Runner’s foxhole prayer

I first saw Maureen Roben in 1993 at a seminar at the Greenwood Athletic Club before the Denver International Marathon.   It was to be my first marathon and I wanted to be prepared and to avoid mistakes; I failed at both.  My time was about 3:25.  I ran the first half in 1:25 and it took me two hours to run the last half. 

At the seminar they showed a video of Maureen racing in The Goodwill Games.  Maureen told a story about meeting Kip Keino.  The one piece of advice I remember twenty years later is that you want to feel a little bloated before the marathon.  I have had no trouble following that recommendation.

Years later Randy Rodman invited me to run a few workouts with Maureen’s group at the West Middle School.  I have seen her many times leading her charges in Team in Training and Run Strong workouts along the Highline Canal Path. 

Maureen’s accomplishments are remarkable.  She qualified for four Olympic marathon trials.  In 1986 she set a Colorado record for the ½ marathon with a time of 1:14:08.  In 1987 she was the top female marathoner in the country and graced the cover of Runner’s World Magazine.  She placed seventh in the 1988 Olympics.  She describes her highest honor is being elected into the Sportswomen of Colorado Hall of Fame. 

Through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program, she has prepared over 5000 athletes to complete marathons and half marathons.  She led the Team in Training program for 14 years.  As the owner of Run Strong (http://www.run-strong.org/about/2-about-maureen-roben), Maureen prepares personalized programs, weekly workouts, and running related clinics including nutrition, injury prevention and form evaluation.  She has a program called “Spikes” for children ages 7 - 18.  She created the Aetna Park to Park 5 and 10-Mile races as well. 

Maureen is the Co-Race Director of the Platte River Half Marathon / Buckhorn Exchange Relay which was held today.  The weather was perfect.  The temperature was 38 degrees at the start and there was a nice tailwind to push the runners along.  You couldn’t have asked for better conditions. 

Platte River Half Marathon is the fastest growing half marathon. 

Year	Finishers
2003	247
2004	346
2005	744
2006	856
2007	822
2008	800
2009	1138
2010	1551
2011	2235
2012	2415

It has all of the attributes of a great race:  downhill course, beautiful scenery, great support and nice SWAG.  If only they could flatten the 8^th Avenue viaduct.  You never know what you might discover on the Platte River path.  One year the dead body of a homeless man was found on the course just before the race started. 

The conditions were perfect for today’s race.  My time, 1:21:45 (6:15 per mile), was a personal best.  I was the first old guy, finishing a little over a minute after the first female, Heather Utrata.  I passed the ten mile mark in 1:01:48, a full minute faster than last week’s RMRR 10 miler.  I recall looking at the time in disbelief.  Could I really be moving that fast?  My slowest mile was the 12^th in 6:29. 

It was a good showing for the Phiddipides Track Club.  Scott Daily, my training buddy, was the third old guy.  Jay Survil, bib number 2222, won his age group. 

It was a perfect race.  The best part was having Mary and the girls at the finish line.