2021 SWEATY SWEATER RECAP

As a beautiful and chilly day dawned for the 9 annual Sweaty Sweater 5k, runners and walkers were arriving dressed in all forms of ugly Christmas sweaters that at any other time would be an affront to fashion everywhere. With the sunlight beginning to peak over the mall and temperatures just cold enough to see your breath, participants were excited to experience the ever-elusive “perfect running conditions”.

Over the past several years the Sweaty Sweater 5k has become a fan favorite winter tradition. “An explosion of visual holiday happiness! Best race of the year!!” Sharon of Loveland, Colorado said on Facebook after the event.

This year, just over 500 hundred runners lined up at the start line of a new venue, the Foothills Mall, and once the starting gun went off, they looped through the surrounding neighborhood around Boltz Middle School. Also new this year, participants experienced on course entertainment from FoCUS (Fort Collins Urban Skate) group as they roller-skated the course in ugly Christmas Sweaters to hand out candy canes to participants.

OVERALL FEMALE 5K WINNER
Allie Sibole	00:18:50
Dani Cook	00:19:02
Brooke Clayton	00:19:13

OVERALL MALE 5K WINNER
Rick Schulte		00:18:10
AJ Cohen		00:18:46
Curtis McAnally		00:19:20
OVERALL WHEELCHAIR WINNER
Dennis Gordon	00:25:21

KID’S 1-MILE FUN RUN

The Kid’s 1-Mile Fun Run was a new addition to the event and it received nothing but positive comments. Kids put their feet to the asphalt in a loop around the mall and crossed the finish line to receive their unique finishers medal that parents were happy to learn doubled as a holiday ornament.

AFTER PARTY

With the Sweaty Sweater 5k and Kid’s 1-Mile Fun Run being held at the Foothills Mall, participants were able to enjoy the 15^th annual Winters Farmers Market and get a jump start on their holiday shopping. A hot chocolate and whipped cream station was set up for the kids and kids at heart while those over 21 were treated to a free craft beer from Gilded Goat Brewery. Donuts, coffee, fruit and snacks spread across tables for participants to chow down on while they mentally prepared for how they were going to strut the cat walk in the Ugly Sweater contest.

UGLY SWEATER CONTEST

No Sweaty Sweater 5k is complete without its traditional ugly sweater contest! Participants who ran or walked the Sweaty Sweater 5k were given free entry into the ugly sweater contest and boy oh boy were there some super-duper ugly holiday sweaters on the stage! Though it was a tough decision, the judges awarded $100 lululemon gift certificate for the top two ugly sweaters and a $100 Runners Roost gift certificate for the third-place winner.

Move over Gigi and Bella Hadid! During the Ugly Christmas Sweater contest, spectators were treated to front row seats to an athletic-themed fashion show! Models/Green Events Ambassadors, Melody, Nellie, Dan and Curtis strutted down the runway clothed head to toe in running apparel from Runners Roost Fort Collins and then a quick outfit change to show off Lululemon’s trendiest athleisure wear.