Choice City Running Event Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Mountain Avenue Mile and 40th Anniversary of the Human Race
Showcases Inspiring Performances:
Fort Collins bore witness to an extraordinary weekend of athleticism, camaraderie, and celebration at the Choice City Running Festival on August 4th and 5th. In just the second year of the merger of the Mountain Avenue Mile and the Human Race to create a 2-day running festival, the event embodied the essence of running and community spirit we had hoped for. This year’s event was particularly momentous, marking the 25th anniversary of the Mountain Avenue Mile and the 40th anniversary of the Fort Collins Human Race.
Jane Welzel’s Legacy Shines Bright:
We would like to think Jane Welzel (founder and race director of the Mountain Avenue Mile until her passing in 2014) would have been proud to see her race this year as it finally came to be run entirely on Mountain Avenue in a point-to-point, slightly downhill, straight-line course from Sylvan Ct to Howes Street finishing just west of downtown Fort Collins. The course has had many iterations over the years but the new course this year was well received, and we hope this will be its final version.
Jane left an indelible legacy as a running icon and an inspiration. The Mountain Mile, initiated by Jane in 1998, remains a testament to her enduring influence as a catalyst for women’s running. Dave McGillivray, acclaimed race director of the Boston Marathon, hailed Jane as “a trailblazer who shattered barriers for countless women to join the running movement. Jane helped crumble the wall of intimidation for thousands of women to not only run but to participate in races.” Thanks to women like Jane races now often have a higher percentage of female participants and the Choice City Running Festival was no exception with females making up 53% of registrants. Her spirit reverberates through the annual gathering, an homage to her relentless training and commitment to the running community. To learn more about Jane and her many accomplishments click here: https://choicecityrunning.com/mountainmile/
The Mountain Avenue Mile—An Iconic Race:
The Mountain Avenue Mile once again renewed its reputation as an extra-fast course with the new course devoid of any turns. Serving as the Road Runners Club of America Championship Race, the event attracted a diverse array of runners, from elite athletes, dedicated enthusiasts, kids, and for the first time, walkers!
Exceptional Performances at Every Turn:
Among the young champions were Sloane Groendyk and Flynn Klein, who dominated the kids’ 12 and under races. In the youth category, Maya Digiallonardo and Cadel Ruthven exhibited remarkable prowess.The female open race crowned Taylor Scott as its victor, clocking in at an impressive time of 5:27, while Sam Kaessner secured the top spot in the male open race with a time of 4:47. The nonbinary open race showcased Alexandria Collins’s triumph, completing the race in a time of 6:13—an embodiment of the event’s inclusivity. In the Masters division (40+), Tina Duncan and Christopher Berven claimed well-deserved titles with times of 6:21 and 4:51, respectively. The pushrim wheelchair races witnessed extraordinary achievements by Katja Stokely, Jacob Heilveil, Michael Sales, and Martin Dawson. Jacob’s groundbreaking time of 3:49 secured his resounding victory and course record holder in the male pushrim wheelchair category.
Elite Runners Shine:
The elite runners were the last race to line up on Friday night to end the evening. Not only were they racing for the glory of winning the historic event, but for the cash prize purse of $1700 split between the top 5 male and female runners, as a cherry on top. Dylan Schubert emerged triumphant in the male elite race, clocking an impressive time of 4:08, while Katie Follett Boele seized victory in the female elite race with a time of 4:47. Their performances underscored the prowess and dedication of elite runners who conquered the competitive field with finesse.
Human Race 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon:
The celebratory atmosphere continued into the following day with the 40th annual Human Race. Started in 1983 by Lou Rotola, the race is a summer tradition and full of fond memories for so many local runners. We are honored every year to have Lou onsite at the race and at the age of 89 this year was no exception. Lou was there with that sparkle and pride in his eyes to see the legacy of his race continue after so many years. He cheered the 5k runners from the trolley during the race and is probably the only person who has 40 years of the race t-shirts. Shout out to all of you who wore past year’s shirts, we saw a few relics out on the course!
The Human Race encompasses a spectrum of distances from 5k to half marathon. Dom Eberle and Shelley McDonald took the 5k by storm, completing the race in times of 16:11 and 17:25, respectively. Martin Dawson and Katja Stokely won the 5k pushrim wheelchair category with times of 25:30 and 20:13 respectively. In the 10k, Brad Hort and Hannah Christiansen showcased their mettle, completing the race in times of 36:15 and 41:52, respectively. Michael Sales emerged triumphant in the 10k pushrim wheelchair race with a time of 38:31. Carter Campbell and Kailie Hartman were the overall winners in the half marathon, the longest distance of the weekend, completing it in times of 1:16:19 and 1:29:59, respectively. Dennis Gordon claimed victory in the male pushrim wheelchair half marathon, completing it in a time of 1:45:20.
At Green Events You Belong:
The event’s core values embraced the achievements of runners from all walks of life, fostering an atmosphere of diversity and unity among participants. Running is a space where everyone is welcome, accepted, and belongs no matter your age, gender, physical ability, fitness level, or running experience. We loved seeing participants entering new categories we haven’t had in the past from the new Mountain Ave Mile walking wave, the non-binary option for all races, the wheelchair athletes, and the seniors filling out the age group awards in the 70+ and 80+ categories! The spirit of resilience and shared enthusiasm is an amazing feeling, and the weekend’s remarkable performances, camaraderie, and collective passion epitomize the essence of community and sportsmanship that define the running world.
Beneficiaries:
This event is proud to support local non-profit organizations and school sports teams. Funds from the event were donated to the following:
Fossil Ridge High School Cross Country Team
Poudre High School Cross Country Team
Rocky Mountain High School Cross Country Team
Rocky Mountain High School Wrestling Team
Thank you to all the sponsors who generously support local events.
Our sponsors are businesses we frequent, shop, and use regularly and we are proud to have them as Green Events partners because we personally know the great business they run and contributions they make to our community. Please support our local sponsors, give them a thank you when you shop there, and continue the circle of support.
