GREEN EVENTS AMBASSADORS

2024 TEAM

Melanie Anderson

Melanie started running after having children to get back in shape. She fell in love with running after finishing her first race. The atmosphere was infectious with so many happy faces and friendly people cheering each other on! Melanie especially enjoys dressing up in costumes for themed races! Two of her biggest running accomplishments are finishing her first ultra last summer in Big Horn and tackling the Imogene Pass run. This year, she plans to travel with friends for more race adventures!

James Baumhover

James loves getting out on the trails to spend time with friends and push himself to new speeds and heights (and maybe have a beer or two along the way!)

This year, his aim is to volunteer and run as many Green Events races as possible. And also help friends at their trail races by crewing and pacing. He’s most looking forward to pacing a friend at Western States Endurance Run (WSER) 100 miler in June!

Fun Fact: James just completed the Black Canyon 100k in February to earn himself another lottery ticket for WSER in 2025.

Dean Bennett

For 22 years, Dean served the community as a police officer. Although he’s recently retired, Dean continues to serve the city and county of Broomfield in the City Manager’s Office.

With such big responsibilities, Dean turns to running to keep his mind and body sharp. His wife, Karen Bennett, is also a Green Events Ambassador and you can find the pair running or volunteering together. They have two beautiful adult children and running dog, Dwight.

Karen Bennett

Karen Bennett loves being on the Green Events Ambassador Team and running all of the Green Events races! What does she love about Green Events races exactly? They are fun and bring in people from all over Colorado!

Karen’s goal this year is to train for the Fall Equinox Half Marathon and to achieve a PR before she gets too old!

Kelly Bennett

Kelly runs because it helps her achieve a different perspective and is very meditative. She says “everything is much easier once I’ve run!”

Kelly doesn’t have any specific running goals for 2024 other than “just run!!”

Marquis Carter

Marquis is a former Division I Track and Field athlete. He now works with autistic children and has become an advocate for running and fitness in the Colorado community.

Pikes Peak Marathon Finisher 2023
Spartan Trifecta Finisher 2023
Colfax Marathon Finisher 2022
Bear Chase Ultra 50K finisher 2021
Boulderthon Marathon Finisher 2021
Colorado Marathon Finisher 2021

Marquis plans to run the Silver Rush 50-Miler in Leadville in July 2024.

James Cotter

James started running because of an outside challenge and continues running because of an inside challenge.

Be still, run,

suffering,

perseverance,

character,

hope.

Marissa DeMercurio

Marissa was the first ever Green Events Ambassador and has been supporting and running Green Events races since the inaugural Fall Equinox Half Marathon in 2012. When she’s not running races or coaching athletes, you’ll usually find Marissa floating around the race area jumping in to volunteer wherever support is needed.

Tammy Felton

Years ago, Tammy’s first half marathon was the Fall Equinox and she was hooked on Green Events from that moment on (particularly the Polar Plunge). Tammy found a lot of camaraderie in the all-levels welcome environment at the Green Events races. She says she is not the fastest nor the most graceful person on the route, but she will be smiling and having fun.

For 2024, Tammy looks forward to being more present and active volunteering at Green Events to support the fundraising efforts and cheering all participants on as they crush their goals! See you on the route!

Nathan Fower

The ever-changing smells, sounds, people, landscape, and weather are the key factors that make running something Nathan loves.

Exploring and striving for new challenges is something running brings to him. As for 2023 goals, Nathan plans to hike a dozen 14ers, read more, create his own painting business, and most importantly, become a better husband and father.

Patricia Grajeda-Babb

Patricia was born in Cd. Juarez Mexico, spent some time in Texas, and for the last 10 years, has called Windsor, Colorado her home. When she is not busy working as an engineer for Weld County, you can find her riding her gravel bike or participating in local events and races.

Her favorite half marathon is the Fall Equinox which she runs as part of her Ironman training.

Christy Hayes

Catch Christy running on the trails, riding/running on her Peloton (LB: rundisneyland), and lifting in her basement gym. She loves a good costume run and being a Les Mils SPRINT and BodyBalance instructor. Christy is a member of the Fort Collins Racing Team and Run Club

In 2024, she is excited to be working on a Fall Equinox half marathon PR.

Joe Horky

It took moving to Colorado for Joe to fall in love with running. As a stick and ball athlete growing up, Joe viewed running as a form of punishment and boy how times have changed! Joe ran his first 5K in 2013 and followed it up with his first marathon in 2014. Today he is working to become a Six Star World Marathon Finisher by running the London Marathon in April with hopes of finishing it off with a trip to Tokyo! As a local elementary school principal, Joe hopes to inspire his students, staff, and school community to believe they can do whatever they set their minds to! Send a smile or a wave if you see him running some of his favorite local trails; Poudre Trail, Spring Creek, and (when training for a marathon) the Bacon Strip.

Fan Fact: As a way to pass the time at the onset of the COVID pandemic in March of 2020, Joe started a consecutive day run streak that continues today….1,423 days and counting!

Lynette Johnson

Lynette started running at the age of 50 because her trainer at the gym added it into her workouts. She had no idea she would love it so much. She loves the quietness and the feel of the daily movement of running. Her favorite runs are long trail runs with her dog Riley–but Riley loves Green Events races too!

Last year, Lynette was the third-place woman in the 12 Hour Run the Ranch Trail Race which she aims to do again this year in addition to completing the Imogen Pass Run.

Ayla & Greg Kuchta

This cycling power couple are usually the lead bikes at the front of any Green Events race! They recruit other lead cyclists and are regulars at the Green Events summer Tri Training series!

If you want to talk bikes, bike gear, or beer, Greg is your guy.

Cassandra Licon

Cassandra is a runner and a mother of three who laces up her running shoes to clear her mind and to stay healthy. It’s the most enjoyable alone time she could ever imagine! Her kids have started to run with her, and she loves being a role model for them. It is important to Cassandra that her children value fitness and health while enjoying themselves. She hopes to pass on her love of running to anyone she is able to!

Alex May

Alex spent three years living and teaching at an international school in Hangzhou, China where he was able to get involved in a vibrant running community and run some interesting Chinese road and trail races. Alex is excited to be back for a 6th year as a Green Events Ambassador and looks forward to seeing you out on the trail.

Alex McAnally

Alex is a local PE teacher and runner/swimmer.

In 2022, injuries led her to focus mostly on swimming, but she is hoping to get back into run racing in the 2023 season and grab some PRs. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and their pets (one dog and one cat) as well as baking cookies!

Colleen Rosazza

Dan Yap

Dan loves running not only for the health aspect but to give back to the running community! Usually, he can be found pacing local races and volunteering wherever he can to promote the great sport of running and the various groups that he represents. Besides being a Green Events Ambassador, Dan is also a proud member of the Fort Collins Runners Roost Race Team. In 2023, Dan’s goals are to have fun running and hopefully gain a PR or two😎

Silas Thompson

Silas’ running style revolves around spending days in the mountains in crop tops. Silas’ favorite races tend to be smaller, community-oriented adventure runs, like the Twin Mountain Trudge in Vedauwoo, Wyoming, and the Never Summer 100K.

His 2023 race docket includes the Alsaces trail 100K in France, the San Juan Summer Solstice, and returning to the Never Summer 100K. When Silas isn’t running, you can find him backcountry skiing, climbing, throwing pottery, and hanging out with his cute dogs and girlfriend.

Jeff Spiker

Jeff runs because it makes him feel a part of a community. He loves people and running gives him an opportunity to interact with others who share a passion that he loves so much.

Fun Fact: Jeff travels from Wyoming to volunteer or run in Green Events races.

Melody White

Melody loves to run because she loves to eat!! She loves mentoring new runners and working with both Green Events and the Fort Collins Running Club!!

2023 is going to be a big year for Melody! She is running in the NYC 1/2, pacing the Horsetooth Half Marathon, running the Bighorn Trail 18 Miler, and of course many Green Events races as she can! You can usually find her and her little Aussie, Ms. Oakley Blue, at any local race.

Colleen Yoo

Colleen runs for her mind, her body, and her relationships.

She believes her relationships with family, friends, and clients are stronger because she is a runner.

This year, Colleen is excited to ease back into racing both locally and out of state to see what she is capable of after taking a year off of running to focus on strength while dabbling into her love of swimming and biking.