APRIL ALL STARS

Runner of the Month: Dr. Ross Westley

Need a little inspiration? 
Ever thought about what you would be doing in your 80s? 
 
Meet Dr. Ross Westley, who at 86 years young, is not only still running, but is on a multi-year mission to accomplish a major goal. To run every published 15k and half marathon race in Colorado.
 
Dr. Westley, MD has over 60 years of medical experience and 40 years of running experience. That’s right, he didn’t start running until his 40s and now in his mid 80s he is still out there. Setting Goals. Training. Racing.
 
We had the opportunity to be a part of his journey because the Earth Day 5k/10k offers a “Broken 15k” category where you run both the 10k and 5k races and your times are added together for a 15k result. The way the challenge is set up gives a maximum of 90 minutes to finish the 10k before the start of the 5k, but knowing that he needed more time didn’t detour Dr. Westley. He just showed up early to start his 10k race before everyone else and completed the “Broken 15k” to check one more race off his list. And that list, is a pretty long list of races, well over 500 and maybe approaching 1,000? We are waiting to hear the final count but would sure like to see that stack of bib #s and finisher medals!
 
Thank you Dr. Westley for your great example of longevity, fitness, and not being detoured from your goals by any limitations or expectations. 
 

Volunteer of the Month: Erin Taylor

Erin Taylor has been connected with Green Events and involved in almost all of our races for the last 8 years! In 2016, she created a running group for women in treatment at Larimer County Community Corrections, where she worked at the time, and with the help of her co-worker, who organizes the men’s running group, she connected with us to bring the women’s group to our races. This created an opportunity for the women to work through their recovery with physical fitness and to give back to the community. The groups run all our races and provide much needed volunteer help by showing up early and staying late to help us setup and tear down, but they also get to join the community and run, which for many of them is their first experience with running races.  

In 2017 she reached out to The Phoenix, a national sober active community, to see if she could start a chapter in the Fort Collins area.
They liked the program she had created, and asked her to find a local gym that would support the cause.  A co-worker connected her with Ryan Garcia, owner of W.I.L.D Horizons CrossFit  and in November of 2018, they were able to run the very first Phoenix-NOCO event. They started out with weekly CrossFit workouts, added in some yoga classes twice a month, and when COVID hit went back to what they knew and added running groups back in. Part of being a Phoenix volunteer and athlete is giving back to the community, so she has continued the relationship with Green Events by incorporating her local Phoenix group into our events.  
 
Describing herself, Erin says “I have always been an athlete, from high school sports to college intramurals, to adult leagues, to my own regimented gym routine.  I am often referred to as competitive, and I try to paint it as driven or determined.  I am often called crazy, but I see that as open to challenges. But my favorite nickname is Wonder Woman, because that nickname depicts me as the mom of two that I am, the hard worker I am whether paid or not, and the boss I am in the gym trying to meet the standards of those youngsters around me.”
 
We could all take a few pointers from Erin to turn negatives into positives, focus on the future instead of dwelling on the past, seeing and expecting the best from herself, and being such a positive impact on the community. Give Erin, and her Phoenix Team, a high 5 when you see them at our races, because we wouldn’t want to do it without them!
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Ambassador of the Month: Silas Thompson

Silas is a new face on the Green Events Ambassador team this year and we have been loving seeing him run the roads! Here’s what he had to say about his experience so far this year and what he has coming up.

What I have really enjoyed about green events has been the experience of running something new to me, most of my races with Green Events have been firsts for me. My first road half marathon was the Spring Equinox, my first 10k was the Earth Day races, and my first marathon will be the Fall Equinox! I have also very much enjoyed getting to meet a different side of the running community of Fort Collins that I haven’t interacted with as much. 

I am relatively new to running, my first race was the Black Squirrel Half Marathon in 2017. My girlfriend at the time convinced me I should run it with her and through the training that summer I fell in love with the sport and have since branched into longer and longer distances including my first 100-mile Herrace last spring in Zion. 

I applied to Green Events because this last year I have been trying to get to know more of the community and I figured this was a fun way to do it. 

My big upcoming races for me include Ultra-Trail des Païens 100k in France and Never Summer 100k both of which I am trying to podium at, and after the dust has settled, I will be racing the Fall Equinox Marathon in September. 

An interesting fact about me is I currently hold the course record for the fastest runner in a tie at the red feather trail jamboree 50k and the fastest ascent of south Horsetooth rock in an insulated poncho.

Although Silas is new to road racing, he has started out well, finishing 7th overall and 2nd in his age group at the Spring Equinox Half Marathon (1:19:22) and 2nd overall in the Earth Day 10k (37:03)!

You can follow Silas and his adventures @scary_uncle_les

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Dog of the Month: Dwight

Dwight has been placing in the Top Dog category, sponsored by Poudre Pet and Feed, the last few races and while he loves winning he doesn’t really care about the dog toy prizes because all he wants to do is run. However, his non-running dog sibling at home is overjoyed when he brings home his awards (toys and tennis balls).

Dwight would run 7 days a week, but we have to limit his runs to keep him healthy! His rest day is Friday, but has been known to rest on Monday as well. His pre-race fuel is Science Diet Adult Chicken and Barley mix. He always does a warm-up run to get loose and make sure he’s empty. His recovery is laying on the couch the rest of the day getting belly rubs and back massages. Occasionally, he’ll do a recovery run by chasing rabbits in the back yard.
He has run about 10 races so far. His first race was the Colorado Run 10k. That was when I (Karen Bennett) had to pull him to keep up. Now, he gets frustrated, having to pull me along. His longest race is the Horsetooth Half Virtual Race in 2020.
 
He wasn’t going to come to the Earth Day race, but he convinced us to bring him by literally following us around all morning and looking at us with those eyes.
The “eyes” we get when he wants to go run with us and we say no. He usually wins.
The “eyes” we get when he wants to go run with us and we say no. He usually wins.
Colorado Run 2021 - first race, back when I had to pull him along.
Colorado Run 2021 - first race, back when I had to pull him along.
Post Run - sharing his frustration with having to pull me along in the Sweater Run
Post Run - sharing his frustration with having to pull me along in the Sweater Run
Last Run - pulling me along to a PR
Last Run - pulling me along to a PR
Awe, he’s so humbled by the selection. His response when he was told he is Dog of the month. 🤣
Awe, he’s so humbled by the selection. His response when he was told he is Dog of the month. 🤣