September, 2002 Fit to be Tied Column

From the Pueblo Chieftain
by Gary Franchi

The YMCA Corporate Cup

Finally, the time has come for an athletic event for the everyday man and woman, the true ordinary mortals.

While its aim is to promote health and fitness, for the most part it doesn't require great physical ability. If you can, say, walk three miles, roll a bowling ball or ride a bike at any speed, you can participate. Regardless of your age, you can compete.

I'm talking about the Corporate Cup, the multi-event fitness challenge that is conducted annually by the Pueblo YMCA for local organizations, businesses and corporations. Its ultimate purpose is to promote healthy lifestyles - not a bad concept considering the way health insurance rates have jumped out of the roof.

The Corporate Cup adrenaline begins flowing Sept. 21, and activities will be spread over nine days at various venues across Pueblo. The events include a 5K (3.1 miles) predicted time walk/run, swim and track relays, bowling, golf, basketball shoot, mile run, 12-mile predicted time bike ride, softball and volleyball.

The adrenaline has already been flowing for months for Nicole Means, the YMCA's health and fitness director. She observed her first Corporate Cup as a helper last year before becoming its coordinator this year.

"We started meeting in January, making contacts and taking notes" of ideas discussed, said Means, a native of the state of Maine who grew up in Colorado Springs.

What came out of those meetings were a couple of the new twists that seem to mark every year's Corporate Cup. One was to add the three-day softball tournament to the list of events. The other was to initiate a health challenge that began back in February and continued for 12 weeks.

It consisted of participants having their blood pressure, body fat and heart rate checked on a regular basis. You might say this challenge, more than any of the regular events, represents the true spirit of the Corporate Cup.

So, how many would you imagine participated, a dozen or so?

Try 106! And, as Means pointed out, "they were mostly people that have never participated in the Corporate Cup." Final evaluations were conducted at the business sight of the participants.

Another nice new touch to the Corporate Cup this year is its very user-friendly web site - at corpcup.puebloymca.org - that was produced by Puebloan Michael Orendorff.

Corporate Cup questions should be directed to the YMCA at 543-5151, and those who can help produce any of the events as a volunteer should call Ben Valdez at the same number.

Running Notes

• This is a great time of year for those who prefer long distances and have been putting in the miles all summer. Colorado has a couple of super marathons up north this month, with the Mile High City in Denver on Sept. 15 and the Boulder Backroads (on trails) on Sept. 29. Both also have half-marathons.
• Closer to home is the Autumn Color Run in Buena Vista on Sept. 21. This event includes a half-marathon, 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run. Go to www.fourteenernet.com/colorrun/ for information and/or to register.
• Woodland Park also has the 15-mile Pony Express Trail Run on Sept. 15. And next month, inaugural 26.2-milers scheduled are the Easy Street Marathon in Fort Collins on Oct. 6 and the Durango Marathon on Oct. 13.

  And the Grand Prix race series will continue with a half-marathon, 5K and 10K on Sept. 29 at the Air Force Academy.

• The only Pueblo race this month is the Hot to Trot 5K, which will be held Sept. 22 in the Union Avenue Historic District. Entry forms are at the YMCA and the Gold Dust Saloon. Pre-registration is being handled by the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, so please don't take or mail forms to the Gold Dust Saloon.
• Rick Hough, 37, was the top-finishing Pueblo runner in the American Discovery Trail Marathon held on Labor Day. Rick's 3:43:07 time placed him 27th overall and eighth out of 28 in his age division.
• Puebloans Mark Koch and Maddy Tormoen took fifth place overall in their respective male and female divisions of the challenging Triple Crown of Running. Koch, 43, was first in his age division while Tormoen, 40, was second in hers.

Multi-sport notes

• The multisport season is winding down for the year, but a big area one still on the table is the Tenderfoot Triathlon/Duathlon that will take place on Sept. 21 in Salida. Swimmers won't get cold doing 1,000 meters in the Salida Hot Springs pool in Centennial Park before riding 40K on the bike and running a 10K. There also are short-course triathlons for kids 7-9 and 10-12 years of age. Go to the www.active.com event website for more information.
• Puebloan Gerald Puls, won his 75-79 age division at the Boulder Peaks Triathlon with a 4:46:33 time over the course that included a 1.5K swim, 42K bike and 10K run. College student Patricia Orendorff of Pueblo, competing in the 20-24 age division, finished with a 3:01:39 time.

Upcoming Pueblo-area Races

* Sep. 22 - Hot to Trot 5K, 8 a.m., Union Avenue Historic District (542-1704).
* Oct. 23 - Soaring Eagles Run/Walk, 5K, 8 a.m., USC campus (489-2605).
* Oct. 26 - Harvest Poker PredictionRun, 5M, 5 p.m., Lovell Park in Pueblo West (564-9303)
* Nov. 23 - Atalanta 5K, run/walk, 9 a.m., City Park (549-2236).
* Nov. 30 - Temple Canyon Prediction Run, 4M, Canon City (784-6514).

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