2006 Inaugural Denver Marathon Hosts Largest Marathon in Colorado with More Than 5,000 Runners
Coloradoans Lead the Pack in Marathon and Half-Marathon in 2006 Inaugural Denver Marathon

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Posted Sunday, 15 October, 2006

DENVER, Colo. – October 15, 2006 – The 2006 world-class Denver Marathon™ marked its first year today welcoming more than 5,000 runners to the Mile High City, which included a marathon, a half-marathon, a four-person relay and the McDonald’s Mile Kids Race. The largest marathon event in Colorado history, the marathon portion of the event sold out its maximum marathon registration prior to race day. The Denver Marathon attracted runners from around the world, including 13 countries and 43 states within the continental United States, hundreds of spectators along the courses, local and national event sponsors and more than 600 volunteers who joined together to help make the event a huge success.

Marathon Results:
Local Superior, Colorado resident, Clint Wells, 31, took first place in the men’s marathon bracket with a time of 2:28:36. Paul DiGrappo, 25, of Castle Rock, Colorado took second with a time of 2:39:23 and Tony Roberts, 33, from Frederick, Colorado, rounded out the winner’s circle taking third place for a time of 2:41:08. In the women’s category, Taeko Terauchi, 33, Tokyo resident took first place with a time of 2:51:35. Elvira Kolpakova, 33, of Derwood, Maryland, took second with a time of 2:55:35 and Brandy Erholtz, 29, of Bailey, Colorado, placed third with a time of 2:58:47.

Half Marathon Results:
Local elite athlete Alan Culpepper from Lafayette, Colorado, 34, ranked the #2 marathoner in the U.S. by Track & Field News, took first place in the men’s marathon bracket with a time of 1:04:52. Michael Aish, 30, of Gunnison, Colorado, took second with a time of 1:05:51 and Alex Hudgins, 23, of Golden, Colorado rounded out the winner’s circle taking third place for a time of 1:12:58. Dawn Fischer, 40 of Gillette, Wyoming, won the women’s category with a time of 1:29:20. Anuta Catuna, 38, from Romania took second with a time of 1:31:05 and Kelly Meeter, 37, of Denver, finished third with a time of 1:32:23.

Individual and Corporate Relay Results:
Denver Fastest Relay team, titled “Top Five” placed first with a time of 3:02:25. “Phidippides Track Club” took second with a time of 3:05:58 and “70 FTS 557 FTS Sharkbait” won third with a team time of 3:13:40.

Holding the title as Denver’s Fastest Corporate Relay team, a team of four runners from 4240 Architecture won the relay with a time of 3:21:16. Businesses and organizations from around the state entered teams of four persons to run the Denver Marathon Corporate Relay of which 100 percent of the money raised will benefit Denver’s Road Home – Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper’s 10-year plan to end homelessness.

Kids Race:
The McDonald’s Mile Kids Race had an overwhelming 600 regional kids participate in its one mile fun-run to promote active lifestyles in the state of Colorado. Ronald McDonald kicked off the Kids Race with a stretching hour to prepare the runners for the race.

“We designed a course to distinguish the Denver Marathon from other marathons that included a beautiful scenic route for participants and high altitude conditions that challenged our elite field of runners,” said Dave McGillivray, Race Director of the Denver Marathon. “We congratulate not only the winners of this year’s events, but every athlete who participated in the 2006 Denver Marathon to mark this inaugural running experience for the city of Denver.”

The Denver Marathon course was designed by McGillivray and his Denver Marathon operations team. The course highlighted the cultural diversity of Denver’s communities by incorporating a mix of urban neighborhoods, shopping and restaurant districts, city parks and residential areas. The race course was flat and had little to no elevation change and was certified by USA Track & Field as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Approximately 100 participants in this year's Denver Marathon represented charitable organizations which are expected to raise more than $150,000. These charities include the American Council of the Blind of Colorado, Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI), Denver CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates FOR CHILDREN, Denver Rescue Mission, Denver’s Road Home, Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, Metro Denver Sports Foundation (MDSC) "Sneaker Week" and Warren Village.

Next year’s marathon is scheduled for October 21, 2007. For more information on the 2007 Denver Marathon, please visit www.denvermarathon.com.

About Denver Marathon™
The new Denver MarathonTM is owned and operated by Run Denver, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Experience Sports, LLC – a sports marketing and management company. Run Denver was created to develop an annual Denver marathon and half marathon that will bring a world-class running experience to the Denver community and economic and social vitality to the metro Denver area. For more information, please visit www.denvermarathon.com.

Press Contacts:
Regan Petersen: 303-332-3896
Trish Bennett: 303-931-0013

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