Colorado HOME. Sunshine, thin air, comfortable temps, Memorial Day approaching. But first… Colfax. Colorado’s largest road marathon. Denver-positioned & one I LOVE. Not once, twice thru Mile High Stadium — sign me up! And this year, no Canadian forest-smoke hazing our Rockies view 🙂
Saturday, Expo day. HUGE event, 30k registered (4 races). Snake the full oval of Broncos’ Stadium. Then… make your way outta Denver before weekend ski traffic returns (last Divide slopes still open for business). Expo Highlight: nabbed a bonus medal for completing a ‘double’ [any pre-Colfax] marathon in 2024. Smiles & thank you. Super appreciative! #100 marathons 100-miler
Sunday, RUN day. Sleeps or not, 2:30am comes early. Clothes/food/hydration all prepped in advance. Woke/walked/fed pup. Secured on-street parking, mile + walk to City Park. I’m here… again!
State Capitol dome, Denver Zoo, first pass thru Empower Field.
Pulled forward, stayed within earshot of 4:45 Pace Group (target crew). Sloan’s Lake, congested/crowds pushing in. Just 2 miles of this. Breathe. Chest tight. Overwhelmed. Panic increasing, sound sound sound. Plan B. Tagged a faster runner, drafted/stayed body-close. Focused on this guy’s pace, his yellow shirt. Outta the park, done. Quarter-mile walk, pace group back, right on target.
And just like Fort Collins (2 weeks ago), surprisingly… 26.2 miles felt comfortable/short after ’50K every day’. Shared horrible ‘Dad jokes’ with my crew, miles 23/24. Kicked it up & ran a strong last mile.
Happiest Colfax to date. Collected a post-race beverage & laid long in the grass. [Low-calorie beer not necessarily non-alcoholic… & now we know.] Memorial Day 2024? Marathoning in the Big D. Dallas.
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- 30,000 STRONG 💪
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- Mile High Stadium
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- Colfax SMILE
Denver Colfax Marathon
Folks, it was a day for DUCKS. Well, arctic ducks I guess. 37 degrees & RAIN… in Colorado! Hypothermic but my first home-state FINISH of 2024. Whoop whoop! 🙌
Texted run-buddy Karen nite before & gave her a way out after seeing the forecast. Rain started at 8pm, temp dropped almost 40 degrees. Been such a beautiful week of SPRING, 70s & sunshine every day. Ho hum… a day for ducks. My friend Karen? Oh yeah, she was there — & just as Pollyanna as ever. God gave this one an extra shaker of salt.
And then came the wind. Oh my.
Warm-up lap ’round the rez lake in Brighton. We were to keep 12:30-13:30 minute/mile pace for next 20 miles (Karen’s goal distance). Set landmarks, kept it fun & conversational.
This day… I’m the Pollyanna. Rushing River. Karen’s summit. Muck wuck. Holy pavers. ‘Honor, Celebrate, Respect, Remember’ (later, Vomit Pavillon). Keenan’s mini-summit. Lakeside half-mile of quiet. the Rainbow Slide (dance included). AND… Hymnal Rock.
Whole lotta work for a pair of golden scissors!
21 miles. Check, done. Goal pace met. Picked it up last 10 miles to finish-up 50K distance & enjoy a bowl of WARM vegan chili. If the weather’s miserable enough, even us meat-eaters won’t turn down vegan. LOL>
Keeping it local again next week. Trail on Saturday, Sunday road. Colorado PROUD!
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- 50-stater Lisa
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- ‘Rushing River’
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- SCISSORS buddy
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- GOLD scissors 🎖️
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- wet & MUCKY
Riverdale Regional Park, CO
Costume changes, vibrant COLOR and… that voice!
Mahogany (1975)
Diana Ross @ Red Rocks – not Denver’s Pepsi Center, where techs can modulate tone, smooth-over pitch problems. Outdoor exposed, FULL voice, the Diana Ross.
Hundred years ago, The Supremes were one of my RCA Music Club entry-choices – 12 cassettes for a single penny. Remember mail-order music clubs? One penny, then a headache of correspondence to get outta the pyramid scheme. pre-Internet.
VOICE. Distinct/unique – ya know it’s Diana Ross – but it was never ‘bout the lyrics.
GLAMOUR. Lashes, big eyes, perfect skin – and Mahogany. Movie now crazy dated but the ending? WOW, still movie magic! And that SONG. Heart strings every time.
“Madam, would you love & cherish him for the rest of your life – YES! Madam…YES!”
Funnel cake, Ain’t No Mountain & Diana Ross – on a Monday nite. Anytime a friend asks, are you interested…YES! Life well lived. Red Rocks forever memory ❤️
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- crab taco TAILGATE
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- Mahogany Monday
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- S’mores FUNNEL CAKE
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- “I’m Coming Out”
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- M-A-G-I-C
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- “The Look of Love”
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- *SOLD OUT*
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- “Ain’t No Mountain”
the Diana Ross
Diana Ross *FINALE*
Diana Ross solidified her diva status at Red Rocks
By Barbara Ellis Jul 23, 2019, 10:46 am
…after a quick set change at about 8:45, the first notes of “I’m Coming Out” were heard from off-stage, and Ross herself (covered in yards and yards of red satin and tulle) swept onto stage.
And all was forgiven.
Accompanied by a powerful band and four stellar backup singers, Ross kept the hits coming with “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Touch Me In the Morning” and “Love Child.”
…an intoxicating mixture of Motown, disco, fashion, funk and wafts of pot smoke in the magical venue.
Ross made sure she looked good for this diamond anniversary tour, indulging in at least four costume changes — all with fluttering, matching fans. But those disruptions were easily forgiven because the lead singer of the Supremes in the 1960s and longtime solo artist proved she still has the pipes.
