Tho-Run: This is the 17th year for the Cottonwood Classic. You don't stay around that long without a great team effort. Describe the organization in place to host the event.
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
We utilize a lot of key part-time recreation staff from the City of Thornton that are very organized and professional. I think they take pride in doing a good job at this event and have a great time! BKB has been a great partner also and the scoring has been problem free over the last several years (knock on wood!).
Tho-Run: The course is flat which makes for some super fast times. But you also draw lots of families and walkers. Why do you think Cottonwood is so popular with all types of runners and walkers?
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
We started an “Elementary Schools Division” in 2004 designed to encourage kids to get into running and practice a healthy lifestyle. Typically a teacher or parent volunteer from the school will organize a running club to train for our event and we give them a discount on the entry fee. In 2011 we had 16 schools enter with a total of 524 participants! Awards are given to the fastest coed team of four and to the schools that get the most participants.
Tho-Run: Lots of races have post race drawings, but Cottonwood really has some great sponsors for both drawings and goody bags. That takes a lot of work by a lot of people. How have you managed to get such a great response from so many businesses?
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
Really one person, Pam Rieger! She is a part-time staff member at our Recreation Center and spends months soliciting give aways and prizes.
Last year we had a record 53 merchants donate a total of $25,941 in various items for our goody bags and post event prize drawing.
Tho-Run: Runners are always looking for competitive races. It helps that you have separate start times for runners and walkers. Is that something you've done in the past or a recent change?
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
We’ve done that for as long as I can remember. Just last year we did separate the schools division to have their own start. We’ve also always been committed to the race walking community and have offered this division. This year we are part of the Colorado Runner Race Series and in 2010 we were named the “Best 5K” by readers of Colorado Runner Magazine. Online registration is at http://www.runningguru.com/ and walk-in registration is at the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Boulevard or Runners Roost, 1685 South Colorado Boulevard starting May
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
We utilize a lot of key part-time recreation staff from the City of Thornton that are very organized and professional. I think they take pride in doing a good job at this event and have a great time! BKB has been a great partner also and the scoring has been problem free over the last several years (knock on wood!).
Tho-Run: The course is flat which makes for some super fast times. But you also draw lots of families and walkers. Why do you think Cottonwood is so popular with all types of runners and walkers?
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
We started an “Elementary Schools Division” in 2004 designed to encourage kids to get into running and practice a healthy lifestyle. Typically a teacher or parent volunteer from the school will organize a running club to train for our event and we give them a discount on the entry fee. In 2011 we had 16 schools enter with a total of 524 participants! Awards are given to the fastest coed team of four and to the schools that get the most participants.
Tho-Run: Lots of races have post race drawings, but Cottonwood really has some great sponsors for both drawings and goody bags. That takes a lot of work by a lot of people. How have you managed to get such a great response from so many businesses?
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
Really one person, Pam Rieger! She is a part-time staff member at our Recreation Center and spends months soliciting give aways and prizes.
Last year we had a record 53 merchants donate a total of $25,941 in various items for our goody bags and post event prize drawing.
Tho-Run: Runners are always looking for competitive races. It helps that you have separate start times for runners and walkers. Is that something you've done in the past or a recent change?
Race Director, Mike Coulter:
We’ve done that for as long as I can remember. Just last year we did separate the schools division to have their own start. We’ve also always been committed to the race walking community and have offered this division. This year we are part of the Colorado Runner Race Series and in 2010 we were named the “Best 5K” by readers of Colorado Runner Magazine. Online registration is at http://www.runningguru.com/ and walk-in registration is at the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Boulevard or Runners Roost, 1685 South Colorado Boulevard starting May
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