Race Interview: Brad Pace, Race Director The Colorado Run

Speaking with race director Brad Pace of the Colorado Run. Brad this is the 33rd year for the run. Can you tell us how you became associated with the race?

BP: Organizing a race takes a lot of time and energy, and after several years, the past director was ready to retire.  I took over organization in order to give something back to the running community, after my many years as a runner and participant. 

The Colorado Run has both a 5k and a 10k-and both races are smoking fast. What advice would you give both veteran runners in the event and first timers?

BP: Train well, then come run a fast one.  The 10k is a 3 lap criterion course, which is ideal for pacing yourself through a great race.  The 5k is a single loop, with the last mile rolling gently downhill to the finish... a great way to finish with a fast time!  Neither course has any noticeable uphills.

You are also the only Northern Colorado event that offers a corporate challenge, and you have a kids fun run and even suggested training programs right on the website. Can you speak to each of those briefly?

BP: The kids fun run is one in a series of free races geared toward promoting healthy kids.  Being a Labor Day, Monday run, we get almost 1,000 kids, since we are not competing with the other typical weekend sports programs. The corporate challenge has been another fun option to motivate work friends to train together with a goal in mind.  Companies can use our website training programs to get started.  It's a fun way to get in shape, and build some additional corporate camaraderie.

The race is on a Monday and is also travels on and near the CSU campus. Talk about the support you get from CSU in running the event.

BP: CSU has been great to work with, and being that the courses both stay on the campus, there is virtually no traffic.  And with Labor Day as a school holiday, there is also not much human traffic.  It's a great time and place to have a fun run.

 Most race directors I speak with tell me race day is just crazy. From getting up in the middle of the night until the last booth is packed up and hauled away you have your own little race day challenges and non-stop action. It has to be rewarding though to see everything come together on race day.

BP: Right, I would rather run in a race, that run a race!  It's a crazy last 24 hours of pulling together all of the pieces that make a good race.  If the organizational details are invisible to the runners, then I did well.http:/http://www.thecoloradorun.com/