Race tries to raise Barr in community awareness

By NICK WALTER
THE GAZETTE

When Matt Carpenter became cofounder of the Barr Trail Mountain Race five years ago, he wanted to make sure it was more than just a grueling 12-mile trek from the Cog Railway depot to Barr Camp and back.

He wanted it to be something that gave back to the community.

Thanks to sponsors like Pikes Peak National Bank, this year’s race will give back 100% of entry fees to Barr Camp, El Paso County Search and Rescue, Friends of the Peak, Manitou Springs Fire Department and TESSA.

Five area school programs will receive $6,000 total. Each high school, which was selected in a drawing, will run an aid station at various points on the course. Whichever station is voted the more entertaining will receive $2,250. Fifth place will receive $500.

In years past, some stations featured students wearing cow horns, playing music and squirting sweaty runners with super soakers.

This year’s schools are Colorado Springs Christian School, Coronado, Sierra, Cheyenne Mountain and Liberty, last year’s winner for dressing up as pirates.

“It makes it a little more fun and interesting,” said Carpenter, who has won the race two time and took second place last year. He’ll compete in this year’s race as well.

Also making the race more of a game are the $800 worth of primes. During the race, someone will randomly pop out from behind a tree and blow a horn. The first runner to the prime line after the horn blows receives however much that prime is worth.

There is a prime 150 yards into the race, but sprinting to it is not a wise choice since one could get burned out and miss the 3 hour and 30 minute cutoff time. Anyone under that time receives a Chipotle gift certificate and race T-shirt.

“The very first hill at the start is the steepest in the whole race,” Carpenter said. “Everybody seems to go out too fast and blow their energy.”

It is a race designed for the runner. Even race director Larry Miller has a racing history. He set the southern Oregon record in the marathon in 1973 in 2 hours, 22 minutes.

“People have been really great in stepping up and giving donations, which is cool,” Miller said.

When exhausted runners reach the finish line, they will be greeted by 75 watermelons, which are chilled by ice shavings from Sertich Ice Arena.

The race begins at 7 a.m. with raceday number pick-up from 5:45-6:30. The race has reached its 400-runner limit.

Contact the writer: 636-0250 or sports@gazette.com