By Lyndsie Ferrell
CREEDE— The annual Runoff Runoff Marathon kicked off the weekend in Creede early Saturday morning near the Road Canyon Reservoir 25 miles from town. The parking area around the reservoir began to fill with runners who planned on completing the full 25-mile race to the finish line. Busses left the ball park in Creede around 8 a.m. bringing the eager runners to the reservoir to start the day’s trek into town.
Well over 100 people participated in the event, which included both a half marathon and full 6K race. People from all walks of life signed up to compete this year and the event went off with out a hitch. “Overall, I think things went really well,” stated Headwaters Alliance Engagement Coordinator Laurel Smerch.
The event began as a way to educate the public on the importance of preserving the nation’s headwater rivers like the Rio Grande. In the early days, when Forrest Getz and Heather Dutton began the event, it was known to locals as the High Country Hustle and was the only fundraising event for the Willow Creek Reclamation Company (WCRC) for the year. The funds went directly to WCRC projects for the coming year and usually took place in April.
Now the race has gained speed and national attention from runners all over the globe. What began as a small local fundraiser has now become a large event for the education of water preservation and restoration throughout the region. All funds now go to preservation efforts through the Headwaters Alliance.
“The way I see it, its not just about running. The Rio Grande has an important pace in the lives of so many people who live all along it and it’s good for people to know where it all starts and why it’s so important that we’re doing all we can to be stewards of the river,” stated Smerch.
This year all participants finished in eight hours or less, some even coming in with a time just over three hours. The winners for this year’s marathon are as follows, Jackson Cole, 22, out of Alamosa, came in first for the weekend at three hours and 27 minutes; second place went to Kyle Clark, 35, out of Morrison, Colo. at three hours and 39 minutes; third place was awarded to Grantley Showalter, 24, from Alamosa, with three hours and 52 minutes.
After the race ended, participants were awarded with medals for participation and the afternoon kicked off with live entertainment, great food and beer from three local breweries.
Plans for next year’s race are well underway and a huge thanks goes out to all of the volunteers and sponsors that helped with the event.

Marathon results
1: Jackson Cole , Alamosa, 3:27:29
2: Kyle Clark, Morrison, Colo., 3:39:16
3: Grantley Showalter, Alamosa, 3:52:00
4: Noel Prandoni, Santa Fe, N.M., 3:57:23
5: Katelyn Snyder, Fort Defiance, Ariz., 4:44:59
6: Shauna Gutierrez, Alamosa, 5:03:36
7: Ashley Mccarty, Diboll, Texas, 5:07:40
8: K R Haga, Louisville, 5:17:38
9: Kelly Morris, Diboll, Texas, 5:25:38
10: Pat Kargol, Lyons, Colo., 5:29:23
11: Beth Davenport, Santa Fe, 5:55:10
12: Clifton Cartwright, Booneville, MS, 5:57:06
13: Bob Seago, Creede, 7:35:15

Half marathon results
1: Erik Wendt, Lexington S.C., 1:27:18
2: Adam Hartman, Denver, 1:31:35
3: Steve Byers, 1:33:54
4: Elisa Mullikin, Mancos, 1:35:51
5: Mike Pellow, Boulder, 1:36:58
6: Robert Scrivner, Aurora, 1:38:57
7: Jon Evraets, Wichita, Kans., 1:39:05
8: Alyssa Wendt, Westminster, 1:42:03
9: Melanie Die, Denver, 1:42:43
10: Elena Ter Kuile-Mille, La Jara, 1:44:54
11: Bob Bergman, Broomfield, 1:45:31
12: Benjamin Pacyga, Alamosa, 1:51:15
13: Peter Clelm, Aurora, 1:56:30
14: John Reesor, Alamosa, 2:01:55
15: Michael Strong , Wichita, Kans., 2:02:57
16: Christi Bode, Del Norte, 2:03:14
17: Nicolas Sablan, Del Norte, 2:05:42
18: Becca Cincoski, Denver, 2:07:52
19: Aaron Brick, Westminster, 2:08:05
20: Joy Jackson, Louisville, Colo., 2:10:10
21: Lisa Ferrantelli, Fort Collins, 2:14:41
22: Jennifer Wohlschlegel, Littleton, 2:18:34
23: Dewane Mosher, Alamosa, 2:20:15
24: Shelly Strong, Wichita, Kans., 2:22:13
25: Andrea Taillacq, Wellington, Colo., 2:29:18
26: Greg Peak, Salida, 2:30:23
27: Rebecca Legrett, Alamosa, 2:30:32
28: Gregory Taillacq, Wellington, Colo., 2:30:50
29: Annette Mullikin, Mancos, Colo., 2:31:46
30: Sarah Nesci, Alamosa, 2:32:15
31: Croix Williamson, Creede, 2:32:48
32: Rick Arnett, Fort Garland, 2:34:38
33: Marvin Hatton, Monte Vista, 2:37:24
34: Aaron Fleming, Salt Lake City, 2:47:20
35: Sarah Kenney, Howell, Mich., 2:49:40
36: Joseph Bjorkland, Lakewood, 2:51:28
37: Joelle Boos-Medina, Alamosa, 2:52:15
38: Stacie Stallings, Salida, 2:54:10
39: Elizabeth Koyle, San Antonio, 3:00:51
40: Lauren Boline, Alamosa, 3:01:54
41: Deb Haverfield, Monte Vista, 3:05:06
42: Martha Williamson, Del Norte, 3:08:53
43: Tanner Dutton, Del Norte, 3:08:53
44: Jeanne Mitchell, Louisville, Colo., 3:17:41
45: Kala Spangler, Longmont, 3:18:06
46: Michele Nielsen, Mesa, Ariz., 3:23:52
47: Blair Nielsen, Mesa, Ariz., 3:23:53

6K Run results
1: Jon Sasser, Louisville, Colo., 25:09
2: Joshua Lopez, Alamosa, 25:35
3: Mario Villalba, 28:50
4: Ernesto Villalba, 29:24
5: Trevor Lester, Monte Vista, 31:15
6: Ana Miller-Ter Kuile, La Jara, 31:22
7: Andrea Bachman, Alamosa, 32:11
8: Daniel Boyes, Alamosa, 32:12
9: Tom Morefield, Camp Verde, Ariz., 32:45
10: Greg Bervig, Alamosa, 33:02
11: Phil Bervig, Peoria, Ariz., 33:02
12: Brittany Harlan, Pagosa Springs, 33:26
13: John Adams, Alamosa, 33:32
14: Carlos Lopez, Alamosa, 33:44
15: Diana Miller-Ter Kui, La Jara, 34:21
16: Stacy Davis, Alamosa, 34:32
17: Megan Mattive, Monte Vista, 34:39
18: Cortney Johnson, Monte Vista, 34:44  
19: Jonna Anderson, Center, 36:08
20: Anne Piul, Creede, 36:22
21: Chris Quintara, 36:50
22: Mike Price, Longmont, 36:58
23: Angie Fowler,Glenwood Springs, 37:41
24: Mike Fowler, Glenwood Springs, 37:42
25: Brendan Simenc, Alamosa, 38:06
26: Terry Taddeucci, Santa Fe, 38:19
27: Jennifer Averette, South Fork, 38:52
28: Allie Arnett, Fort Garland, 38:53
29: Marita Prandani, Santa Fe, 40:18
30: Cami Heywood, Alamosa, 40:32
31: Brittany Johnson, Alamosa, 40:33
32: Jim Lavender, Creede, 41:53
33: Kelsey Waldorf, Alamosa, 42:05
34: Melissa Clark, Morrison, 43:07
35: Katherine Odonnell, Alamosa, 43:21
36: Jaxtin Lester, Monte Vista, 43:37
37: Heather Lester, Monte Vista, 43:38
38: Samantha Cordero, Monte Vista, 44:17
39: Amy Moran, 44:33
40: Isaac Poppleton, Denver, 46:02
41: Theo Poppleton, Denver, 46:02
42: Asher Poppleton, Denver, 46:05
43: Jayla Poppleton, Denver, 46:06
44: Bret Poppleton, Denver, 46:07
45: Jingwei Ma, Wellington, Colo., 47:44
46: Melissa Evraets, Wichita, Kans., 48:01
47: Sherry Lavender, Creede, 50:50
48: Mark Moreno, Westminster, 52:48
49: Maya Ter Kuile-Miller, La Jara, 53:26
50: Stephanie Posorske, Monte Vista, 53:52
51: Debra Sowards-Cerny, Alamosa, 55:08
52: Keith R Cerny, Alamosa, 55:09
53: Missy Kerrigan, 1:00:02
54: Chuck Kerrigan, 1:00:03
55: Erik Voss, Del Norte, 1:00:11
56: Kaylee Voss, Del Nort, 1:00:24
57: Crystal Voss, Del Norte, 1:00:26
58: Shannon Hamilton, Sanford, 1:03:02
59: Mary Russell, Alamosa, 1:05:42
60: Steven Russell, Alamosa, 1:05:44
61: Amanda Wade, Alamosa, 1:05:49
62: Myla Mortensen, La Jara, 1:05:51
63: Callie Adams, Alamosa, 1:06:22
64: George Amee, 1:07:14
65: Jim Collins, Creede, 1:15:21
66: Krysa Farve, Alamosa, 1:18:10
67: Zoe Flores, 1:18:13