 One of the Wave Starts |
 One of the Wave Starts |
Conditions: Temp Minus-Two, sunny, Snowpacked & Icy Bike and Run Courses
One of the Wave Starts |
One of the Wave Starts |
February 18, 2006 - Cherry Creek State Park, Denver, CO: Chilly Cheeks are one thing, but the thermometer read a frigid minus-twelve as volunteers were setting up the course for the final race in the 2005-06 Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series. The previous Denver record was minus-three!
Would anyone show up?
Well, 56 participants arrived at packet pick-up, bikes in tow, ready to tackle the 10.8 mile ride and 4 mile run. Sure, the bike course was covered almost entirely in packed snow and ice, and the run was much the same, but the entry form clearly stated that the race would be run in whatever conditions Mother Nature decided would add spice to the day.
For the 50-or-so entrants who decided to stay in bed on the coldest weekend of the year in Denver - you missed out on a truly memorable morning.
The race started on the bike in waves of up to 7 riders - each wave starting at 1 minute intervals, and the official start-time temperature had warmed to a more tolerable minus-two, and the sun was shining.
The majority of the field wisely chose to ride mountain bikes, for the added traction, however there were a few who chose to tackle the course on road bikes. The staggered start was determined by random draw, making the race for first a mystery among the top racers.
The race was especially tight on the men's side. Edward Oliver regularly battles for the top spot in the Fat Tire division. He was excited today to see how he would do against the roadies who were doing the race on their mountain bikes. Oliver started in the second wave, but moved to the front after just a mile of racing. It was cold and lonely for the rest of the race as he cruised across the finish line nearly 5 minutes ahead of the next finisher.
With 16 starting waves, Oliver would have to wait to see how the rest of the athletes faired.
Next across the line was Silvio Guerra, who started in the 7th wave - 5 minutes behind Oliver. Guerra started the 4 mile run well back in the pack, but this 2:09 marathon runner who has placed 2nd in the Boston Marathon used his leg speed to devour the competition and vault into the lead.
Series leader Andy Palmer crossed the line next, amazed at the speed with which Guerra went past, but Guerra's run was not enough to conquer the lead Palmer (Wave-10) had gained on the bike. Palmer was now the race leader, with several other overall contenders still on the course.
Finally, as the 10th finisher crossed the line, the race had it's men's winner. Brian Krombein, second to Palmer in the January event, took a gamble and rode the road bike - with aerobars - as he started in the 15th wave. His final margin of victory was just 9 seconds over Palmer, yet it was Palmer who retained the lead in the series point standings to claim his second straight Open Division title in the Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series.
There was less drama in the women's race as former Saturn pro cyclist Julie Hudetz, starting on her mountain bike in wave-4 caught and passed many of the male riders who started ahead of her.
Hudetz held a commanding lead as she hit transition, then the former Iowa high school state champion 3,000 meter runner put together a solid run to take the women's win.
Following the race, participants warmed up with hot Ramen Noodles and Hot Cocoa, before bolting for their cars. As the last finishers crossed the line the day had warmed into the single digits.
The Chilly Cheeks Awesome On-Course Raffle tradition continued, and random finishers were handed stellar prizes as they crossed the line. These included an MP3 Player loaded with workouts from FitBeats, free chiropractic exams from Dondero Chiropractic (owned by duathlete Darren Dondero), as well as clothing, gift certificates, and merchandise from our sponsors Excel Sports, LaSportiva, GoLite, and Hammer Nutrition.
16 Wave Random Seeded Start at 1 Minute Intervals
*FT=Fat Tire Division (must ride a MTB)
*Open=Any Bike is acceptable (choose based on weather)
**For series standings, ages are calculated based on 01/01/06
Place Name City St Age S Sp W Time
===== =================== ================== == === = == = =======
1 Krombein Brian Highlands Ranch CO 33 M O 1:01:26
2 Palmer Andy Centennial CO 34 M J 1:01:35
3 Muscianisi Dave Littleton CO 35 M K 1:02:57
4 Guerra Silvio Golden CO 37 M FT G 1:02:58
5 Oliver Edward Littleton CO 37 M FT B 1:03:12
6 McCrary Nathan Colorado Springs CO 30 M FT M 1:06:44
7 Versaw Rob Colorado Springs CO 17 M FT P 1:07:07
8 Dunkleberger James Highlands Ranch CO 32 M M 1:07:29
9 Little Justin enver CO 31 M H 1:09:05
10 Dillard Mark Englewood CO 40 M D 1:09:19
11 Kulcsar Charles U S A F Academy CO 22 M N 1:09:51
12 Klink Brian Aurora CO 40 M FT H 1:09:52
13 Hudetz Julie Boulder CO 37 F FT D 1:10:07
14 Koger Ivy Boulder CO 32 M FT C 1:11:07
15 Cooper Geoff Boulder CO 50 M O 1:11:31
16 Churgovich Ray Broomfield CO 40 M FT F 1:12:39
17 hart john greenwood village CO 54 M FT C 1:12:47
18 Wasserman Michael Englewood CO 46 M E 1:13:46
19 vonGraffenberg Dere Littleton CO 31 M H 1:14:28
20 Minett Everet Eagle CO 20 M A 1:14:39
21 Kelble David Denver CO 48 M FT N 1:15:38
22 pardoe tony longmont CO 43 M I 1:16:09
23 Purrington Julia Pine CO 30 F N 1:17:22
24 Lamm Matt Parker CO 32 M FT H 1:17:35
25 Dondero Darren Littleton CO 35 M B 1:18:45
26 Ridgway Diane Arvada CO 57 F L 1:18:46
27 elliott chris lafayette CO 29 M H 1:18:48
28 Hood Richard Denver CO 32 M FT I 1:19:10
29 Rogers-Peckham Jon Highlands Ranch CO 40 M FT H 1:19:20
30 Biggs C. Arthur Englewood CO 36 M FT J 1:19:20
31 Purrington Chris Pine CO 39 M P 1:20:37
32 Savago Justin Basalt CO 33 M FT M 1:20:43
33 Groaning Michael Boulder CO 34 M E 1:20:51
34 White Will Loveland CO 34 M FT I 1:21:37
35 Strebe Peter Ft. Collins CO 48 M M 1:24:09
36 Smith Doug!! Denver CO 39 M K 1:24:47
37 Gavach Mark Boulder CO 42 M FT M 1:25:15
38 Spindler Christine Littleton CO 34 F J 1:25:25
39 Haywood Don Ft. Collins CO 57 M B 1:26:42
40 Vollmar Mick Broomfield CO 51 M E 1:27:16
41 McNair Bryan Ft Collins CO 28 M FT E 1:28:38
42 Campbell Julie Aurora CO 31 F FT N 1:29:27
43 Pereira Michael Denver CO 30 M E 1:29:38
44 Fraser Bryan Erie CO 38 M E 1:33:21
45 Moore Bob Louisville CO 60 M FT C 1:34:31
46 Breaux Jean-Pierre Centennial CO 22 M O 1:36:23
47 Bacon Janet Golden CO 43 F FT C 1:37:10
48 Kelly Robert Northglenn CO 37 M I 1:37:47
49 Wykstra Jessica Fountain CO 28 F N 1:39:23
50 Maldonado Paul Parker CO 43 M FT F 1:42:11
51 Smith Allison Parker CO 38 F FT C 1:45:11
52 Agey Teresa Fountain CO 35 F N 2:13:59
* Open Division athletes may ride whatever bike the weather dictates
* Fat Tire Division Athletes Must Ride a MTB
MALE OPEN DIV. AGE GROUP: 0 - 39
1 1 Krombein Brian 33 Highlands Ranch CO 1:01:26
2 2 Palmer Andy 34 Centennial CO 1:01:35
3 3 Muscianisi Dave 35 Littleton CO 1:02:57
4 8 Dunkleberger James 32 Highlands Ranch CO 1:07:29
5 9 Little Justin 31 enver CO 1:09:05
6 11 Kulcsar Charles 22 U S A F Academy CO 1:09:51
7 19 vonGraffenberg Dere 31 Littleton CO 1:14:28
8 20 Minett Everet 20 Eagle CO 1:14:39
9 25 Dondero Darren 35 Littleton CO 1:18:45
10 27 elliott chris 29 lafayette CO 1:18:48
11 31 Purrington Chris 39 Pine CO 1:20:37
12 33 Groaning Michael 34 Boulder CO 1:20:51
13 36 Smith Doug!! 39 Denver CO 1:24:47
14 43 Pereira Michael 30 Denver CO 1:29:38
15 44 Fraser Bryan 38 Erie CO 1:33:21
16 46 Breaux Jean-Pierre 22 Centennial CO 1:36:23
17 48 Kelly Robert 37 Northglenn CO 1:37:47
FEMALE OPEN DIV. AGE GROUP: 0 - 39
1 23 Purrington Julia 30 Pine CO 1:17:22
2 38 Spindler Christine 34 Littleton CO 1:25:25
3 49 Wykstra Jessica 28 Fountain CO 1:39:23
4 52 Agey Teresa 35 Fountain CO 2:13:59
MALE OPEN DIV. AGE GROUP: 40 - 49
1 10 Dillard Mark 40 Englewood CO 1:09:19
2 18 Wasserman Michael 46 Englewood CO 1:13:46
3 22 pardoe tony 43 longmont CO 1:16:09
4 35 Strebe Peter 48 Ft. Collins CO 1:24:09
MALE OPEN DIV. AGE GROUP: 50 - 99
1 15 Cooper Geoff 50 Boulder CO 1:11:31
2 39 Haywood Don 57 Ft. Collins CO 1:26:42
3 40 Vollmar Mick 51 Broomfield CO 1:27:16
FEMALE OPEN DIV. AGE GROUP: 50 - 99
1 26 Ridgway Diane 57 Arvada CO 1:18:46
MALE FAT-TIRE AGE GROUP: 0 - 39
1 4 Guerra Silvio 37 Golden CO 1:02:58
2 5 Oliver Edward 37 Littleton CO 1:03:12
3 6 McCrary Nathan 30 Colorado Springs CO 1:06:44
4 7 Versaw Rob 17 Colorado Springs CO 1:07:07
5 14 Koger Ivy 32 Boulder CO 1:11:07
6 24 Lamm Matt 32 Parker CO 1:17:35
7 28 Hood Richard 32 Denver CO 1:19:10
8 30 Biggs C. Arthur 36 Englewood CO 1:19:20
9 32 Savago Justin 33 Basalt CO 1:20:43
10 34 White Will 34 Loveland CO 1:21:37
11 41 McNair Bryan 28 Ft Collins CO 1:28:38
FEMALE FAT-TIRE AGE GROUP: 0 - 39
1 13 Hudetz Julie 37 Boulder CO 1:10:07
2 42 Campbell Julie 31 Aurora CO 1:29:27
3 51 Smith Allison 38 Parker CO 1:45:11
MALE FAT-TIRE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49
1 12 Klink Brian 40 Aurora CO 1:09:52
2 16 Churgovich Ray 40 Broomfield CO 1:12:39
3 21 Kelble David 48 Denver CO 1:15:38
4 29 Rogers-Peckham Jon 40 Highlands Ranch CO 1:19:20
5 37 Gavach Mark 42 Boulder CO 1:25:15
6 50 Maldonado Paul 43 Parker CO 1:42:11
FEMALE FAT-TIRE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49
1 47 Bacon Janet 43 Golden CO 1:37:10
MALE FAT-TIRE AGE GROUP: 50 - 99
1 17 hart john 54 greenwood village CO 1:12:47
2 45 Moore Bob 60 Louisville CO 1:34:31