Jan 31, 2007 7:52 pm US/Mountain
Denver Marathon Features 2-For-1 Registration Deal
by Libby Smith, CBS4 Special Projects Producer
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Runners who were signed up for the Denver Marathon before midnight Wednesday night are getting a "Buddy Pass" to sign up someone else for free.
Race officials are encouraging runners to sign up early for the October race. As part of CBS4's Fit 4 Colorado campaign, the station is encouraging people to set long-term fitness goals like running a half-marathon or marathon.
The "Buddy Pass" is inspiring some buddies to start training right now. Despite the bitter cold, Dominic Rubio and his mentor, Major Easthagen, have already had a couple of training runs. They signed up on Wednesday.
"It was kind of hard at first, the 15-year-old Rubio told CBS4. "I mean, I ran like a mile-and-a-half or something like that, but I had to stop because I'm not fit for it yet."
Over the next 9 months, Rubio and Easthagen plan to get fit enough to finish 26 miles. It's a goal they've set as part of the Colorado Youth at Risk program. Through the program, Easthagen and Rubio were paired for a year long mentorship. Together they are supposed to set and achieve a goal. Easthagen hopes running will offer Rubio some lasting life lessons.
"Long term, I hope that he learns to set a goal, identify with it, then kinda work towards it and then reach it," Easthagen said.
Reaching the goal means reaching the finish line at October's race. The Denver Marathon's "Buddy Pass" will mean that Rubio and Easthagen will be able to run together for the entire 26 miles.
"Running a marathon isn't easy," Anton Villatoro, Denver Marathon executive director, told CBS4. "Many people need the support and motivation of another person to make it to the finish line."
In this case, that support and motivation could go even farther than the finish line.
Register To Run
Additional Resources
- Fit4Colorado is a collaboration among CBS4, America On the Move and other corporate partners to help individuals eat better, move more and live well. Click here for more information.
(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
