Preschool-age runners covered 550 yards at the Fall Series Kids Races on Sunday at Ute Valley Park.

PHOTOS: Pics from the Kids Races

ADULT RACE COVERAGE
RESULTS: Where did you place? 
VIDEO: Start of the Fall Series III Race
PHOTOS:  Gallery 1 ** Gallery 2 ** Gallery 3 ** Gallery 4

By Bob Stephens
PikesPeakSports.us
Ashley Anderson joined hundreds of other parents who watched their children have fun in an entertaining series of races Sunday. Like the others, she figures to do it again.

About 350 children – from toddlers to teenagers – participated in the Pikes Peak Road Runners Kids Races on Sunday at Eagleview Middle School adjacent to Ute Park. Anderson was one of the many parents who couldn’t stop smiling – and not just because the races are free for all entrants.

“I love every second of it,” Anderson said. “My husband (Jeff) and I want to help our kids love sports, and do things outside. We want them to take advantage of living in Colorado.”

Anderson watched her daughter, Aubrey, 3, run 40 yards in the Toddler Trot, then worked her way around the inside of the track to see her son, Archer, 5, race for 550 yards in the Preschool race.
The third race was for children ages 6-8 and was a half-mile. Kids ages 9-11 then ran 1.25 miles before the runners ages 12-14 raced 2.5 miles. The next Kids Races are at Palmer Park Nov. 17, as the Pikes Peak Road Runners' Fall Series concludes.

Jeff Anderson is in the Army and has been stationed in Afghanistan since July.

“That’s why I take lots of pictures and videos, to send to him,” Ashley Anderson said.

She heard about the races from a friend, and is glad she did.

“It’s the second time we’ve come to these,” she said. “Aubrey is social; she had fun. Archer is a runner, a fast runner. Now is the time for him to taste-test and see what sports he likes.”

Micky Simpson, the Kids Race Director the last six years, does a wonderful job coordinating and instructing the children before each race. She teaches sportsmanship and safety.

“It’s great to see the kids have so much fun,” said Simpson, who taught fourth grade for 18 years in Elbert before moving to preschool this year. “For the little ones, it’s about finding out how much fun it is. The older ones are competitive. The main goal for all is to get them outside to have fun. It’s good for them to be active, whether they’re playing soccer of football or running.”

Brian Crolley, who had two sons participate, agreed. Crolley and wife Marny Scalard, enjoyed watching their sons Jonas, 6, and Nathan, 18 months.

“It’s good for them to understand physical fitness is a part of life,” Crolley said. “Jonas has been doing this since he was Nate’s age.”

Simpson delights in watching the kids and the parents.

“They are thrilled,” she said of the parents. “They appreciate something that is organized and safe that they can bring their kids to.”

Pikes Peak Roadrunners pays for the Kids Races, mostly with entry fees from the adult race that precedes the children’s events. About 35 volunteers helped with the Kids Races – awarding ribbons to all young participants, helping lead and trail the runners on races, and running in the pack on longer races to ensure safety for all. The program started in 1991, said Fall Series race director Larry Miller.

“I don’t think there’s any better way for kids to have fun than to get them outside and running with friends,” Simpson said.

Connor McCabe certainly had a blast. The 14-year-old student from Mountain Ridge Middle School won the 2.5-mile race in 15:10 while running for King of the Mountain Running Club.

“I was pleased today,” said the well-spoken McCabe. “I like longer distances, like 10K, and I’ve done a 20K. I was second in the Great Pumpkin Run.”

McCabe, who usually runs against adults in area races, dreams of the 2020 Olympic Games, but hopes to earn a college scholarship prior to that. As for the Fall Series Kids Races, he said, “I think it’s really good for the younger kids. They can find out how much they like it and if they want to keep with it and pursue running.”