PHOTO: Colorado Running Company Runner Connilee Walter captured the women's race in the Tortoise and Hare 5K.

VIDEO: Tortoise and Hare Race start
PHOTO GALLERY: Tortoise and Hare 5K

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Chuck Smead doesn't do much running in Colorado Springs these days, but those who have put in some miles and years on area trails will remember him.

Smead, who lives near Mosca in the San Louis Valley, set the olf Pikes Peak Ascent overall record of 2:05:22 in 1976. It was later broken by Matt Carpenter,who still holds the record.

Smead returned to Colorado Springs on Saturday and won the Tortoise and Hare 5K in Monument Valley Park.

The race has a unique format with each runner receiving a handicap time based on their age and weight. Smead, 59, had a handicap of 5 minutes, 11 seconds. His overall 5K time was 18:39. With his handicap subtracted, his official race time was 13:28.

The format gives slower runners a chance to win the race and some say it is a true good measurement of each runner's conditioning. And it is fun. Runners often record their fastest times because they know there are stronger runners closing the gap behind them.

"I was hoping to run a little faster," Smead said. "But I guess I'll take it."
Smead admitted he does have an advantage over other racers. He is the current masters indoor national champion at 3,000 meters, a title he won two months ago in Albuquerque.

Colorado Running Company runner and mother of five Connilee Walter was the fastest woman. She placed second overall with a handicapped time of 13:54 (19:26 actual.)
"I think this (format) is great," she said. "It makes for a fun race."

One runner received more applause at the finish line than any other. Four-year-old Noah Soyk ran with his father, Trevor Soyk and crossed the finish line in full stride.

His fist words, after finishing his first race? "I'm hungry, I want to get something to eat!"

Trevor Soyk was a proud dad.

"We've been training for this for a couple of weeks," Trevor said. "Noah thought he was ready to go and we did it!"