By Monica Smith
A much needed change in weather created perfect racing conditions on Sunday at the 13th Summer Roundup Trail Run, allowing for several record-breaking race efforts.

Kelly Ramirez, 26, of Fort Collins was the first woman to cross the finish line, clocking in at 53 minutes, 9 seconds – a mere 26 seconds off the women’s course record, 52:43.

“That was a really good race,” Ramirez said.  “It was pretty straightforward (and) went out a little quick, (but I) got to first place by two miles and then just kind of stuck with some men that I was near.”

As pleased as Ramirez was with her race, she said she was more happy to have great weather for running - temperatures in the 60s and no wind. The cool morning was a contrast to the days leading up to the race, when record heat and smoke from devastating wildfires scorched Colorado's Front Range.

“It’s been really hard to train lately because of the smoke,” she said. “Everyone is affected just walking around breathing, but that just makes you appreciate being able to come out and run a race like this (with) a clear day and cool weather. It was perfect racing weather."

Ramirez, who placed second at the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run four weeks ago, said she plans to race the entire Triple Crown of Running series, taking on the Pikes Peak Ascent in August. After two series races, she is ranked first among the women.

Rachael Cuellar, 30, of Albuquerque, may have had the best day of all. She finished second in the women's race with a time of 54:40, shattering the old 30-34 age-group record of 55:13. And she is 19-weeks pregnant.

“My plan was just to go as fast as I could downhill because, I knew I wasn’t in any cardiovascular shape to be pushing it up,” Cuellar said.

As Cuellar approaches the end of her second trimester, she said the Roundup will likely be her last hard effort for the year. She placed fourth in the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run in June.

Read more about Cuellar's pregnancy and her Garden of the Gods race.

“I signed up for it (Summer Roundup) earlier in the year and I just wanted to do it,” she said. “I might just do some 5K’s around Albuquerque, but that’s about it.”

Cuellar said she had also registered for the Pikes Peak Ascent prior to her pregnancy, with an initial plan of doing the Triple Crown of Running. She said she hopes to return next year to compete in the entire series.

Third to cross the finish line for the women was Rochelle Persson, 44, of Colorado Springs. Persson finished in 55:02, breaking the 40-44 age division record (56:04).

Persson said this record was a stepping stone toward one of her 2012 goals.

“I’m trying to get the master’s record back for the Triple Crown races (from) Lisa Goldsmith, who got it last year from (my previous record),” Persson said.

Goldsmith set the master’s record in 5:02:55 in 2011, and was at 2:12:00 after two legs of the series. And after today’s race Persson is on track to reach her goal with a total time of 2:05:43 after two races.

Persson will have to run at least 2:56 in the Pikes Peak Ascent to do so.Cuellar and Persson’s records were just two of eight set at this year’s Summer Roundup.

Read about all of the new records here.

The race is the second leg of the Triple Crown of Running series, which finishes up with the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon races on August 18 and 19.