His face was crusted with dust and sweat. He'd been beaten by the wind and sun. His cool runner's beard resembled a tumbleweed. Beneath it all, Pete Maksimow wore a smile.

When he crossed the finish line at Saturday's Greenland Trail 50K, Maksimow shed some doubts and gained a course record.

"I was really working it on that last lap," Maksimow said. "I was trying to get my legs moving."

Suffice it to say, his legs moved plenty fast. Maksimow, 33, of Manitou Springs, hit the finsh line in 3:22:09, eclipsing the overall mark (3:23:11) set by Justin Ricks in 2008.
It was Maksimow's second-consecutive win in the Greenland 50K. He narrowly missed the record in 2011.

"I've thought about it ever since then," Maksimow said. "It was a good time. Justin's record was solid."

Race Results in Finish Line Index

Maksimow, who races for INOV-8 and the Colorado Running Company, isn't exactly known for running ultra events. But in Colorado, he's tough company in middle distance trail races. His big goal for the year is to qualify for the U.S. Mountain Running Team and compete in the World championships. A year ago, he barely missed that goal.
With 22 miles behind him - and nine to go - on the rolling hills of Greenland Open Space, he beared down and fought for every second.

"I was just trying to work the downhills," he said. "It was a matter of pacing. I was trying for a 50-minute lap (on laps of about 7.5 miles). It's long and I don't like feeling as if my body won't move. It kind of became a slog."
It was a big day for records, despite warm temperatures.

Running in only her second 50K, Kerrie Bruxvoort, 35, of Broomfield, crushed the course record, charging to the win in 3:51:25, and knocking about 12 minutes off of Melanie Fryar's old mark of 4:03:33 (set in 2011.)

Where did Bruxvoort get that speed? A stay-at-home mom, she puts in 30 miles on Saturdays and then does repeats on the steep hills in Boulder on Sundays. And she was motivated by a gorgeous race course.

"It's beautiful out here and I love to run," she said. "That's all I need."

Bruxvoort's record time came as a surprise to some Greenland veterans. Derek Griffiths, race director and editor and publisher of Colorado Runner Magazine, was a little bit shocked.

"I didn't think a woman could run under four hours on this course," he said.

Stephanie Jones, 41, of Colorado Springs, was second in the 50K with a time of 4:34:51.

Two new 25K records were set as well. Daniel Kraft, 23, of Grand Junction, won with a time of 1:34:18, while Heather Utrata, 30, of Englewood, captured the women's title in 1:45:43. Utrata was fourth overall.

Kim Dobson, 27, of Denver won the women's 8-Mile race in the record time of 51:35. She placed third overall. Andy Aimes, 49, of Boulder, won in 49:04.

Other top placers from Colorado Springs

50K: Brad Poppele, fifth overall, second in the 40-49 age group, 3:58:02; Sheila Huss, second, 30-39, 5:05:50; Christina Gallagher, third, 30-39, 5:05:50.
25K: William Gray, sixth overall, first 40-49, 1:48:30; Gregory Stock, third 50-59, 2:05:16; Katie Katalin, second 40-49 age group, 2:15:53; Jenine Ebersohl, first  60-69 age group, 3:07:32; Donna Brockman, second 60-69, 3:41:37.
8-Mile: Craig Dayberry, second 50-59, 1:02:01; Alex Hilton, first 19 and under, 1:02:52; Bobbie Mastronardi, second 30-39, 1:03:24; Louise Kriel, second 40-49, 1:03:54; Michael Donehower, third 19 and under, 1:11:14; Robert McAndrews, first, 70 and over, 1:24:27; Caroline Ryman, first, 70 and over, 1:59:31; Mary Mentek, second, 60-69, 2:13:50; Sandra Hernandez, third 60-69, 2:20:40.