By Jack Anthony
Veterans' Home Run

On Saturday morning, June 29th in Memorial Park (by the Velodrome) the 8th annual Veterans’ Home Run 5K Run and 3K Walk to support the Colorado Veterans Resource Coalition’s Crawford House will take place.

Since 2006, the Pikes Peak Road Runners have been presenting VHR to raise funds and awareness for the downtown Crawford House residence that helps local veterans facing challenges of substance addiction to regain their health, confidence, and step back into the community in a great way.

Click here to register online.

There are many traditions that come to life the morning of the Veterans’ Home Run. We hope to see you this year so you can toe the line at 7 a.m. and take part in this special and noble cause.

Let’s look at two of the traditions that make coming to a VHR a fun time. Race packet pick up and race day registration can be standing in a line and frantically filling out forms and such. It’s quite a challenge to swiftly get participants all set to run or walk. Well, at VHR we once again have these two critical pre-race functions superbly under control thanks to the Girlz-4-Vets ladies running team,  fabulous ladies who are experts at making sure runners and walkers have a pleasurable experience getting their bib or registering to run.

Just think, you start your morning with 10 attractive and cheerful ladies who get everyone set to go, and then they dash to the start line and run the race. The Girlz-4-Vets team has been participating in VHR all 8 years as volunteers and team participants. These speedy and enthusiastic gals keep growing in number and we are pretty fortunate for that!

Afterwards, I bet they wouldn’t mind posing for a photo with you so your friends can see just what kind of attention you got at the Veterans’ Home Run. Meet the Girlz-4-Vets gals and join them in helping the Crawford House mission!

Another tradition it the great prize giveaways. Thanks to the sponsors and business that join PPRR in supporting the Crawford House program, we have a low cost race, great tech shirt (first 300 registrants) and also door prizes ranging from gift cards to running stores to dining opportunities at local and restaurants.

The three founders of VHR team up to give the prizes away. A honest member of the crowd comes and draws numbers out of a hat and the “three VHR Amigos” (Jim, Jon and Jack) select a prize and call out the bib number. It’s exciting since there are so many prizes; you must be present to win, so hang around. Sometimes the bantering of the three amigos is a comedy as they get all excited about the prize they are about to award. It’s fun and there’s lots of prizes, so who knows what you might win!

VHR 2013 takes place near the Memorial Park cycling velodrome off of Union Boulevard and features both the 5-kilometer run and a 3-kilometer walk. Entry fees have not increased! Active duty military members and veterans fee is $15; all others can register for $20. First 300 registrants will be a commemorative tech shirt (red shirt with the VHR emblem in white and blue…pretty spiffy!)

Want to make a difference in the life of a local veteran in need? You can start by toeing the VHR start line on June 29th and being a part of PPRR’s commitment to helping the mission, staff and residents at the Crawford House. Bring a friend, bring a new runner, let’s step up to fitness and in doing so, and help our local veterans in need. See you there! For more info call 719-205-1741 or checkout the PPRR web site www.pprrun.org and click on Veterans’ Home Run tab.