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Thirsty 13 runners go big

From a church to a brewery: it's all downhill

Running fanatic Matthew Krichman had an idea: a half marathon through the Colorado countryside ending with a craft beer festival in downtown Durango – otherwise known as the Thirsty 13.

“When runners are looking for races to run there are two things that stand out,” he said. “One is the course, and the other is the post-race celebration.”

The race director connected with Tim Walsworth, director of Durango business improvement district, who coordinates the San Juan Brew Festival, where more than 50 craft beer makers come together to share their suds. The two hit it off. Runners, meet brewers.

“There are a lot of things unique about the course,” Krichman said. “It's a point-to-point course with two long stretches of road that no other race uses. It's beautiful, and it ends literally right smack in the middle of a brewery.”

Knowing that many participants will be running their first half marathon ever, this year Krichman added a 14-week training program.

“We had a lot of people following the plan,” he said.

Calling it the “zero to hero” program, Krichman ramped training up from two- to 12-mile runs in preparation for the 13-mile event Saturday.

But some runners come ready to charge. Last year, local power couple Cate and Steven Fenster took the men's and women's first place. This year, the Fensters aren't on the roster, but husband and wife Sam and Maggie Yount are.

“They're a super cool couple,” Krichman said. “Sam is fast, and Maggie is ridiculously fast.”

How fast? Not only did they win the Steamworks Half Marathon earlier this summer in Durango, but Maggie Yount recently set a world record in San Jose, California, for running a 10K with a stroller.

“I've seen her running with that thing,” Krichman said. “She moves really fast.”

Krichman said someone has to win, but, for the most part, it's about people accomplishing something big. And they'll get something big for doing so.

Finishing at Ska Brewing's World Headquarters, racers can grab their T-shirts along with a gigantic 34 ounce finisher's mug. Krichman said they wanted something to show how proud they are of the runners.

“We want to put something in the person's hand at the finish line that lets them know what they just accomplished,” he said. “We went all out with this one. It's ridiculously big.”

After a cold one at Ska, runners will head to Durango's Buckley Park, where some 2,000 craft beer enthusiasts sip brew on the grass during the San Juan Brewfest. And these runners are indeed thirsty.

“We've never sold out in 16 years,” Walsworth said. “And last year, we sold out of everything.”

Not only is the festival good to downtown's economy, but proceeds benefit the United Way of Southwest Colorado. Last year, Walsworth handed them a check for $20,000.

Krichman pointed out it starts at a church and ends at a brewery. It's all downhill from there, literally. The run drops 1,400 feet over the course.

The race will start at 8 a.m. Saturday. Last year, a storm moved over the course but didn't rustle a feather.

“There's always a chance of rain, but drinking beer in the rain is fun,” Krichman said. “It wouldn't keep my runners away.”

bmathis@bcimedia.com



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