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Nearly 800 runners took to the streets and trails of downtown Colorado Springs for the inaugural Super Half Marathon and 5K. Mark Reis, The Gazette
BY BRENT NEW
THE GAZETTE
Seven months ago he was dodging roadside bombs and picking shrapnel out of his friend’s head in Afghanistan.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Maxwell Stevenson “just wanted to represent my Tom Brady jersey” in his first half marathon at the 2012 Super Half Marathon in Colorado Springs.
Check out these great race photos!
The race started in downtown and looped out and back on the Pikes Peak Greenway trail; 13.1 miles later it finished just south of the Bijou Street Bridge.
Stevenson, a 22-year-old native of Maine, finished in 1 hour 40 minutes and 30 seconds. The army medic has seen trucks explode in front of him and friends grasping to life – but on this day, forgive him for just wanting to take a run.
“You know, it’s the weekend,” said Stevenson, sporting his No. 12 jersey.
See results of the Super Family 5K.
See results of the Super Half Marathon
Fifty-four places ahead was race-winner Scott Spillman, who finished in 1:17:35. The 25-year-old Stanford graduate hasn’t run much since high school, and said he's developed shoddy knees and a crick in his hip in the interim.
“I don’t know, I guess sitting too long in school probably led to my injuries,” said Spillman, who said he'd root for the Giants in the Super Bowl. “But I felt good today.”
He took a 15-second lead after the third mile and then doubled that after the sixth, beating Cody Hill by nearly 1 minute (1:18:32) when all was said and done.
“It wasn’t really close,” said Hill, a Cowboys fan who said he was pulling for the Giants. “I knew I wasn’t going to catch him. He looked smooth.”
Women's leader Olivia Long finished 12th overall in 1:30:14. It wasn’t easy though.
Long has been sick for two weeks, and her plan was to pick up her bib and go home.
“But I guess I got pumped up and decided to race,” the 26-year-old said.
On top of lingering stomach issues, she lost about 15 seconds when her shoe came untied on the third mile.
“But it was still worth it,” said Long, who is rooting for the Patriots - so the Broncos will look a little better.
About 800 people raced in the 5K and half marathon. From first-timers to runners who have been racing for more than 50 years, the event was a success. said Pikes Peak Road Runners president Mike Shafai.
“I was thinking maybe 700 people would come, some others thought maybe 400,” he said. “So it was a great turnout.”
The only prediction Stevenson felt good about was the outcome of the big game: “24-12 Patriots,” he laughed.
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