Every autumn brings change. We might question the need for Sunday's looming time change, but we'll shift our clocks and move forward (while falling back).
This fall, REAL Training is embracing change and mixing things up.
After four years on the grass, this year's 2 Mile 4 REAL is moving to Niwot High School's proven track. And Team Boss is adding to the fun with their Team Boss Colorado Mile! Now there are two events in one, all coming at a time when athletes are cross country fit and ready to knock out personal bests on the track. All races will be held on the track and under the lights Wednesday, November 9.
Get ready for a magical evening!
The evening kicks off with the Team Boss Colorado Mile, a fundraiser for the Sachs Foundation. The Sachs Foundation provides college scholarships for Black and African American students in Colorado. After Team Boss raised $30,000 for the cause in 2020, the Sachs Foundation created a new scholarship: The Team Boss Equity Scholar. This year's goal is to raise enough to reendow the scholarship for 2023!
This year's incarnation of the Team Boss Colorado Mile focuses on high school runners (but offers races for middle school athletes and older).
Team Boss pro runners will actually be pacing the high schoolers! Aisha Praught-Leer, Team Boss pro and race organizer, said, "It's not everyday high school athletes get to race alongside professional athletes and Olympians. We at Team Boss are looking forward to pacing races for students chasing a fast mile time! Fast times can create opportunities for athletes looking to impress college coaches and raising money for the Sachs Foundation helps fund more scholarships for Black and African American students in Colorado. It will be a fun night for a great cause!"
Next up is the 2 Mile 4 REAL. The tentative schedule shows two sections for the Boys/Men's event, and two sections for the Women's/Girls event, but they'll run as many races as necessary to comfortably handle the entries.
Tentative Schedule:
5:00pm Team Boss Colorado Mile: Boys Middle School
5:15pm Team Boss Colorado Mile: Girls Middle School
5:30pm Team Boss Colorado Mile: Boys High School
5:45pm Team Boss Colorado Mile: Girls High School
6:00pm Team Boss Colorado Mile: Men's Open
6:15pm Team Boss Colorado Mile: Women's Open
6:30pm Team Boss Colorado Mile Awards
6:40pm 2 Mile 4 REAL: Boys/Men's (fast)
7:00pm 2 Mile 4 REAL: Girls/Women's (fast)
7:20pm 2 Mile 4 REAL: Boys/Men's (fastest)
7:40pm 2 Mile 4 REAL: Girls/Women's (fastest)
8:00pm 2 Mile 4 REAL Awards
True to its original purpose, the 2 Mile 4 REAL provides a tune-up between last week's State XC Championship and the following week's Team Cross Regionals (NXR). And it's also a chance for Colorado harriers to feel the sea-level 5K pace they'll be running in Arizona (NXR), Oregon (NXN), and/or Alabama (RunningLane).
Transitioning to the lighted track, the dwindling daylight dilemma disappears and runners can just focus on clicking off quick laps and feeling good. Bonus: little chance of a short course or making a wrong turn.
And this year brings more than just an opportunity to run fast. Scanning the entries, the Boys/Men's race could be shaping up as a match-up between the boys 4A podium teams from last Saturday's State XC meet.
One meet. Two distances. Lighted Track. Let's race.
You can learn more and register at the dual-event's RunSignup page.