This story has been archived from the Saturday, August 13, 2005


Adventure runner joins Marathon field

By MERI-JO BORZILLERI
THE GAZETTE

A day after losing one multiyear champion, the Pikes Peak Marathon gained another.

Famed adventure racer Danelle Ballengee, winner of four straight runs up and down 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, notified officials she will enter the Aug. 21 race.

Ballengee, who has homes in Summit County and Moab, Utah, won from 1994 to 1997 before becoming one of the world’s top female adventure racers.

The sport involves orienteering and navigation, and usually involves crosstry running, mountain biking, paddling and climbing and rope skills.

Ballengee has not raced Pikes Peak since her last victory.

“It’s the 50th,” said Ballengee by telephone, explaining her return. “And the weekend of the race, I’m free. I have no excuse. I might as well run up a mountain.”

On Thursday, Erica Larson, winner of five of the past six Marathons, said she would withdraw from the race because of insufficient training after injury and illness.

Race liaison Nancy Hobbs said the timing was coincidental and Ballengee had been looking forward to seeing Larson.

Past champions are given an open-ended invitation to enter at any time.

“That’s great,” said race director Ron Ilgen of Ballengee’s late entry. “She has a very good chance of winning the Marathon... I’m very excited to have her back.”


CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0259 or merijo@gazette.com


Copyright 2005, The Gazette, a division of Freedom Colorado Information. All rights reserved. Used with permission.


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