America's Pain Street

I hate running.

Be it around a track, along a nature trail or on a sidewalk, morning, afternoon or evening, in shorts lengthy, mid-cut or revealing — it doesn't matter. I hate running. It hurts my knees almost as badly as it hurts my soul. The only kind of running that even mildly amuses me is the infinitive kind: running to catch a Frisbee, running to obtain some beer from the store, running to get away from the cops.

But something in this damn Denver air drove me to register for a half-dozen races over the next few months, starting with this weekend's Colorado Colfax Marathon. Motivation, guilt or just plain delusion — whatever it is, it has me and thousands of others eating well and training religiously in anticipation of Sunday's 6 a.m. start in Aurora. If you're watching, I'll be near City Park around 8 a.m. on Sunday, looking despondent, exhausted and near death.

Other events associated with the marathon include a Health and Fitness Expo today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, as well as ceremonies for the inaugural class of inductees to the Colorado Running Hall of Fame, tonight in the Denver Athletic Club ballroom from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Visit www.coloradocolfaxmarathon.org for more information.
Fri., May 18, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., May 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.