Runners tackle Cheyenne Canon trails in first-ever race

Amy Friedman lives out of her blue minivan.

Saturday, hidden in the trees of Cheyenne Canon, Friedman coasted to the women’s half-marathon title in 1 hour, 38 minutes and 30 seconds at the Big Mountain Trail Run.

The 36-year-old, who has lived in Colorado for much of her life, has been on the road for nearly 10 months with her husband and  kids – ages 3 and 5. Evident by her sun tattoo on her left shoulder and the moon on her back, Friedman has loved seeing nature everywhere Super Groover  (the minivan’s name, according to her kids) has taken her.

During that time, she’s put 60-70 miles on her shoes per week and she’s raced in at least 10 states and 10 countries.

“I just love it. There’s nothing better. I love distance and challenges on the trail and the terrain – rocky stuff and the altitude,” Friedman said. “I ran my first race at (age) 6 and have been doing it ever since. And now we’re on this trip, we’ve run all over and just love it.”

Before the open road, Friedman and her husband were international teachers. They previously spent five years in Bangladesh and in July they’ll move to Copenhagen, Denmark, where they’ll continue to teach.

“And it’s time for the kids to get back in school,” she laughed.

As a whole Saturday, clouds were nonexistent for the 208 runners who registered. The 5K, 10K and the half-marathon all started and ended with temperatures in the 70s.

Greg Reindl, 28, won the 70-person half-marathon in 1:22.52 followed by Fountain Valley algebra and exercise physiology teacher Tommy Manning, 36, in 1:24:19.

“It was a tough course,” Reindl said behind tinted shades. “When I came (today) I saw Tommy was here and he loves mountain running, so I knew it was going to be a tough day.

“But after the 5-mile uphill to start, I was able to put a little gap on him.”

Tyler King won the 5K in 25:49 and Kristin Culver took first for women at 32:51. Five kilometers later Kevin Morgan won the 10K in 39:47 and 43-year-old Iowan Barb Erxleben led the women’s field in 51:05.

In its entirety, this start to the weekend proved to be an escape for everyone from 8-year old half-marathon runner Landry Roles to 70-year-old Mike Foster (10K).

And for the Friedmans … they think they’ll stay another week or two.

“We have some friends we are going to stay with,” Friedman said. “We’re going to enjoy this for a while.”