A year ago I was ready to pull the plug on Springburn. After three years, the race had failed to grow to the degree we had hoped for when we introduced it in May of 2007. We had received feedback from local runners that the race was too difficult and people didn't want to spend their money for a race that would probably not yield a fast time. After much consideration this past winter, we decided we weren't going to drop the race because a few people thought it was too tough, or thought their time might not be fast enough to record in their running journal. Topeka's race calendar is filled with "flat and fast" race courses for people who are just looking for fast times, but for those who are looking for a road race that would challenge their limits, there is very little. 

Springburn is not for everyone, neither is Topeka to Auburn or Hospital Hill, yet, as runners look for greater challenges, races such as these have seen solid growth and loyal followings. I firmly believe anyone who dedicates the time to train for races such as these, will not only finish, but thrive on the challenge and revel in their accomplishment. So instead of canceling Springburn for 2010, we decided to make it tougher.

Thanks to a new road put in by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, nicely situated between Cedar Crest and the new St Francis property, We were able to create a 15K course with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. For those with smaller appetites we left the 5K alone as it already presented a formidable challenge for 5Kers.

After a week of high temperatures and oppressive humidity, the arrival of race day ushered in a rainy cold front that dropped both temperatures and humidity levels. Although lightning threatened to cancel the event, it subsided just minutes before the start of the race and we were able to get things going just a minute or two after 8:00. 

As we prepared for this year's race I was curious if anyone would be able to run the 15K course in under an hour. With a fast field we knew it was possible, but it would take a talented runner and an enormous effort to get it done. As Tony Estes approached the six mile mark, he was on track to break an hour, but he was just now entering the first of the three major climbs that make up the "teeth" of this course. Despite the hills Tony continued to push the pace with Tim Willingham now in hot pursuit, beginning to close the gap. As the runners approached the Menninger Clock Tower, the climbing now in the rear view mirror, Tony maintained a solid lead and began the final downhill push towards Red Robin and the finish line. The only question to be answered was would he break one hour. With Tim closing, Tony crossed the finish line in 59:09.3, a course record that will be hard to beat. Tim soon arrived in a time of 1:02:12.3 and right behind him was Miguel Espinosa in third place.

In the woman's race, the duel would be between three time winner and defending champion Lezlee Jones and Kansas Marathon winner Michelle Andrews who was coming off a strong performance at Hospital Hill just one week earlier. When all was said and done Michelle led the way to Red Robin, finishing in a time of 1:05:39.3, five minutes ahead of Lezlee who ran another strong race at Springburn, finishing in a time of 1:10:45.6. Rounding out the top three in the woman's 15K was Mary Ann Durall in a time of 1:14:11.6.

In the 5K, Benjamin Foreman passed both Hunter Adams and Peter Ruby on the hill to the clock tower and then held on to win the 5K in a time of 18:07.1. Hunter was hot on his heels, finishing in 18:30.9 with Peter right behind him in third with a time of 18:59.0.

The Woman's 5K was a fight to the finish with Lanell Griffith eventually out dueling Corrinne Stringer by just seven seconds, with a time of 24:07.6. Heather Holthaus finished just behind Lanell and Corrinneto take third in a time of 24:40.7.

Full results are now on the Springburn race page. Follow the link above to Run Tough then click on Events to Springburn.

A big thanks to all our Young Life and GPRC volunteers who stood out there in the pouring rain, making it all possible. Thanks also to all our sponsors, including presenting sponsor, CFG Financial. But most of all thanks to you, the runners, who took on a big challenge and then went after it. You conquered a race course that many won't even try. It is our hope that your experience here will give you the confidence to take on even bigger challenges. Best of luck!