Living on the edge as the race for Colorado Runner 'yellow jerseys' hots up

It's a crucial phase in the Colorado Runner Racing Series,. We've had nine events ranging from the opening 5k in January to a half-marathon, and there are seven to go before the Series finishes with the Panicking Poultry 5k in November.

I've been leading the 55-59 age group on the back of a bunch of mediocre but consistent performances in the opening five events. But with time off for hamstring misbehaviour and preparation for my British championship bronze, I've had to miss Series races...Heath Hibberd, meanwhile, won both the Garden of the Gods 10-miler and the Slacker Half Marathon to grab two maximum 100 points; he's now poised in second place ahead of the fearsome 17-minute 5k ace Doug Bell.

So logically I should run the Grand Prix Classic 10k in Colorado Springs this weekend. But I can't. The new organizers of the Pearl Street Mile have moved the darn thing forward a month -- it's happening next Thursday. So I'll be doing a warm-up 800m time trial while the Series contenders are legging it round the Springs. I can only hope that Heath gives it a miss, too, because I'm not going to run the next 10k either. That's the Evergreen Town Race on August 3, and my reason for missing that one is that it's a downhill race. I hate these gimmick events; and I hate the hammering I would give my legs competing in it. So I'm going to be a no-show again.

So there you go guys; I'm leaving it wide open for you. But just don't expect an easy ride from August 16 on, when the Peach Festival 5-mile is followed by the Park to Park 10-miler in Denver on September 1, and the marvellous Lead King 25k up at Marble on September 14. The Series finishes with a flourish of 5ks: Eerie Erie on October 25 and Panicking Poultry on November 16 in Boulder. I may not win the races, but I know I can get enough points to stay in front!

Who's the yellow jersey?

We're all keeping an eye on the competitions over the rest of the age groups.

Steve Folkerts of Fort Collis looks like he has an unassailable lead over Peter Remien in the open men; Kara Ford of Thornton is one win or 100 points clear in the open women, so she can't relax.

Top overall Master, Loveland's Tim Jones (47) is duelling with Erik Packard (43) of Clifton - they've both run eight events and Tim is 80 points, or the width of a third place, clear; Karen Smidt (41) of Brighton has been taking no chances -- she's run all nine events so far and is yellow jersey women's Master.

The 50-54 men's race is highly competitive - Robert Kessler of Highlands Ranch leads with 630 points from 7 races, but chasing him is Loveland's redoubtable John Victoria, who's won all 5 races he's entered -- usually by a minute or two. I'm so glad he's not in my age group!

In the women's 50-54, neither of the two front runners can afford to miss a race or have a bad day, for fear of handing the Series to the other: Littleton's Cynthia Flora leads with 630 points from Jenney Weber of Greeley, with 550; they've both finished 7 races.

Jan Huie of Colorado Springs made the right choices in the women's 55-59 group; she is so far ahead with near-maximum points from nine races while Diane Wild, her nearest rival, has only turned out for 3. I reckon Jan only has to win one more event and she can take the rest of the year off and still take the Series.

Things are different in the men's 60-64 division. Dwight Cornwell from Fort Collins has forced himself out there since the chasers will insist on rarely taking a day off :) Dwight has won eight of his nine races and leads with 870 from Littleton's Stephen Berger, 570 from 7.

The women's 60-64 could develop into a close three-way struggle to the end, depending on whether anyone chooses to miss any of the run-in events. Cathy Morgan from Fort Collins leads 460 from 5 over Stephanie Wiecks from Palmer Lake, but Brighton's Sandra Rostie, 64 years old compared to the front-runners who are both 61, is poised in third, with 300 from 4.

Denver's 68-year-old Jim Romero is looking good at the top of the 60+ division, while another 68-year-old, Connie Ahrnsbark from Lakewood, leads the women's group. But Connie is being given a run for her money by the inspirational 75-year-old Myra Rhodes. They've both run 8 events; Myra is 90 points behind, so if Connie misses a race Mayra could take over.

* Full results, points tables and links to forthcoming events are on the Colorado Runner website here.