Front Range Elite

About Us

Our Mission

We aim to foster a supportive space where athletes can develop their potential as they pursue a running career, practicing and endorsing clean sport. We will do this while promoting enthusiasm for the sport and engaging in the community we love.

Land Acknowledgement

Front Range Elite acknowledges, with respect, that the land we are on is the traditional ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations and peoples. This was also a site of trade, gathering, and healing for numerous other Native tribes. We recognize that the founding of the town of Fort Collins through the occupation of the land we train and race on came at a dire cost to Native Nations and peoples including the cost of many lives, loss of ancestral homes, and separation from traditional sources of spiritual and physical nourishment and strength. We recognize the Indigenous peoples as original stewards of this land and all the relatives within it. As these words of acknowledgment are read and heard, the ties Nations have to their traditional homelands are renewed and reaffirmed.

Our Core Values and Beliefs

  • Training for Excellence in our sport and cultivating potential
  • Holding a high standard of Integrity in all we do and promoting Clean Sport
  • Service to our community and being involved in whatever capacity we are able
  • Enjoying our Adventure and remembering how fortunate we are to be able to grow this team for the next generation of competitors
  • Nurturing a mind set of Self-Belief and the ability to rise to the challenge joyfully and with confidence
  • Authenticity and Loyalty in the representation of our community
  • Stewardship to our earth which allows us to run, race and train on her beautiful surface

Build With Us!

We aim to build a framework for success for future generations of elite runners. Your tax-deductible donation helps provide our athletes the opportunity to continue training, racing, and competing at the highest level. We can't thank you enough for your support!
 

Check out our Podcast!

Meet the Team

AnnMarie Kirkpatrick
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Kristyn Roth
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Rachael Rudel
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Sophie Anders
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Sophie Seward
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Jenna Bensko
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Sarah Anderson
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Elena Lancioni
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Coach Craig Depperschmidt
Front Range Elite Team Photo
Front Range Elite

Meet the Board

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Ashley Ruffer
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Stephen Pretak
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Abbie Salter
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Jenny Powelka

Our Sponsors and Supporters

Salomon

Salomon is a collective born in Annecy, French Alps, crafting the future of sports since 1947. They make gear that transforms sports experiences.

Raintree Athletic Club

Raintree is Fort Collins’ only locally owned and operated gym. Raintree is as committed to supporting our community and creating a place for elite athletes to train as we are. We can’t wait to get in! Raintree’s mission: As the only locally owned Health Club in Fort Collins we believe that not only is it our stated purpose to Inspire Growth and Impact lives of our members and guests but it is equally important to be socially responsible to our team and our community.

Colorado in Motion

Colorado in Motion's expert staff of Physical Therapists (a lot of whom are also runners!) know what it takes to keep our bodies running pain and injury free. They use state of the art science and research to gain an understanding of how they can effectively treat each individual person. Colorado in Motion uses a variety of methods including- scraping, dry needling, education on specific strength building exercises and gait analysis. Their team of professionals work together to keep everyone injury free and moving efficiently. We want to perform our best, so we are very lucky to have the best working to keep us healthy and strong! Our shared visions align with our love and promotion of education in running and doing our best to represent the Fort Collins community in a way we are proud of.

Green Events

Green Events owns and manages athletic events in an environmental, social, and economic sustainable manner. Green Events is dedicated to making events green and sustainable by reducing environmental impact while inspiring and educating participants to make responsible decisions during the event as well as in their daily lives. FRE and Green Events share the same passion for our Fort Collins running community. We strive to grow the community while positively impacting the development of our sport. Lisa Sinclair is the tireless race director and owner of Green Events. She is a proud native of Fort Collins who is as dedicated as we are to create a sustainable elite women’s team in Fort Collins.

UCAN

UCAN - the name says it all. Fueling is extremely important for the endurance athlete and after sampling many, many products on the market we landed on the perfect one. We have runners on our team with sensitive guts, picky taste buds, who are vegan, gluten free, and everything in between. The science behind UCAN is sound and we were all able to see the difference in our performance and overall level of energy when training with it. It is a patented energy source, without sugar or stimulants, that delivers a slow-release of carbohydrates to steady our blood sugar. We not only love their products, this company has an amazing back story (read here) and the kinds of values we admire.

If you want to try some for yourself you can get 10% off at https://ucan.co/?ref=FrontRangeELite. You will not be disappointed and using this link supports your local Fort Collins team, so thank you!

Floradix

Count on Floradix®, a trusted leader in quality health and wellness solutions for over 60 years. The makers of America's best-selling liquid iron supplement, Floradix Iron + Herbs, Floradix has been helping people for generations live their best life.

Iron supplements can be used to help reverse low iron levels and to treat iron deficiency anemia in athletes. In fact, research has shown that iron supplementation can reverse any iron-deficiency-related athletic losses and improve exercise performance and so we are thrilled to support and collaborate with Front Range Elite athletes as they pursue running careers.

Visit FloradixUSA.com to learn more or purchase any of the Floradix range of products using this 10% discount.

Our Favorite Routes

16 miles on a 2 mile loop

Yes, Abbie does love the dirt roads... so much so that you can find her doing 16 miles of on-off miles or progression runs at the cemetery. She really "mixes it up" by running 0.5mi down Mtn. Ave (one of the most beautiful streets in Foco) and back. The Grandview Cemetery is gorgeous, and exactly one mile so it's a popular place for mile repeats... but usually 3-8 of them at most. Try not to get dizzy as you chase her around. 😉

Strava Google Maps
Double Bacon

FoCo legend has that if you can run Double Bacon (aka two loops of the 10mile Bacon Strip loop) you are ready for any marathon. Abbie can be frequently be found 1-2 months out from a marathon on here grinding away. There is also a 4 mile (Bacon Bits) loop- just cut in on the first right-hand turn. Yes it's hilly, yes it can be windy, but the views on clear days are stunning and it makes you tough!

Strava Google Maps
Redstone

Redstone- best views for early summer morning and cold winter day's. Gets plowed in the winter, but also is home to many private land lovers and fast drivers- so be careful!

Strava Google Maps
Annunciation Chapel Loop

North Fort Collins is still home to many dirt roads- #keepFoCodirt . This route features beautiful neighborhood streets, big farms, dirt roads, sweeping views, and some paved country roads. Abbie frequently does 2 loops for a long run!

Strava Google Maps
Coyote Ridge

Coyote Ridge is a Front Range staple. It's the truest trail running in FoCo without going to Horsetooth. You can make this shorter by turning around at the house or the top of the ridge, OR you can make it longer by going East or West on Blue Sky or adding on the Indian Summer loop.

Strava Google Maps

Events

5280 One Mile Challenge

Interested in trying out running? Looking to improve your speed for spring and summer races? Get ready for a fun virtual challenge that will test your speed, endurance, and competitive spirit! Introducing the 5280 One Mile Challenge presented by Front Range Elite. Lace-up your running shoes and join us from anywhere between April 1st and 7th for a thrilling virtual 1-mile race that brings together runners from all over.

Visit the Sign Up page to learn how it works and register.

7 @ 7

Join us for our weekly group fun 7@7 from Raintree Athletic Club! We will be running 7 miles at 7:00 am starting from the RAC parking lot and heading west on Spring Creek Trail. Open invite so if you'd like to include others feel free. The pace will vary but we start together. Check out the route.

Youth Summer Running Program 2024

In our program we encourage youth to be multi-sport athletes who do not solely run for fitness or competition. We will compete at local races and determine USATF youth competitions and teams based on eligibility, interest, and qualifying standards.

Sign up: Front Range Elite Youth Running Registration
Get more info: frontrangeelite@gmail.com

Mountain Avenue Mile

The Mountain Avenue Mile is scheduled for August 9, 2024.
Visit the website for more details!

Parent Pod

Front Range Elite believes in facilitating inclusion for all into the sport and events that we love. We have created a Parent Pod that we incorporate in our events, and offer this amenity to all athletic and outdoor events in Northern Colorado.

This addition to your event provides parents, including breastfeeding mothers, with a private, comfortable, and sanitary space to change diapers, feed, or pump. Race day planning can be complicated, especially for parents. We hope that by providing this accommodation, athletes have one less detail to negotiate.

If you have questions regarding our Parent Pod, or are interested in rental options for your event please contact us for availability. You can rest easy knowing you are providing a means to include parents comfortably. We will set up, provide all supplies and amenities, and be present to ensure privacy throughout the event.

Join the Team

Time Standards for Women’s Front Range Elite Membership

We are looking for athletes who are interested in working hard to reach their potential in running and also serving as a role model in our community. If you are within striking distance of these standards we recommend you still apply. An important component of the Front Range Elite is the ability to share your progress and succeed with a growth mindset. We value athletes who embrace our mission and are fully invested in building each other up.

Distance
Time
Mile
4:47
5K
16:39
10K
34:45
Half
1:18
Full
2:45

Development Team Time Standards

Distance
Time
Mile
5:15
5K
18:00
10K
36:30
Half
1:25
Full
2:55

Click here to complete our application. After applying we will reach out to arrange an in-person interview to determine team compatibility.