thedenverpost--2020-03-01--Broomfield’s “Drag Queen Story Time” met with support, protest

Rainbows stood out against an otherwise gray sky Saturday morning as LBGTQ+ advocates gathered hours before a controversial children ’ s library event .
A 30-minute story time led by drag queen Shirley Delta Blow –whose real name is Stuart Sanks — attracted about 500 people to the the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library Saturday morning .
About 100 came to protest the event , which featured stories and a rendition of “ If You ’ re Happy and You Know It ” by the featured performer , but volunteers with Parasol Patrol , which included brightly-dressed men and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their numbers “ Miss Shirley , ” as she asked to be identified , read “ Be Who You Are , ” “ Not Quite Narwhal ” and “ Perfectly Norman ” while wearing a pink corsage and a dress printed with hearts , peace signs and rainbows .
At the end of story time , she posed for photos with families and offered a little roll-on glitter for those who might have been admiring her sparkly makeup .
Katherine Lynip , director of Library Services and Cultural Affairs , said the library @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a program like this .
The books and the quality of the program were vetted before the event was formalized .
Lafayette had hosted Sanks in early January .
Since the library had received notices about possible protests , shealso requested police presence .
Officers closed down the street that runs in from of the library and asked groups to stay on either side of the sidewalks leading into the library .
Concern on how taxes are spent Broomfield resident Mike Schultz took his concerns to Broomfield City Council at its Tuesday meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents to young children , were “ disappointed and troubled ” to hear that the Broomfield library was hosting a Drag Queen Story Time .
The story times are “ falsely promoted under the facade ” of inclusivity and diversity , he said “ In reality events like this are using our community ’ s young children to normalize and promote behavior which only confuses children about their gender and sexuality , ” Schultz said at the meeting .
Doing so is child abuse , he said , and it should be stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event and not allow taxpayer money to fund “ perverse entertainment on public property.
” Maureen Hoff , a member of Broomfield ’ s Library Board , said it has been fielding a number of calls and emails with a similar message of concern about how taxes are being spent .
Overwhelmingly the response has been positive , she said , specifically from Broomfield residents .
There was never a consideration to cancel the event , she said .
No one was excluded from the event , but the crowd was capped at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Broomfield Auditorium .
Broomfield resident Rachel Moore and her husband Ryan brought their daughters , ages 8 and 3 , to the story time .
Moore ’ s eldest likes drag queens and enjoys “ RuPaul ’ s Drag Race , ” so Moore thought this was “ right up her alley.
” The family was initially confused by the Parasol Patrol , but once they realized its purpose , they appreciated the buffer .
Moore said they were ready to field questions from their daughters about the protestors , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Parasol volunteers — who were decked out in costumes and a variety of rainbow-colored clothing — used their umbrellas to block children and families from view as they walked from the parking lot to the auditorium .
One reason they took their children , Moore said , is because they want the girls to have a broad outlook on people , how they choose to live their lives and “ not making a big deal ” about who people who are different .
“ I ’ m trying to raise my children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I feel like this is the exact opposite of abuse.
” Inside the auditorium , “ ] Sanks , who is a third-grade teacher at The Studio School in Northglenn , didn ’ t spread any messages on sexuality , Moore said .
The stories were about loving oneself , expressing individuality and accepting others .
Because of her interest , Moore ’ s eldest wanted to “ dress up like a boy ” because the drag queens made it look fun .
Later she decided dressing like a boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her wardrobe .
“ Deep down I think kids and people know what they ’ re drawn to , ” Moore said .
“ This isn ’ t event about ( being ) transgender really .
There are trans queens out there , but most of them don ’ t want to live as a woman .
They want to perform as a woman.
” About a hundred community members , including representatives from Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church , came , some carrying rosaries , to get their message across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Let NOT the little children be perverted by Drag Queen story hours !
.
” “ We ’ re here to pray peacefully , ” Nativity Deacon Steve Vallero said .
Church members chose to come because of the “ enculturation of our community to normalize a way of life that is not ordained by the creator , ” Vallero said , which he described as any type of homosexual lifestyle .
Nativity parishioner Cecilia Bruchez worries that Sanks wants to “ groom future generations ” about gender fluidity and teach them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he wants , and vice versa .
The man inside the auditorium is trying to confuse children , she said , and destroy the innocent version of their mothers and fathers .
Pasha Eve , co-founder of Parasol Patrol , said the group was created about eight months ago when family-friendly drag shows started to be held at Mile High Comics .
Since then groups have cropped up around the county with a similar mission of protecting children ’ s eyes and ears from “ hateful speech ” from protesters , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eli Bazan , a Marine veteran who purchased the first umbrellas and earplugs when they started as a small group , reminded volunteers their job was to smile and be supportive of families .
She and other volunteers identified members of a group dressed in black , wearing masks and rainbow armbands as Antifa — political protesters who show more of a militant approach in opposing right-wing ideology .
“ We do not engage at all with protests and they do , ” Eve said , adding that while they may agree with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not agree with their method .
No fights broke out at the event , and officers used their presence to defuse tense situations .

Rainbows stood out against an otherwise gray sky Saturday morning as LBGTQ+ advocates gathered hours before a controversial children’s library event.
A 30-minute story time led by drag queen Shirley Delta Blow –whose real name is Stuart Sanks — attracted about 500 people to the the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library Saturday morning.
About 100 came to protest the event, which featured stories and a rendition of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” by the featured performer, but volunteers with Parasol Patrol, which included brightly-dressed men and women who shielded children from protestors, doubled their numbers
“Miss Shirley,” as she asked to be identified, read “Be Who You Are,” “Not Quite Narwhal” and “Perfectly Norman” while wearing a pink corsage and a dress printed with hearts, peace signs and rainbows. At the end of story time, she posed for photos with families and offered a little roll-on glitter for those who might have been admiring her sparkly makeup.
Katherine Lynip, director of Library Services and Cultural Affairs, said the library has fielded requests over the years for a program like this. The books and the quality of the program were vetted before the event was formalized. Lafayette had hosted Sanks in early January.
Since the library had received notices about possible protests, shealso requested police presence.
Officers closed down the street that runs in from of the library and asked groups to stay on either side of the sidewalks leading into the library.
Concern on how taxes are spent
Broomfield resident Mike Schultz took his concerns to Broomfield City Council at its Tuesday meeting. He and his wife, as parents to young children, were “disappointed and troubled” to hear that the Broomfield library was hosting a Drag Queen Story Time. The story times are “falsely promoted under the facade” of inclusivity and diversity, he said
“In reality events like this are using our community’s young children to normalize and promote behavior which only confuses children about their gender and sexuality,” Schultz said at the meeting.
Doing so is child abuse, he said, and it should be stopped. He asked Council to cancel the event and not allow taxpayer money to fund “perverse entertainment on public property.”
Maureen Hoff, a member of Broomfield’s Library Board, said it has been fielding a number of calls and emails with a similar message of concern about how taxes are being spent. Overwhelmingly the response has been positive, she said, specifically from Broomfield residents.
There was never a consideration to cancel the event, she said.
No one was excluded from the event, but the crowd was capped at 250 since that’s the capacity of the Broomfield Auditorium.
Broomfield resident Rachel Moore and her husband Ryan brought their daughters, ages 8 and 3, to the story time. Moore’s eldest likes drag queens and enjoys “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” so Moore thought this was “right up her alley.”
The family was initially confused by the Parasol Patrol, but once they realized its purpose, they appreciated the buffer. Moore said they were ready to field questions from their daughters about the protestors , but found that really wasn’t necessary.
Parasol volunteers — who were decked out in costumes and a variety of rainbow-colored clothing — used their umbrellas to block children and families from view as they walked from the parking lot to the auditorium.
One reason they took their children, Moore said, is because they want the girls to have a broad outlook on people, how they choose to live their lives and “not making a big deal” about who people who are different.
“I’m trying to raise my children with love and acceptance,” Moore said. “I feel like this is the exact opposite of abuse.”
‘Here to pray peacefully’
Inside the auditorium, “] Sanks, who is a third-grade teacher at The Studio School in Northglenn, didn’t spread any messages on sexuality, Moore said. The stories were about loving oneself, expressing individuality and accepting others. Because of her interest, Moore’s eldest wanted to “dress up like a boy” because the drag queens made it look fun. Later she decided dressing like a boy was “boring” and went back to her wardrobe.
“Deep down I think kids and people know what they’re drawn to,” Moore said. “This isn’t event about (being) transgender really. There are trans queens out there, but most of them don’t want to live as a woman. They want to perform as a woman.”
About a hundred community members, including representatives from Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, came, some carrying rosaries, to get their message across. A sign addressed to God said “Let NOT the little children be perverted by Drag Queen story hours!.”
“We’re here to pray peacefully,” Nativity Deacon Steve Vallero said.
Church members chose to come because of the “enculturation of our community to normalize a way of life that is not ordained by the creator,” Vallero said, which he described as any type of homosexual lifestyle.
Nativity parishioner Cecilia Bruchez worries that Sanks wants to “groom future generations” about gender fluidity and teach them that a boy can be a girl if he wants, and vice versa. The man inside the auditorium is trying to confuse children, she said, and destroy the innocent version of their mothers and fathers.
Pasha Eve, co-founder of Parasol Patrol, said the group was created about eight months ago when family-friendly drag shows started to be held at Mile High Comics. Since then groups have cropped up around the county with a similar mission of protecting children’s eyes and ears from “hateful speech” from protesters, according to its Facebook page.
She and Eli Bazan, a Marine veteran who purchased the first umbrellas and earplugs when they started as a small group, reminded volunteers their job was to smile and be supportive of families. She and other volunteers identified members of a group dressed in black, wearing masks and rainbow armbands as Antifa — political protesters who show more of a militant approach in opposing right-wing ideology.
“We do not engage at all with protests and they do,” Eve said, adding that while they may agree with some of their messages, they do not agree with their method.
No fights broke out at the event, and officers used their presence to defuse tense situations.


thedenverpost--2020-03-01--Fort Collins man gets probation for starting fatal house fire

FORT COLLINS — A northern Colorado man who started a house fire that killed one person and injured two others @ @ @ @ @ years of supervised probation and must complete 300 hours of community service .
The Coloradoan @ @ @ @ @ sentenced Friday after previously pleading no contest to criminally negligent homicide .
Prosecutors say he @ @ @ @ @ house on fire while using gasoline to try to ignite wet logs in an indoor @ @ @ @ @ Dye , who was seriously burned , ran upstairs to wake up his girlfriend and @ @ @ @ @ house .
But his friend , Philip A. Baray-Gemaehlich , who was living at the @ @ @ @ @ died in the blaze .
Dye says “ the physical pain is no comparison to @ @ @ @ @ m responsible .
”

FORT COLLINS — A northern Colorado man who started a house fire that killed one person and injured two others has been sentenced to three years of supervised probation and must complete 300 hours of community service.
The Coloradoan reports 34-year-old Michael Dye was sentenced Friday after previously pleading no contest to criminally negligent homicide.
Prosecutors say he accidentally lit the Fort Collins house on fire while using gasoline to try to ignite wet logs in an indoor fireplace in October 2018. Dye, who was seriously burned, ran upstairs to wake up his girlfriend and get children out of the house. But his friend, Philip A. Baray-Gemaehlich, who was living at the house at the time, died in the blaze.
Dye says “the physical pain is no comparison to the devastation knowing I’m responsible.”


thedenverpost--2020-03-01--Officials seek to calm public as new U.S. coronavirus cases reported

PORTLAND , Ore. — The coronavirus may have been circulating for weeks undetected in Washington state , a preliminary finding that could mean hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the state that ’ s also home to the nation ’ s first confirmed infection and now the first death , researchers said Sunday after analyzing genetic samples of the pathogens .
State and local authorities stepped up testing for the illness Sunday as the number of new cases grew nationwide , with new infections announced in Illinois , Rhode Island and Washington state .
Authorities in the Seattle area said two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , both men in their 60s who were in critical condition .
Those cases brought the numbers in the Seattle area to six .
Fifty more people in a nursing facility in Kirkland , Washington , are sick and being tested for the virus .
Elsewhere , authorities announced on Sunday a third case in Illinois and Rhode Island ’ s first case as worried Americans swarmed stores to stock up on basic goods such as bottled water , canned foods and toilet paper .
The hospitalized patient in Rhode Island is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveled to Italy in February .
As the fallout continued , Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sought to reassure the American public that the federal government is working to make sure state and local authorities are able to test for coronavirus .
Both said during a round of TV talk show appearances Sunday that thousands more kits to test for coronavirus had been distributed to state and local officials , with thousands more to come .
“ They should know we have the best public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , ” Azar said , adding that additional cases will be reported and the overall risk to Americans is low .
As Americans prepared , researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence that the coronavirus may have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected — a finding that , if true , could mean hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area .
The research was not published in a scientific journal or reviewed by other scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington , said on Twitter late Saturday that genetic similarities between the state ’ s first case on Jan. 20 and a case announced Friday indicated the newer case may have descended from the earlier one .
The Jan. 20 case was the first known case in the U.S. “ I believe we ’ re facing an already substantial outbreak in Washington State that was not detected until now due to narrow case definition requiring direct travel to China , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately reply to an e-mail requesting an interview Sunday .
Scientists not affiliated with the research said the results did not necessarily surprise them and pointed out that for many people — especially younger , healthier ones — the symptoms are not much worse than a flu or bad cold .
“ We think that this has a pretty high rate of mild symptoms and can be asymptomatic .
The symptoms are pretty non-specific and testing criteria has been pretty strict , so those combinations of factors means that it easily could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing , ” said Justin Lessler , an associated professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health .
“ And that was what a lot of us was thinking was likely.
” Pence , named by the president to be the point-person overseeing the government ’ s response , said more than 15,000 virus testing kits had been released over the weekend .
And , the administration is working with a commercial provider to distribute 50,000 more , he said .
The vice president said testing was among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s spoken with so far .
Azar said more than 3,600 people already have been tested for coronavirus and the capability exists to test 75,000 people .
He forecast a “ radical expansion of that ” in the coming weeks .
Pence and Azar spoke a day after President Donald Trump approved new restrictions on international travel to prevent the spread within the U.S. of the new virus , which originated in China .
There are now more than 80,000 cases worldwide and nearly 3,000 deaths .
The new U.S. travel restrictions apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans already is severely limited , as well as heavily affected regions of Italy and South Korea .
Trump tweeted Sunday that any travelers from those countries will be screened when they arrive in the U.S .
The number of known coronavirus cases in the U.S. had reached 70 as of Sunday .
Trump said Saturday at a White House news conference that he was thinking about closing the southern border with Mexico as a precaution .
Azar said Sunday that Mexico has few coronavirus cases and that it would take a dramatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious consideration of a border shutdown .
The president , Azar said , “ was trying to say everything ’ s on the table.
” “ We will take whatever measures are appropriate and necessary to protect the American people , but we don ’ t forecast doing that any time soon , ” he said of closing the border .
Pence noted that an infectious disease expert is joining an existing White House coronavirus task force on Monday .
Last week , Pence announced the addition of Debbie Birx , a State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration ’ s global HIV/AIDS response coordinator , to the virus panel .
Despite calls by Trump and Pence for political unity in the face of the viral threat , the issue has become mired in the partisan rancor in Washington , with both Republicans and Democrats accusing each other of mining the issue for political gain .
Trump , at a political rally last week , accused Democrats of “ politicizing ” the issue and said their criticism of his handling of the public health challenge was their new “ hoax.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump said he was not trying to minimize the threat from the virus .
“ Again , the hoax was used in respect to Democrats and what they were saying , ” he said Saturday .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , who emerged victorious Saturday night from South Carolina ’ s primary , criticized the administration over the availability of testing kits .
Biden also panned the administration ’ s decision to have political appointees Pence and Azar , neither of whom are scientists by training , appear on the Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Anthony Fauci , the National Institute ’ s of Health infectious disease chief .
Biden claimed the administration doesn ’ t have testing kits .
Pence and Azar said thousands of kits had been distributed .
Azar said he didn ’ t know what Biden was talking about when the former vice president said testing kits didn ’ t exist .
Azar said the Center for Disease Control and Prevention had developed a lab test for coronavirus with “ historic speed.
” Pence was interviewed on CNN ’ s “ State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Fox News Sunday , ” CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” and ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” Biden commented on CNN .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

PORTLAND, Ore. — The coronavirus may have been circulating for weeks undetected in Washington state, a preliminary finding that could mean hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the state that’s also home to the nation’s first confirmed infection and now the first death, researchers said Sunday after analyzing genetic samples of the pathogens.
State and local authorities stepped up testing for the illness Sunday as the number of new cases grew nationwide, with new infections announced in Illinois, Rhode Island and Washington state. Authorities in the Seattle area said two more people had been diagnosed with the coronavirus, both men in their 60s who were in critical condition. Those cases brought the numbers in the Seattle area to six. Fifty more people in a nursing facility in Kirkland, Washington, are sick and being tested for the virus.
Elsewhere, authorities announced on Sunday a third case in Illinois and Rhode Island’s first case as worried Americans swarmed stores to stock up on basic goods such as bottled water, canned foods and toilet paper. The hospitalized patient in Rhode Island is a man in his 40s who had traveled to Italy in February.
As the fallout continued, Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sought to reassure the American public that the federal government is working to make sure state and local authorities are able to test for coronavirus. Both said during a round of TV talk show appearances Sunday that thousands more kits to test for coronavirus had been distributed to state and local officials, with thousands more to come.
“They should know we have the best public health system in the world looking out for them,” Azar said, adding that additional cases will be reported and the overall risk to Americans is low.
As Americans prepared, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence that the coronavirus may have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected — a finding that, if true, could mean hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area. The research was not published in a scientific journal or reviewed by other scientists.
Trevor Bedford, an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, said on Twitter late Saturday that genetic similarities between the state’s first case on Jan. 20 and a case announced Friday indicated the newer case may have descended from the earlier one. The Jan. 20 case was the first known case in the U.S.
“I believe we’re facing an already substantial outbreak in Washington State that was not detected until now due to narrow case definition requiring direct travel to China,” he said on Twitter.
Bedford did not immediately reply to an e-mail requesting an interview Sunday.
Scientists not affiliated with the research said the results did not necessarily surprise them and pointed out that for many people — especially younger, healthier ones — the symptoms are not much worse than a flu or bad cold.
“We think that this has a pretty high rate of mild symptoms and can be asymptomatic. The symptoms are pretty non-specific and testing criteria has been pretty strict, so those combinations of factors means that it easily could have been circulating for a bit without us knowing,” said Justin Lessler, an associated professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
“And that was what a lot of us was thinking was likely.”
Pence, named by the president to be the point-person overseeing the government’s response, said more than 15,000 virus testing kits had been released over the weekend. And, the administration is working with a commercial provider to distribute 50,000 more, he said.
The vice president said testing was among the first issues raised by governors he’s spoken with so far.
“We’re leaning into it,” Pence said.
Azar said more than 3,600 people already have been tested for coronavirus and the capability exists to test 75,000 people. He forecast a “radical expansion of that” in the coming weeks.
Pence and Azar spoke a day after President Donald Trump approved new restrictions on international travel to prevent the spread within the U.S. of the new virus, which originated in China. There are now more than 80,000 cases worldwide and nearly 3,000 deaths.
The new U.S. travel restrictions apply to Iran, although travel there by Americans already is severely limited, as well as heavily affected regions of Italy and South Korea. Trump tweeted Sunday that any travelers from those countries will be screened when they arrive in the U.S.
The number of known coronavirus cases in the U.S. had reached 70 as of Sunday.
Trump said Saturday at a White House news conference that he was thinking about closing the southern border with Mexico as a precaution. Azar said Sunday that Mexico has few coronavirus cases and that it would take a dramatic change in the circumstances there to prompt serious consideration of a border shutdown.
The president, Azar said, “was trying to say everything’s on the table.”
“We will take whatever measures are appropriate and necessary to protect the American people, but we don’t forecast doing that any time soon,” he said of closing the border.
Pence noted that an infectious disease expert is joining an existing White House coronavirus task force on Monday. Last week, Pence announced the addition of Debbie Birx, a State Department ambassador-at-large and medical doctor who is the administration’s global HIV/AIDS response coordinator, to the virus panel.
Despite calls by Trump and Pence for political unity in the face of the viral threat, the issue has become mired in the partisan rancor in Washington, with both Republicans and Democrats accusing each other of mining the issue for political gain.
Trump, at a political rally last week, accused Democrats of “politicizing” the issue and said their criticism of his handling of the public health challenge was their new “hoax.”
At the White House on Saturday, Trump said he was not trying to minimize the threat from the virus.
“Again, the hoax was used in respect to Democrats and what they were saying,” he said Saturday.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who emerged victorious Saturday night from South Carolina’s primary, criticized the administration over the availability of testing kits.
Biden also panned the administration’s decision to have political appointees Pence and Azar, neither of whom are scientists by training, appear on the Sunday shows, instead of an expert like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institute’s of Health infectious disease chief.
Biden claimed the administration doesn’t have testing kits. Pence and Azar said thousands of kits had been distributed.
Azar said he didn’t know what Biden was talking about when the former vice president said testing kits didn’t exist. Azar said the Center for Disease Control and Prevention had developed a lab test for coronavirus with “historic speed.”
Pence was interviewed on CNN’s “State of the Union” and Azar commented on “Fox News Sunday,” CBS’ “Face the Nation” and ABC’s “This Week.” Biden commented on CNN.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--Ask Amy: Parents ponder disclosing abuse to the kids

Dear Amy : I am a 42-year-old man .
My wife is 40 .
We were both abused as children .
I like to drink , and now my wife has followed this path .
We have two kids , whom we love very much .
Should we tell our kids about our past troubles ?
We have done very well for ourselves .
Our kids are great .
They know we love them , and they have done very well .
Obviously , they see us drink too much at times .
The oldest is going off to college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he knows we love him .
I ’ ve told him about the genetics of alcohol ( it does run in our family ) , but should I tell him about the abuse ?
You always talk about being honest , but this seems like it might be too much ?
I ’ m not sure if I ’ m trying to cover my own insecurities by telling him , or if honesty is the best policy here ?
Dear Father : Yes , honesty is the best policy .
So , let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You seem to gloss over your alcohol abuse by saying that it is genetic ; I infer that your childhood abuse has also been a factor and that both are likely related to your drinking .
It is also possible that your childhood abuse was perpetrated by people who were — like you — abusing alcohol .
My point is that you need to start your conversations by getting real about your alcohol abuse .
The most impactful statement you could make to your entire family would be to admit that you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The worst message you can send is to tell your kids that alcoholism is genetic ( this is partially correct ) , while you are drinking — and sometimes drunk — in front of them .
Your children will sniff out the hypocrisy very quickly .
They will also get the message that alcohol is more powerful than they are .
( “ Look at my folks !
Resistance is futile !
” ) Your kids love you .
But — here ’ s a shock — all of that love will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legacy imposed by your untreated addiction .
Children of alcoholics are often high-functioning “ fixers , ” with a deep well of anxiety they hide from the world .
( In short , you don ’ t actually know how “ great ” they are doing . )
Yes , you should tell your children about your childhoods , but not right before your son heads off to college , and not while you are still drinking .
You should start by admitting your alcoholism , telling your story to a qualified therapist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s program for kids : Alateen , would be most useful for your kids .
Check Al-Anon.org for information about local meetings .
Even if you are not in recovery , this would be a gift for them .
Dear Amy : I ’ ve been with my boyfriend for two and a half years .
He was married before and had children with his ex-wife ( they are adults , now ) .
The marriage ended almost 10 years ago , when she told him she had been having an affair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to invite her to family functions — not just major holidays , but birthdays and such .
I have nothing against her — it just feels wrong !
Am I wrong if I tell them that as long as they continue to invite her to events , we will not attend ?
My boyfriend is too nice to tell his family it bothers him , although in my opinion he shouldn ’ t have to .
Dear Savvy : Are you the boss of your boyfriend — and his family ?
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their socializing ?
You don ’ t have anything against this woman ; your boyfriend ’ s family obviously don ’ t have anything against her , and your boyfriend likely doesn ’ t care one way or the other , because if he really did , he would give them the message that he didn ’ t want to socialize with his ex .
If you don ’ t want to attend events where his ex is also invited , then you can stay home , but if you make your attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to choose her .
Dear Amy : I thought your advice to “ Old Wounds ” was great .
Yes , she should tell her parents that she was sexually assaulted in middle school .
I ’ d like to add , however , that a great way to do this is to write a letter .
Face-to-face communication can catch people very off guard .
Dear Been There : I agree that putting thoughts down on paper is an ideal way to frame — and tell — a story .
Thank @ @

Dear Amy: I am a 42-year-old man. My wife is 40. We were both abused as children.
I like to drink, and now my wife has followed this path.
We have two kids, whom we love very much.
Should we tell our kids about our past troubles?
We have done very well for ourselves. Our kids are great. They know we love them, and they have done very well.
Obviously, they see us drink too much at times.
The oldest is going off to college. He is a top-notch kid and he knows we love him.
I’ve told him about the genetics of alcohol (it does run in our family), but should I tell him about the abuse?
You always talk about being honest, but this seems like it might be too much?
I’m not sure if I’m trying to cover my own insecurities by telling him, or if honesty is the best policy here?
— Loving Father
Dear Father: Yes, honesty is the best policy. So, let’s talk about your drinking.
You seem to gloss over your alcohol abuse by saying that it is genetic; I infer that your childhood abuse has also been a factor and that both are likely related to your drinking.
It is also possible that your childhood abuse was perpetrated by people who were — like you — abusing alcohol.
My point is that you need to start your conversations by getting real about your alcohol abuse. The most impactful statement you could make to your entire family would be to admit that you are abusing alcohol — and to seek recovery.
The worst message you can send is to tell your kids that alcoholism is genetic (this is partially correct), while you are drinking — and sometimes drunk — in front of them. Your children will sniff out the hypocrisy very quickly. They will also get the message that alcohol is more powerful than they are. (“Look at my folks! Resistance is futile!”)
Your kids love you. But — here’s a shock — all of that love will take a back seat to the vulnerable legacy imposed by your untreated addiction. Children of alcoholics are often high-functioning “fixers,” with a deep well of anxiety they hide from the world. (In short, you don’t actually know how “great” they are doing.)
Yes, you should tell your children about your childhoods, but not right before your son heads off to college, and not while you are still drinking.
You should start by admitting your alcoholism, telling your story to a qualified therapist, and working toward recovery. Al-Anon’s program for kids: Alateen, would be most useful for your kids. Check Al-Anon.org for information about local meetings.
Even if you are not in recovery, this would be a gift for them.
Dear Amy: I’ve been with my boyfriend for two and a half years. He was married before and had children with his ex-wife (they are adults, now).
The marriage ended almost 10 years ago, when she told him she had been having an affair.
My issue is that his family continues to invite her to family functions — not just major holidays, but birthdays and such.
I have nothing against her — it just feels wrong!
Am I wrong if I tell them that as long as they continue to invite her to events, we will not attend?
My boyfriend is too nice to tell his family it bothers him, although in my opinion he shouldn’t have to.
— Savvy Girlfriend
Dear Savvy: Are you the boss of your boyfriend — and his family? Do you get to dictate the terms of their socializing?
You don’t have anything against this woman; your boyfriend’s family obviously don’t have anything against her, and your boyfriend likely doesn’t care one way or the other, because if he really did, he would give them the message that he didn’t want to socialize with his ex.
If you don’t want to attend events where his ex is also invited, then you can stay home, but if you make your attendance conditional, you should be prepared for them to choose her.
Dear Amy: I thought your advice to “Old Wounds” was great. Yes, she should tell her parents that she was sexually assaulted in middle school.
I’d like to add, however, that a great way to do this is to write a letter.
Face-to-face communication can catch people very off guard.
— Been There
Dear Been There: I agree that putting thoughts down on paper is an ideal way to frame — and tell — a story. Thank you.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--Man dies in crash while escorting Colorado WWII veteran’s body

GOVE COUNTY , Kansas — A motorcycle rider who was escorting the body of a World War II veteran died after he lost control of his motorcycle in western Kansas , and a second deadly crash happened minutes later when a car crashed into a firetruck responding to the first crash .
The Kansas Highway Patrol said the motorcycle crash happened on Interstate 70 in Gove County shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday .
The motorcycle driver , who was a member of the Patriot Guard Riders group , lost control and laid the motorcycle down .
Then a 2014 Dodge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck the rider in the passing lane .
The motorcycle driver was identified as Lennie Riedel , 65 , of Colby .
A few minutes later , a 2011 Honda Accord crashed into the back of a parked firetruck not far from the motorcycle crash .
The Honda Accord was driven by Cal Silvrants , 81 , of Fredericksburg , Virginia , who died at the scene of the crash .
The motorcycle rider who died was part of a group escorting the casket of World War II veteran Donald Stratton from Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nebraska .
Before his death , Stratton was one of three living crew members of the USS Arizona who survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor .
He was 97 .

GOVE COUNTY, Kansas — A motorcycle rider who was escorting the body of a World War II veteran died after he lost control of his motorcycle in western Kansas, and a second deadly crash happened minutes later when a car crashed into a firetruck responding to the first crash.
The Kansas Highway Patrol said the motorcycle crash happened on Interstate 70 in Gove County shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday.
The motorcycle driver, who was a member of the Patriot Guard Riders group, lost control and laid the motorcycle down. Then a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan that was following the motorcycle struck the rider in the passing lane. The motorcycle driver was identified as Lennie Riedel, 65, of Colby.
A few minutes later, a 2011 Honda Accord crashed into the back of a parked firetruck not far from the motorcycle crash. The Honda Accord was driven by Cal Silvrants, 81, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who died at the scene of the crash.
The motorcycle rider who died was part of a group escorting the casket of World War II veteran Donald Stratton from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Red Cloud, Nebraska. Before his death, Stratton was one of three living crew members of the USS Arizona who survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. He was 97.


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--Coronavirus: Some live, some die. Why?

Coronavirus: Some live, some die. Why?

This week , the state of Washington reported two new coronavirus cases .
One is resting at home , recovering nicely .
The other is dead .
Why do some people fare so much worse than others ?
Here ’ s a clue : The recovering patient is a high school student , while the dead man was in late 50s and “ medically high-risk , ” according to authorities .
“ People who have the most severe impact of disease are older and medically fragile , with underlying medical conditions , ” according to Dr. Nancy Messonnier , Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases .
“ That is consistent with what we generally see with other viral respiratory infections.
” “ Many of the cases are recovered or recovering , ” she said .
An analysis of 72,314 Chinese cases helps explain the Washington experience .
It ’ s the largest patient-based study of the illnesses from the new virus , published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association .
For people who are otherwise healthy , fewer than 1 percent died .
The death rate jumped to 5.6 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for hypertension , 6.3 percent for chronic respiratory disease , 7.3 percent for diabetes and 10.5 percent for people with cardiovascular disease .
The overall death rate was 2.3 percent .
That likely an overestimate because people with mild cases may not have sought medical help , so weren ’ t included .
But it ’ s still high , rivaling the 1918 flu pandemic .
Children under the age of 9 didn ’ t die .
But for patients between the ages of 70 and 79 , the death rate was 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 80 , it was 14.8 percent .
If the death rates hold true in the United States , that means if you have 300 infected friends , six of them would likely die , on average .
If your friends are under the age of 50 , you might lose just one .
But if they ’ re over 70 , you could lose more than 24 .
The pattern is consistent with other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS , which disproportionately killed the older and sicker .
But it differs from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kills young children and the elderly .
The 1918 flu pandemic , in contrast , was most deadly for people between the ages of 20 to 40 .
To be sure , young and healthy people can also die from the disease — such as Li Wenliang , a 34-year-old doctor widely regarded as a hero in China for blowing the whistle on the threat posed by the disease , then targeted by police .
Perhaps , while treating patients , he was exposed to a large blast of the virus .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
No one knows for sure .
But research on other respiratory viruses offers some hints .
Some people – especially the elderly and the sick – may have an immune response that is dangerous , said Dr. Melanie Ott of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and a professor at UC San Francisco ’ s Department of Medicine .
It ’ s called a “ cytokine storm , ” when immune cells are overproduced and flood into the lungs , causing pneumonia , inflammation and shortness of breath .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cytokine induction in different cell types and there is a ‘ cytokine storm , ’ causing a sepsis type of deterioration , ” she said .
But fatal illness may also be caused by direct damage to the lungs .
If the airways of the lungs are already damaged or compromised — from smoking and other ailments — then a person is much more susceptible to a pathogen that enters and infects the injured tissue .
Also , people with lung disease already suffer from reduced breathing , said Dr. Jack Coleman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute in Tampa , Florida .
“ So these fundamental questions really need to be studied , ” he said .
To learn what makes the virus so deadly , we need cell cultures , “ organoid ” models and perhaps animal research .
“ Ultimately , we will need to do the basic science to really understand it , ” he said , “ and to be able to develop targeted therapies that would be effective .
”

This week, the state of Washington reported two new coronavirus cases. One is resting at home, recovering nicely. The other is dead.
Why do some people fare so much worse than others?
Here’s a clue: The recovering patient is a high school student, while the dead man was in late 50s and “medically high-risk,” according to authorities.
“People who have the most severe impact of disease are older and medically fragile, with underlying medical conditions,” according to Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “That is consistent with what we generally see with other viral respiratory infections.”
“Many of the cases are recovered or recovering,” she said.
An analysis of 72,314 Chinese cases helps explain the Washington experience. It’s the largest patient-based study of the illnesses from the new virus, published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association.
For people who are otherwise healthy, fewer than 1 percent died. The death rate jumped to 5.6 percent for those with cancer, 6 percent for hypertension, 6.3 percent for chronic respiratory disease, 7.3 percent for diabetes and 10.5 percent for people with cardiovascular disease.
The overall death rate was 2.3 percent. That likely an overestimate because people with mild cases may not have sought medical help, so weren’t included. But it’s still high, rivaling the 1918 flu pandemic.
Children under the age of 9 didn’t die. But for patients between the ages of 70 and 79, the death rate was 8 percent. For those over the age of 80, it was 14.8 percent.
If the death rates hold true in the United States, that means if you have 300 infected friends, six of them would likely die, on average. If your friends are under the age of 50, you might lose just one. But if they’re over 70, you could lose more than 24.
The pattern is consistent with other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS, which disproportionately killed the older and sicker.
But it differs from flu outbreaks. The annual flu usually kills young children and the elderly. The 1918 flu pandemic, in contrast, was most deadly for people between the ages of 20 to 40.
To be sure, young and healthy people can also die from the disease — such as Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old doctor widely regarded as a hero in China for blowing the whistle on the threat posed by the disease, then targeted by police. Perhaps, while treating patients, he was exposed to a large blast of the virus.
Why are older and sicker people more vulnerable? No one knows for sure. But research on other respiratory viruses offers some hints.
Some people – especially the elderly and the sick – may have an immune response that is dangerous, said Dr. Melanie Ott of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and a professor at UC San Francisco’s Department of Medicine.
It’s called a “cytokine storm,” when immune cells are overproduced and flood into the lungs, causing pneumonia, inflammation and shortness of breath.
“The indication is that there is very specific cytokine induction in different cell types and there is a ‘cytokine storm,’ causing a sepsis type of deterioration,” she said.
But fatal illness may also be caused by direct damage to the lungs.
If the airways of the lungs are already damaged or compromised — from smoking and other ailments — then a person is much more susceptible to a pathogen that enters and infects the injured tissue. Also, people with lung disease already suffer from reduced breathing, said Dr. Jack Coleman, senior medical director of the Lung Health Institute in Tampa, Florida.
“We don’t understand the lung pathogenesis,” said UC San Francisco virologist Dr. Charles Chiu.
“So these fundamental questions really need to be studied,” he said. To learn what makes the virus so deadly, we need cell cultures, “organoid” models and perhaps animal research.
“Ultimately, we will need to do the basic science to really understand it,” he said, “and to be able to develop targeted therapies that would be effective.”


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--Colorado snow totals for March 1, 2020

Colorado snow totals for March 1, 2020

The storm system will drop between three and nine inches of snow in the mountains Sunday before moving into the @ @ @ @ @ , according to the National Weather Service at Boulder .

The following Colorado snow totals have been reported by the National Weather Service for March 1, 2020, as of 5:45 a.m. Monday.
Air Force Academy, Co — 5.8 inches at 4:18 a.m.
Beulah, Co — 1.8 inches at 11:33 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Black Forest, Co — 5 inches at 12:53 a.m.
Blende, Co — 0.2 inch at 3:33 a.m.
Boulder, Co — 3.9 inches at 3:45 a.m.
Broomfield, Co — 3.9 inches at 9:15 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Cascade, Co — 4.5 inches at 8:48 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Colorado Springs, Co — 6 inches at 9:39 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Crescent Village, Co — 3 inches at 9:10 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Erie, Co — 3.5 inches at 10 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Louisville, Co — 2.9 inches at 11 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Manitou Springs, Co — 5.8 inches at 12:46 a.m.
Monument, Co — 5.5 inches at 4:47 a.m.
N Castle Rock, Co — 2.5 inches at 3:25 a.m.
Nederland, Co — 2.5 inches at 8:33 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Palmer Lake, Co — 3.5 inches at 8:56 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Peterson Afb, Co — 5 inches at 9:32 p.m. – 3/1/2020
Rye, Co — 5.5 inches at 5:32 a.m.
Woodland Park, Co — 4 inches at 12 a.m.


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--North Korea fires unidentified projectile, South Korea’s military says

SEOUL , South Korea — North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into its eastern sea on Monday as it begins to resume weapons demonstrations after a months-long hiatus that could have been forced by the coronavirus crisis in Asia .
The launches from an area near Wonsan came two days after North Korea ’ s state media said leader Kim Jong Un supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas .
Seoul ’ s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launches in a statement but couldn ’ t immediately say how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons were ballistic or rocket artillery .
Kim had entered the New Year vowing to bolster his nuclear deterrent in face of “ gangster-like ” U.S. sanctions and pressure , using a key ruling party meeting in late December to warn of “ shocking ” action over stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration .
He also said the North would soon reveal a new “ strategic weapon ” and insisted the North was no longer “ unilaterally bound ” to a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any projectile landing in Japan ’ s territory or its exclusive economic zone , and no sea vessels or aircraft had been damaged .
“ The repeated firings of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a serious problem for the international community including Japan , and the government will continue to gather and analyze information , and monitor the situation to protect the lives and property of the people , ” the Defense Ministry ’ s statement said .
The recent lull in North Korea ’ s launches had experts wondering whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while pushing a tough fight against the coronavirus , which state media has described as a matter of “ national existence.
” Kim ’ s latest show of force is apparently aimed at boosting military morale , strengthening internal unity and showing that his country is doing fine despite outside worries of how the North would contend with an outbreak .
North Korea has yet to confirm any COVID-19 cases , although state media have hinted that an uncertain number of people have been quarantined after exhibiting symptoms .
North Korea has shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourists , intensified screening at entry points and mobilized tens of thousands of health workers to monitor residents and isolate those with symptoms .
Kim and President Donald Trump met three times since embarking on their high-stakes nuclear diplomacy in 2018 , but negotiations have faltered since their second summit last February in Vietnam , where the Americans rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability .
Following the collapse in Hanoi , the North ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launches last year , using the standstill in talks to expand its military capabilities .

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into its eastern sea on Monday as it begins to resume weapons demonstrations after a months-long hiatus that could have been forced by the coronavirus crisis in Asia.
The launches from an area near Wonsan came two days after North Korea’s state media said leader Kim Jong Un supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas.
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launches in a statement but couldn’t immediately say how far the projectiles flew or whether the weapons were ballistic or rocket artillery.
Kim had entered the New Year vowing to bolster his nuclear deterrent in face of “gangster-like” U.S. sanctions and pressure, using a key ruling party meeting in late December to warn of “shocking” action over stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration.
He also said the North would soon reveal a new “strategic weapon” and insisted the North was no longer “unilaterally bound” to a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Japan said it has not detected any projectile landing in Japan’s territory or its exclusive economic zone, and no sea vessels or aircraft had been damaged.
“The repeated firings of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a serious problem for the international community including Japan, and the government will continue to gather and analyze information, and monitor the situation to protect the lives and property of the people,” the Defense Ministry’s statement said.
The recent lull in North Korea’s launches had experts wondering whether the North was holding back its weapons displays while pushing a tough fight against the coronavirus, which state media has described as a matter of “national existence.”
Kim’s latest show of force is apparently aimed at boosting military morale, strengthening internal unity and showing that his country is doing fine despite outside worries of how the North would contend with an outbreak.
North Korea has yet to confirm any COVID-19 cases, although state media have hinted that an uncertain number of people have been quarantined after exhibiting symptoms. North Korea has shut down nearly all cross-border traffic, banned tourists, intensified screening at entry points and mobilized tens of thousands of health workers to monitor residents and isolate those with symptoms.
Kim and President Donald Trump met three times since embarking on their high-stakes nuclear diplomacy in 2018, but negotiations have faltered since their second summit last February in Vietnam, where the Americans rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability.
Following the collapse in Hanoi, the North ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity and conducted at least 13 rounds of weapons launches last year, using the standstill in talks to expand its military capabilities.


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--PHOTOS: Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors, March 1, 2020

The Denver Nuggets hosted the Toronto Raptors on March 1 , 2020 at the Pepsi Center in Denver .
Denver @ @ @ @ @ players scored in double figures , and the team combined for a season-high 38 assists @ @ @ @ @ Read the full game story .

DENVER, CO - MARCH 1: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets exaggerates having his wrist held by Kyle Lowry (7) of the Toronto Raptors as he receives a pass during the fourth quarter of Denver's 133-118 win on Sunday, March 1, 2020. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--Nuggets offense explodes in victory over defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors

The madness of March descended on the Pepsi Center on Sunday with playoff-like intensity between the Nuggets and Toronto Raptors .
When Nikola Jokic delivered a full-court pass to assist a Gary Harris layup late in the fourth quarter , the arena erupted .
Jokic earned his 12th triple-double of the season and Denver took down the defending NBA champions 133-118 .
Eight Nuggets players scored in double figures , and the team combined for a season-high 38 assists and 73 first-half points .
The Raptors , without injured centers Marc Gasol ( hamstring ) and Serge Ibaka ( knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball , pitting undersized defenders against Jokic .
The Nuggets all-star flourished with 23 points , 18 rebounds and 11 assists .
Jokic is tied with LeBron James for the second-most triple-doubles in the NBA this season .
The game featured two teams desperate for a bounce-back performance .
Denver entered after a 29-point drubbing at the Clippers on Friday .
Toronto had dropped two straight home games , against the Bucks and Hornets .
Each franchise is fighting to maintain playoff seeding near the top of its respective conference .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Malone said .
“ We were all disappointed in the game in L.A. We also knew that ’ s not who we have been in a long period of time , but unfortunately , it happened .
You have to learn from it.
” Jamal Murray dominated the opening 12 minutes .
The Nuggets ’ starting point guard made his first six shots from the field , including five straight from 3-point range , to record 17 first-quarter points .
The Nuggets caught fire from deep , hitting nine consecutive shots behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second with a cool 40 points .
Rookie Michael Porter Jr. checked in with under four minutes left in the first quarter .
He finished a two-handed slam through contact in the third quarter and converted the and-one opportunity .
Porter ’ s stat line : 11 points , six rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes played .
Three early fouls on Mason Plumlee also led reserve forward Vlatko Cancar to earn surprise minutes ( his 13th game appearance this season ) .
Despite the Nuggets ’ first-quarter scoring outburst , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second , and a Kyle Lowry triple at the 4:36 mark tied the game at 60 apiece .
But Murray traded his hot hand to reserve small forward Torrey Craig , who poured in 12 second-quarter points , and Denver entered halftime leading 73-69 behind fantastic ball movement : 26 assists on 27 made shots .
“ Everyone on the team wants us to play like that and that ’ s when we ’ re at our best , ” Craig said .
“ The more we play together as a team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better it looks and the better it feels.
” Things got chippy in the third quarter with pace of play slowed by a pair of coaches ’ challenges , 13 combined foul calls , and fans in a sold-out arena letting their displeasure be known ( loudly ) to the officiating crew .
Denver cracked 100 points to begin the fourth quarter and was ahead by only four points .
But the Nuggets did not relinquish their lead once in a hard-fought Sunday victory .
“ We made a lot of good shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s why we won the game.
” Denver did it without starting power forward Paul Millsap , who suffered an ankle injury in Friday ’ s loss to the Clippers .
Grant earned his 22nd start of the season in place of Millsap and finished with 16 points , six assists and three rebounds .

The madness of March descended on the Pepsi Center on Sunday with playoff-like intensity between the Nuggets and Toronto Raptors.
When Nikola Jokic delivered a full-court pass to assist a Gary Harris layup late in the fourth quarter, the arena erupted. Jokic earned his 12th triple-double of the season and Denver took down the defending NBA champions 133-118. Eight Nuggets players scored in double figures, and the team combined for a season-high 38 assists and 73 first-half points.
The Raptors, without injured centers Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Serge Ibaka (knee), were forced to play small ball, pitting undersized defenders against Jokic. The Nuggets all-star flourished with 23 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists. Jokic is tied with LeBron James for the second-most triple-doubles in the NBA this season.
The game featured two teams desperate for a bounce-back performance. Denver entered after a 29-point drubbing at the Clippers on Friday. Toronto had dropped two straight home games, against the Bucks and Hornets. Each franchise is fighting to maintain playoff seeding near the top of its respective conference.
“There was no panic,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We were all disappointed in the game in L.A. We also knew that’s not who we have been in a long period of time, but unfortunately, it happened. You have to learn from it.”
Jamal Murray dominated the opening 12 minutes. The Nuggets’ starting point guard made his first six shots from the field, including five straight from 3-point range, to record 17 first-quarter points. The Nuggets caught fire from deep, hitting nine consecutive shots behind the arc, and they began the second with a cool 40 points.
Rookie Michael Porter Jr. checked in with under four minutes left in the first quarter. He finished a two-handed slam through contact in the third quarter and converted the and-one opportunity. Porter’s stat line: 11 points, six rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes played. Three early fouls on Mason Plumlee also led reserve forward Vlatko Cancar to earn surprise minutes (his 13th game appearance this season).
Despite the Nuggets’ first-quarter scoring outburst, the Raptors stayed within striking distance in the second, and a Kyle Lowry triple at the 4:36 mark tied the game at 60 apiece. But Murray traded his hot hand to reserve small forward Torrey Craig, who poured in 12 second-quarter points, and Denver entered halftime leading 73-69 behind fantastic ball movement: 26 assists on 27 made shots.
“Everyone on the team wants us to play like that and that’s when we’re at our best,” Craig said. “The more we play together as a team, the more fun it is, the better it looks and the better it feels.”
Things got chippy in the third quarter with pace of play slowed by a pair of coaches’ challenges, 13 combined foul calls, and fans in a sold-out arena letting their displeasure be known (loudly) to the officiating crew. Denver cracked 100 points to begin the fourth quarter and was ahead by only four points.
But the Nuggets did not relinquish their lead once in a hard-fought Sunday victory.
“We made a lot of good shots,” Jokic said. “That’s why we won the game.”
Denver did it without starting power forward Paul Millsap, who suffered an ankle injury in Friday’s loss to the Clippers. Grant earned his 22nd start of the season in place of Millsap and finished with 16 points, six assists and three rebounds.


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--Bryce Wills leads Stanford past No. 21 CU Buffs men’s basketball

STANFORD , Calif. — Oscar da Silva is impressed with Bryce Wills ’ development into a complete basketball player .
Wills , who was a game-time decision to start due to a sore ankle , scored 19 points , including a key layup in the final minute , and Stanford beat No .
21 Colorado 72-64 on Sunday .
“ He ’ s made huge progress over the course of the season , ” said da Silva , who added 16 points .
“ He ’ s much more confident now and is making the big bucket.
” Deajon Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cardinal ( 20-9 , 9-7 Pac-12 ) , who won their fourth straight .
“ It was truly questionable if Bryce was able to play all the way through warmups , ” Stanford coach Jerod Haase said .
“ He is a warrior and played to his strengths.
” Tyler Bey scored 17 points to lead the Buffaloes ( 21-9 , 10-7 ) , who lost a third consecutive game for the first time this season .
McKinley Wright had 13 points and 11 rebounds , and D ’ Shawn Schwartz had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nobody to blame but ourselves , ” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said .
“ Our defense wasn ’ t good enough against UCLA , wasn ’ t good enough against Cal , and it wasn ’ t good enough against Stanford today.
” Wills gave Stanford a 65-52 edge with 8:13 remaining to play and that ’ s when the Buffaloes made their move , scoring 10 straight on three baskets by Wright and two more by Bey .
Wills ended a nearly four-minute drought with a short jumper and Colorado missed its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed a lot of heart to come back , ( but ) it ’ s hard to come back and win , ” Boyle said .
“ We cut it to three , but coming out of a timeout , we turned it over .
We got two turnovers in the second half taking the ball out of bounds , and they ’ re not pressing .
It ’ s hard to credit Stanford when you ’ re just inept at taking the ball out of bounds.
” Except for a two-point deficit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the contest .
“ We know we ’ re a team on the bubble , ” Wills said .
“ We talked about at the end of this game we ’ d either be out of the tournament or still having a chance.
” Stanford led by as many as 15 at 35-20 with 2:27 remaining to play .
The Buffaloes scored the final eight points to pull within seven at 35-28 at the intermission .
“ I feel like our team has lost its defensive will , it ’ s all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center Evan Battey said .
“ We try to think how we can get out to a strong start in a game and for some reason we just don ’ t have it .
We ’ re going to find it.
” Colorado : The Buffaloes entered the weekend with a chance to win the conference title and are hoping to wind up with a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament after being swept in the Bay Area .
The Buffaloes could fall into a fourth-place tie depending on later action Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ set a program record for regular-season victories .
Stanford : The Cardinal head into the final weekend assured of a winning conference record and can still finish as high as a second-place tie .
… Improved to 3-19 against Top 25 competition under coach Jerod Haase .
… Wills recorded his second double-figure scoring performance in the last 11 games after reaching double figures six times in the previous 11 .

STANFORD, Calif. — Oscar da Silva is impressed with Bryce Wills’ development into a complete basketball player.
Wills, who was a game-time decision to start due to a sore ankle, scored 19 points, including a key layup in the final minute, and Stanford beat No. 21 Colorado 72-64 on Sunday.
“He’s made huge progress over the course of the season,” said da Silva, who added 16 points. “He’s much more confident now and is making the big bucket.”
Deajon Davis and Tyrell Terry each had 12 for the Cardinal (20-9, 9-7 Pac-12), who won their fourth straight.
“It was truly questionable if Bryce was able to play all the way through warmups,” Stanford coach Jerod Haase said. “He is a warrior and played to his strengths.”
Tyler Bey scored 17 points to lead the Buffaloes (21-9, 10-7), who lost a third consecutive game for the first time this season. McKinley Wright had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and D’Shawn Schwartz had 14 points.
“There’s nobody to blame but ourselves,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. “Our defense wasn’t good enough against UCLA, wasn’t good enough against Cal, and it wasn’t good enough against Stanford today.”
Wills gave Stanford a 65-52 edge with 8:13 remaining to play and that’s when the Buffaloes made their move, scoring 10 straight on three baskets by Wright and two more by Bey.
Wills ended a nearly four-minute drought with a short jumper and Colorado missed its next seven shots.
“Our guys showed a lot of heart to come back, (but) it’s hard to come back and win,” Boyle said. “We cut it to three, but coming out of a timeout, we turned it over. We got two turnovers in the second half taking the ball out of bounds, and they’re not pressing. It’s hard to credit Stanford when you’re just inept at taking the ball out of bounds.”
Except for a two-point deficit early, the Cardinal led the majority of the contest.
“We know we’re a team on the bubble,” Wills said. “We talked about at the end of this game we’d either be out of the tournament or still having a chance.”
Stanford led by as many as 15 at 35-20 with 2:27 remaining to play. The Buffaloes scored the final eight points to pull within seven at 35-28 at the intermission.
“I feel like our team has lost its defensive will, it’s all gone out the window,” Buffaloes center Evan Battey said. “We try to think how we can get out to a strong start in a game and for some reason we just don’t have it. We’re going to find it.”
BIG PICTURE
Colorado: The Buffaloes entered the weekend with a chance to win the conference title and are hoping to wind up with a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament after being swept in the Bay Area. The Buffaloes could fall into a fourth-place tie depending on later action Sunday. … Colorado still needs one win to set a program record for regular-season victories.
Stanford: The Cardinal head into the final weekend assured of a winning conference record and can still finish as high as a second-place tie. … Improved to 3-19 against Top 25 competition under coach Jerod Haase. … Wills recorded his second double-figure scoring performance in the last 11 games after reaching double figures six times in the previous 11.
UP NEXT
Colorado: travels to Utah on Saturday.
Stanford: at Oregon State on Thursday.


thedenverpost--2020-03-02--Why are American women running faster than ever? We asked them — hundreds of them.

More than 450 women raced in the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon in Atlanta on Saturday .
That ’ s a huge number , reflecting changes in rules , innovative shoe technology and a sea change in women ’ s running .
Amateur women are running faster than ever and , through communal networks online , showing others how to do so .
To qualify to race Saturday , a woman had to complete a marathon in 2 hours 45 minutes or faster sometime in the past three years , roughly a pace of 6 minutes 17 seconds per mile .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and many have pushed themselves to results they once thought unachievable .
We know this because we talked to them — hundreds of them .
Through social media networks , running clubs , online message boards and the runners ’ own personal networks , The New York Times reached about two-thirds of the qualifiers .
Alongside the few dozen professional runners who are expected to compete for a spot on the Olympic team by finishing in the top three , there are hundreds of amateur runners from around the country .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coaches , teachers and television producers .
Some are participating in their first Olympic Trials , and some in their fifth .
Some are still in college .
Some are in their mid- and even late 40s .
At least one is still in high school .
Many are pulling one another along with calls of “ I did this , so you can , too.
” Starla Garcia , a 30-year-old registered dietitian in Houston , set a personal best at the California International Marathon in Sacramento in 2018 , finishing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than her previous time .
She figured that was about as fast as she could go .
Then she heard another runner , Carly Gill , who ran 2:42 in Berlin in September , on the “ Ali on the Run ” podcast , and thought : “ Why am I selling myself short ?
Why can ’ t I believe in myself that much , too ?
” It took her three marathons — and countless miles — to qualify .
She first ran Grandma ’ s Marathon in Duluth , Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two minutes short of the qualifying standard .
She then entered the California International Marathon in December , but did not finish .
At the Houston Marathon last month , her last chance to qualify , she ran a 2:43:55 to make it to Atlanta .
“ What other times in my life am I going to have a pack of women around me pursuing the same goal ?
” she said , looking ahead to the Trials .
Other qualifiers described their own paths to a qualification time .
Rena Elmer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 months to 12 years , was once a standout in the steeplechase .
She switched to the marathon because it was too hard to find track time after she and her family moved to the Dallas suburbs .
Now she trains alone , mostly on a treadmill at a nearby YMCA , while her children are at school .
Courtney Olsen of Bellingham , Washington , presides over a local running club , using apps like Strava , Instagram and Facebook to keep her team connected and share workouts and training plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depression , she said .
Cailtin Kowalke of Cross Plains , Wisconsin , hung up her running shoes after the 2016 Olympic Trials .
That didn ’ t last long .
She decided to try qualifying for the 2020 Trials , and ran a 2:43 marathon in 2018 .
She ’ ll be racing in Atlanta six months after giving birth to her daughter .
They will compete with a high school student from Minnesota ; an Air Force first lieutenant from Colorado Springs , Colorado ; a college senior in Raleigh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first try ; and a 48-year-old teacher from Northern Virginia .
All of them are part of a boomlet in female distance running that is distinct from the running booms of the past .
The overall number of participants isn ’ t necessarily growing , as it did in the 1970s and 1980s and the early 2000s , but the fastest women are getting faster .
“ If They Can Do It ” Decades ago , running was the ultimate individual pursuit , an activity immortalized in the 1959 short story “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anymore .
Each runner we talked to pointed to some form of the adage “ you can ’ t be what you can ’ t see.
” About two-thirds of the women said they used social media apps like Instagram to connect with and follow other runners .
Keri McEntee , an occupational therapist in Fairbanks , Alaska , trains at an indoor track at a hockey arena when it ’ s too cold to train outside .
When she looks at fellow runners online , though , “ it sparks this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , I can do it , ’ ” she said .
Obsie Birru of Phoenix , a 2:30 marathoner who works as an academic adviser , said she turned to social networks to find a community , since she does much of her training alone in the midday Arizona heat .
“ Instagram is where we share our struggles and successes , ” she said .
“ Oh , that was a rough workout ; that was a great day — you see the nitty-gritty.
” They pick up training tips and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ mileage and race performances .
They become running partners in real life and encourage others from afar .
James McKirdy of McKirdy Trained , a coaching service based in Flagstaff , Arizona , worked with 14 athletes who qualified for the Olympic Trials ; 10 of them are women .
He credits the sharp increase in fast women to online coaching services and the interconnectivity provided by Strava and Instagram .
“ Our business would not really exist without the online apps that are out there right now , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the access 10 years ago that we do now.
” He also cited the Shalane Flanagan Effect , noting how women , in particular , are pulling one another up to new levels of sub-elite running through communities found both online and in real life .
“ People are pushing each other to strive for bigger goals , ” said Meghan Bishop , a 34-year-old orthopedic sports medicine surgeon in New York .
The 2:42 marathoner always has a bag of running clothes with her so she can get her training in whenever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other succeed and qualify , ” she said .
“ If it ’ s something that you want bad enough , you ’ re going to make time for it.
” About one in five of the qualifiers we reached are older than 35 , and about 1 in 13 are 40 or older .
Their careers as sought-after college athletes might have ended years ago , but their competitive fire kept burning .
Ruth Morrey , a 44-year-old psychologist in Rochester , Minnesota , was a Division I soccer player ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Olympic Trials in 2000 , then became a professional triathlete .
She had three children , got a doctorate in psychology and retired as a pro triathlete in 2018 .
It wasn ’ t long before she was thinking about another athletic goal .
“ More women are allowing themselves to have their own goals outside of their own families or careers , ” she said .
“ It ’ s such a joyous experience.
” Morrey had not run a marathon that was not part of a triathlon in more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run 26.2 miles in under three hours at the end of Ironman triathlons .
“ I think if we just get rid of 100 miles of biking and the swim , I think I could do it , ” she recalled thinking .
She qualified — with a 2:43:41 .
“ I love that I was able to have an opportunity to see what a 44-year-old can do.
” About one in four of the runners we reached have children .
Many describe a kinship and inspiration found between other mothers lining up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many women who would love to be in my shoes , and I want to go compete for them and the other moms out there , ” Kowalke said .
She ’ ll be lining up in Atlanta for the first time as a new mother .
“ I would say that we are all competing against each other , but on the flip side of that , we are all competing for each other as women , and I think that ’ s really special.
” Two recent structural changes across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the record size of this year ’ s field .
The first is that USA Track and Field relaxed the qualifying standard for the 2020 Olympics , to 2:45 from 2:43 to encourage participation .
( World Athletics had relaxed its qualifying standard for 2016 for the same reason . )
About 80 % of the runners who qualified for the Trials in Atlanta did so with a time between 2:37 and 2:45 , known as the ‘ B ’ qualifying standard .
It ’ s possible that women were newly motivated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was now within reach .
Many expect the standard to be lowered once again for the 2024 Olympics Trials .
The number of women who have run below 2:37 has also risen sharply in recent years .
The second structural change has occurred in shoes .
Advancements in shoe technology — in particular , in a line of Nike shoes called the Vaporfly 4 % and the Vaporfly Next % — have become an explosive issue among runners , as professional and amateur racers alike debate whether the shoes save so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage .
These shoes are omnipresent on the starting lines of major races , and they are likely to be worn by a huge share of the field in Atlanta .
Garcia described this field in generational terms , calling the ability of women to train and dedicate time to such goals as a luxury .
“ I honestly think that this is one of the first generations because that has been given these kinds of opportunities , ” Garcia said .
“ I think it ’ s just followed a whole social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The women ’ s running boomlet comes at a time of change and tumult in women ’ s athletics .
After the U.S. women ’ s soccer team won the World Cup last year , thousands in the stadium celebrated by chanting “ Equal Pay ” — a reference to a lawsuit still in court .
The WNBA and its players ’ union agreed on a collective-bargaining agreement that would nearly double the maximum salary and provide paid maternity leave .
It ’ s becoming more of a norm to see female athletes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and return to the field of play soon after giving birth .
It was only last year that Nike announced a new maternity policy for all sponsored athletes following the publication of a series of videos and articles by The New York Times Opinion section .
“ It ’ s the power of communal persistence , ” Garcia continued .
“ How awesome is it that we are almost given our own day to run around the city of Atlanta in sports bras , buns and tiny shorts to show how strong a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here is some aggregate information about the runners who completed our survey .
Nearly half the respondents reported having a family income of more than $ 100,000 per year , and about one in four reported incomes at $ 150,000 or higher .
Marathon training demands time — there ’ s no way to avoid the number of hours needed for long runs , threshold runs , speed workouts , cross training and recovery .
Women with higher-paying , salaried jobs are also more likely than low earners to have flexibility in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily work around their training schedule .
Most obvious to anyone who watches the race : More than 90 % of the runners are white .
As Runner ’ s World described it in 2011 , the lack of African American participation in distance running is a result of few role models as well as “ ingrained stereotypes ( of both black and white runners ) , institutional complacency and cultural resistance.
” Since then , the sport has gotten somewhat more diverse at the recreational level , with the growth of teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Men Run .
But the elite field in the United States remains overwhelmingly white .
Most runners who qualified for the Trials ran about 75 miles per week .

The New York Times News Service Syndicate

More than 450 women raced in the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon in Atlanta on Saturday. That’s a huge number, reflecting changes in rules, innovative shoe technology and a sea change in women’s running.
Amateur women are running faster than ever and, through communal networks online, showing others how to do so.
To qualify to race Saturday, a woman had to complete a marathon in 2 hours 45 minutes or faster sometime in the past three years, roughly a pace of 6 minutes 17 seconds per mile.
The women represent a range of backgrounds, and many have pushed themselves to results they once thought unachievable. We know this because we talked to them — hundreds of them.
Through social media networks, running clubs, online message boards and the runners’ own personal networks, The New York Times reached about two-thirds of the qualifiers.
Alongside the few dozen professional runners who are expected to compete for a spot on the Olympic team by finishing in the top three, there are hundreds of amateur runners from around the country.
They are accountants and anesthesiologists, mothers and coaches, teachers and television producers. Some are participating in their first Olympic Trials, and some in their fifth. Some are still in college. Some are in their mid- and even late 40s. At least one is still in high school. Many are pulling one another along with calls of “I did this, so you can, too.”
Starla Garcia, a 30-year-old registered dietitian in Houston, set a personal best at the California International Marathon in Sacramento in 2018, finishing in 2:53 — more than 20 minutes faster than her previous time. She figured that was about as fast as she could go. Then she heard another runner, Carly Gill, who ran 2:42 in Berlin in September, on the “Ali on the Run” podcast, and thought: “Why am I selling myself short? Why can’t I believe in myself that much, too?”
It took her three marathons — and countless miles — to qualify. She first ran Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, in June 2019, and finished two minutes short of the qualifying standard. She then entered the California International Marathon in December, but did not finish. At the Houston Marathon last month, her last chance to qualify, she ran a 2:43:55 to make it to Atlanta.
“What other times in my life am I going to have a pack of women around me pursuing the same goal?” she said, looking ahead to the Trials.
Other qualifiers described their own paths to a qualification time.
Rena Elmer, a stay-at-home mother of nine children ages 14 months to 12 years, was once a standout in the steeplechase. She switched to the marathon because it was too hard to find track time after she and her family moved to the Dallas suburbs. Now she trains alone, mostly on a treadmill at a nearby YMCA, while her children are at school.
Courtney Olsen of Bellingham, Washington, presides over a local running club, using apps like Strava, Instagram and Facebook to keep her team connected and share workouts and training plans. Distance running has helped her overcome depression, she said.
Cailtin Kowalke of Cross Plains, Wisconsin, hung up her running shoes after the 2016 Olympic Trials. That didn’t last long. She decided to try qualifying for the 2020 Trials, and ran a 2:43 marathon in 2018. She’ll be racing in Atlanta six months after giving birth to her daughter.
They will compete with a high school student from Minnesota; an Air Force first lieutenant from Colorado Springs, Colorado; a college senior in Raleigh, North Carolina, who qualified on her first try; and a 48-year-old teacher from Northern Virginia.
All of them are part of a boomlet in female distance running that is distinct from the running booms of the past. The overall number of participants isn’t necessarily growing, as it did in the 1970s and 1980s and the early 2000s, but the fastest women are getting faster.
“If They Can Do It”
Decades ago, running was the ultimate individual pursuit, an activity immortalized in the 1959 short story “The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner.” Not anymore.
Each runner we talked to pointed to some form of the adage “you can’t be what you can’t see.” About two-thirds of the women said they used social media apps like Instagram to connect with and follow other runners.
Keri McEntee, an occupational therapist in Fairbanks, Alaska, trains at an indoor track at a hockey arena when it’s too cold to train outside. When she looks at fellow runners online, though, “it sparks this, ‘Wow, if they can do it, I can do it,’ ” she said.
Obsie Birru of Phoenix, a 2:30 marathoner who works as an academic adviser, said she turned to social networks to find a community, since she does much of her training alone in the midday Arizona heat. “Instagram is where we share our struggles and successes,” she said. “Oh, that was a rough workout; that was a great day — you see the nitty-gritty.”
They pick up training tips and running routes, and track their peers’ mileage and race performances. They become running partners in real life and encourage others from afar.
James McKirdy of McKirdy Trained, a coaching service based in Flagstaff, Arizona, worked with 14 athletes who qualified for the Olympic Trials; 10 of them are women. He credits the sharp increase in fast women to online coaching services and the interconnectivity provided by Strava and Instagram.
“Our business would not really exist without the online apps that are out there right now,” he said. “We didn’t have the access 10 years ago that we do now.”
He also cited the Shalane Flanagan Effect, noting how women, in particular, are pulling one another up to new levels of sub-elite running through communities found both online and in real life.
“People are pushing each other to strive for bigger goals,” said Meghan Bishop, a 34-year-old orthopedic sports medicine surgeon in New York. The 2:42 marathoner always has a bag of running clothes with her so she can get her training in whenever possible. “Other athletes are seeing each other succeed and qualify,” she said. “If it’s something that you want bad enough, you’re going to make time for it.”
Staying Competitive, Longer
About one in five of the qualifiers we reached are older than 35, and about 1 in 13 are 40 or older. Their careers as sought-after college athletes might have ended years ago, but their competitive fire kept burning.
Ruth Morrey, a 44-year-old psychologist in Rochester, Minnesota, was a Division I soccer player; later, she qualified for and ran in the Olympic Trials in 2000, then became a professional triathlete.
She had three children, got a doctorate in psychology and retired as a pro triathlete in 2018. It wasn’t long before she was thinking about another athletic goal. “More women are allowing themselves to have their own goals outside of their own families or careers,” she said. “It’s such a joyous experience.”
Morrey had not run a marathon that was not part of a triathlon in more than 20 years, but she had run 26.2 miles in under three hours at the end of Ironman triathlons. “I think if we just get rid of 100 miles of biking and the swim, I think I could do it,” she recalled thinking. She qualified — with a 2:43:41. “I love that I was able to have an opportunity to see what a 44-year-old can do.”
About one in four of the runners we reached have children. Many describe a kinship and inspiration found between other mothers lining up in Atlanta.
“There are just so many women who would love to be in my shoes, and I want to go compete for them and the other moms out there,” Kowalke said. She’ll be lining up in Atlanta for the first time as a new mother. “I would say that we are all competing against each other, but on the flip side of that, we are all competing for each other as women, and I think that’s really special.”
Shoes and Standards
Two recent structural changes across the sport have also played a role in the record size of this year’s field.
The first is that USA Track and Field relaxed the qualifying standard for the 2020 Olympics, to 2:45 from 2:43 to encourage participation. (World Athletics had relaxed its qualifying standard for 2016 for the same reason.)
About 80% of the runners who qualified for the Trials in Atlanta did so with a time between 2:37 and 2:45, known as the ‘B’ qualifying standard. It’s possible that women were newly motivated to attempt the qualifying standard, believing it was now within reach.
Many expect the standard to be lowered once again for the 2024 Olympics Trials. The number of women who have run below 2:37 has also risen sharply in recent years.
The second structural change has occurred in shoes. Advancements in shoe technology — in particular, in a line of Nike shoes called the Vaporfly 4% and the Vaporfly Next% — have become an explosive issue among runners, as professional and amateur racers alike debate whether the shoes save so much energy that they amount to an unfair advantage.
These shoes are omnipresent on the starting lines of major races, and they are likely to be worn by a huge share of the field in Atlanta.
(A Times analysis of race data from more than 1 million marathon and half-marathon results found that the shoes did bestow a significant advantage, probably worth at least a minute or two for most runners at that speed.)
Generational Change
Garcia described this field in generational terms, calling the ability of women to train and dedicate time to such goals as a luxury. “I honestly think that this is one of the first generations because that has been given these kinds of opportunities,” Garcia said. “I think it’s just followed a whole social and cultural shift in the U.S.”
The women’s running boomlet comes at a time of change and tumult in women’s athletics. After the U.S. women’s soccer team won the World Cup last year, thousands in the stadium celebrated by chanting “Equal Pay” — a reference to a lawsuit still in court. The WNBA and its players’ union agreed on a collective-bargaining agreement that would nearly double the maximum salary and provide paid maternity leave.
It’s becoming more of a norm to see female athletes at the highest levels train through pregnancy and return to the field of play soon after giving birth. It was only last year that Nike announced a new maternity policy for all sponsored athletes following the publication of a series of videos and articles by The New York Times Opinion section.
“It’s the power of communal persistence,” Garcia continued. “How awesome is it that we are almost given our own day to run around the city of Atlanta in sports bras, buns and tiny shorts to show how strong a community of women can be?”
About the Runners
Here is some aggregate information about the runners who completed our survey.
Nearly half the respondents reported having a family income of more than $100,000 per year, and about one in four reported incomes at $150,000 or higher.
Marathon training demands time — there’s no way to avoid the number of hours needed for long runs, threshold runs, speed workouts, cross training and recovery. Women with higher-paying, salaried jobs are also more likely than low earners to have flexibility in their work hours, so they can more easily work around their training schedule.
Most obvious to anyone who watches the race: More than 90% of the runners are white. As Runner’s World described it in 2011, the lack of African American participation in distance running is a result of few role models as well as “ingrained stereotypes (of both black and white runners), institutional complacency and cultural resistance.” Since then, the sport has gotten somewhat more diverse at the recreational level, with the growth of teams such as Black Girls Run and Black Men Run. But the elite field in the United States remains overwhelmingly white.
Most runners who qualified for the Trials ran about 75 miles per week.