For much of his adult life, Patrick Rizzo was a professional runner who chased the dream of running the marathon at the Olympics. He competed in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials four times and finished in the top 10 of numerous U.S. championship races.
There was another reason he ran, though.
“Life takes you through what I would call the rolling hills of life,” said Rizzo, who retired from professional running in 2020. “You go through the high points, you go through the low points, and there’s no way to avoid either of those. Running keeps it balanced. I’ve gone through some real low points in my life where running is what got me through.”
That’s why Rizzo, 40, is running the Colfax Half Marathon on May 19 as a fundraiser to support a new running program for at-risk youth in the Denver area. He wants young people to learn that what running did for him, it can do for them.
Denver Colfax Marathon officials this year created the program, called Colfax Fly Feet, to expose at-risk youth and those with chronic illnesses or physical or mental disabilities to the sport. They are helping kids start training and run in the 5K that is part of Colfax Marathon weekend. Those participating will get to run the race for free.
More than 100 have signed up. Colfax Marathon officials are hoping to expand the program in future years, which is part of the reason Rizzo is running the Colfax Half Marathon. To promote the Fly Feet program, Rizzo will start at the back of the pack. For every person he passes, race officials will contribute $1 to Fly Feet. That is expected to generate more than $5,000 to expand the program next year. Rizzo is a Colfax Marathon board member.
Colfax Marathon partners participating in the Fly Feet program include Denver Kids, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Colorado, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver and Boys on the Right Track.
“The program just fits so seamlessly with the (mission) of Denver Kids — providing support and guidance, opening up opportunities and sharing stuff with (youth) that they may not have interest in at first, or an understanding of how to enter that space,” said Denver Kids board member Michael Macias. “They provide a community to do (the race) with — amazing energy, excitement, bringing people together.”
Before a recent workout at Bruce Randolph School, five seventh-grade girls shared their thoughts about the upcoming race. Their parents asked that their names be withheld, but their enthusiasm was infectious. They spoke through a translator:
“It’s my first time participating in a race, and I’m really excited to be a part of it.”
“I think I’m going to have a lot of fun doing the event, and an experience I’ve never had before.”
“It’s a new opportunity I am being provided in the country. I’m really excited to participate and to have fun with my friends.”
“I know it’s something I am going to remember forever.”
Macias doesn’t like the term “at-risk” being applied to young people.
“We like to refer to our students as ‘at-potential,’ ” Macias said, “because we think they have the opportunity to dream, and whatever they dream, they can accomplish.”
Colfax Marathon chief executive Andrea Dowdy said the goal is to expand the Fly Feet program to thousands of kids in future years.
“We can offer an opportunity to these kids that they might not otherwise have an open door to,” Dowdy said. “They can walk or run or jog, whatever they want. For us, it’s like, how do you get them started in this sport that’s so accessible, low cost? Our hope is that they will go home and maybe they’ll run around the block with their parents, or they’ll use it to get ready for a soccer program in the fall. We just want to get them launched into running and outdoor activity.”
The Colfax Marathon has had a longtime partnership with Girls on the Run, a nationwide running and mentorship program for elementary school girls. More than 2,000 Girls on the Run participants will run the Colfax 5K this year.
“Girls on the Run was a huge step for us,” Dowdy said. “But what about the rest of the kids? What about the at-risk youth in Denver who don’t participate in Girls on the Run? What about boys? We will always keep that Girls on the Run relationship. That’s a phenomenal organization. Those girls train every week to get ready for the race. But we thought, if that works, what else can we do? Who’s been left out?”
Rizzo was a wrestler in high school, but after getting braces on his teeth, he went deaf in both ears. He had to quit wrestling because his equilibrium was affected. He was shunned by classmates and his grades suffered. He poured himself into running.
“I knew, even if I could never hear the rest of my life, I could always run,” Rizzo said before running the 2016 Colfax Marathon, which he won. “I committed myself to being the best runner I could be.”
He later regained hearing in one ear after his braces were removed, revealing the reason for his deafness: He is allergic to surgical steel.
“Getting more kids in a positive outlet like running is such a great way to share what we feel like is a life-changing experience with the next generation,” Rizzo said. “I think, more than ever, teaching young people coping mechanisms that are positive, coping mechanisms for adversity, it’s absolutely essential to be sharing that with the younger generation.”
