DENVER (Scripps News Group) A Colorado Springs man was sentenced Friday to 76 years in prison in connection to a March 2025 deadly shooting in Denver.

Augustine Vega, 37, was convicted in March of second-degree murder, aggravated robbery and burglary, among other charges.

Prosecutors say on March 8, 2025, Vega robbed a convenience store on South Colorado Boulevard then shot and killed David Maffet, 35, in the 2900 block of South Vine Street. Denver police said Vega and Maffet were known to each other.

Vega was arrested by Nebraska State Patrol troopers the following day after a high-speed chase near Gothenburg, Nebraska.

A firearm was found inside the vehicle, according to NSP.

FORT COLLINS - The Colorado State Rams lose their third consecutive game in a row on Saturday to Oregon State 56-26. The Rams defense have been one of the worst units in all of College Football.

During the game, CSU head coach Jim Mora relieved defensive coordinator Tyson Summers of his play calling duties. "Tyson was relieved of his play-calling duties. He left the field and is no longer with this program," said Mora

Kenny McClendon was calling plays for CSU in the second half. The Rams gave up 115 points the last two weeks. CSU gave up 50-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1984, a season where the Rams went 3-8. The Rams have allowed 52 points per game over the last three games. The Rams are now 2-3 on the season.

The good news for CSU, is the team has a bye week. The next game for the Rams is October 15th on the road Texas State.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Scripps News Group) One person is dead after a crash at Constitution Avenue and Murray Boulevard.

The Colorado Springs Police Department said they got calls to reports of a multi-vehicle crash at that intersection just before 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Police said one person died on scene and another was taken to the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing, but police did confirm they were looking into speed and alcohol as possible factors.

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An air ambulance carrying six people may have been "coming in blind" with electrical problems when a storm loomed ahead of it early Saturday shortly before it vanished in the waters off Nantucket.

The pilot reported electrical problems and declared an emergency as it approached the coast on the flight from Bermuda, according to air traffic control audio posted by LiveATC.net. "Roger, you said you're coming in blind. Is that what you said?" a controller can be heard asking the pilot.

That makes Mary Schiavo, who is a former Inspector General of the Transportation Department, think the plane may have lost its navigational instruments just as a storm moved across its path on radar. The plane also descended sharply from its cruising altitude of around 24,000 feet to around 10,000 feet, according to preliminary data from flight tracking site FlightRadar24.

"Something bad happened with this big drop, and they flew into this big storm. It's a terrible place to have a loss of your instruments and be flying blind," said Schiavo, who is an aviation attorney. "It's very easy to get disoriented and not know if you're turning, climbing, descending, etc. Spatial orientation hits pretty quickly."

The Canadian-registered air ambulance jet had four crew members and two passengers aboard when it departed Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport overnight for the flight to Massachusetts, according to a statement from the Bermuda airport's operator, Skyport.

Four of the six people on board the flight that went missing early Saturday were Canadian nationals, the country's Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon said on X. Transport Canada is closely monitoring and working with authorities on search and rescue efforts, he said.

The Coast Guard said the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the Gulfstream G100 had lost contact very early Saturday morning. The search for the jet included crews in the air and on the water, the Coast Guard said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the situation Saturday, but did not say immediately if it would investigate.

Air Forces scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to defeat Navy 14-9 and snaps a five game losing streak against other service academies. This win serves as the first time the Falcons have beaten the Midshipmen since 2023 and places them once step closer to reclaiming the Commander-In-Chiefs Trophy for the first time since 2022.

Liam Szarka led the way on offense for the Falcons, scoring two rushing touchdowns and tallying 163 total yards. However, the Falcons defense is what brought them the win.

Air Force held Navy to 1-of-11 on third-down attempts, something senior Blake Fletcher said has become an emphasis for the Falcons defense. The defense made plays down the stretch when it mattered most. Alexander Perez recovered a Navy fumble late in the third quarter, and Max Mustell had the teams lone sack on the Midshipmens final drive.

Mustells sack came on first and ten with just under three minutes to play. It served as a loss of ten yards and was followed by back-to-back incompletions which forced Navy to punt and allowed the Falcons to run out the clock.

Air Force will look to clinch the trophy for the first time since 2022 when they travel to West Point to take on Army on November 7.

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Tonight's Forecast:

Tonight, temperatures will dip down into the 40s and 50s. There will be some fog along highway 50, but this will clear out by the late morning. Skies will clear out and there will be plenty of sunshine tomorrow.

Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 48; High: 71;

Colorado Springs will have temperatures in the upper 40s. Skies will remain mostly clear throughout the day. Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than Saturday. Winds will be coming out of the southeast between 5-15mph.

Pueblo forecast: Low: 51; High: 75;

Pueblo will dip into the lower 50s in the morning. Above average temperatures are still in the forecast with highs getting into the mid-70s. Skies will be sunny.

Canon City forecast: Low: 51; High: 74;

Canon City will have temperatures in the lower 50s. Nice and calm conditions continue on Sunday. Highs will be in the mid-70s.

Woodland Park forecast: Low: 39; High: 70;

Woodland Park will have morning temperatures in the upper 30s. Sunny skies will last throughout the entire day. Afternoon temperatures will still be warm in the lower 70s.

Tri-Lakes forecast: Low: 45; High: 72;

Monument will have morning temperatures in the mid-40s. Winds will be gusting between 10-20 mph. Afternoon highs will be in the lower 70s.

Plains forecast: Low: 50s; High: 70s;

The eastern plains will wake up to some fog in the morning, but this will clear out by the late morning. Afternoon temperatures will be warm getting into the 70s.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: Low: 48/50; High: 73/75;

The southern I-25 corridor will have overnight lows in the 40s and 50s. There is a chance or some fog in the morning. Winds will be coming out of the southeast between 5-15mph. Highs will get into the 70s.

Mountains forecast: Low: 30s & 40s; High: 70s;

The mountains will dip into the 30s and 40s overnight. Peak fall foliage is here! If you are trying to find a day to do so, any day this week will be beautiful. Highs will be in the 70s.

Extended outlook forecast:

We have a much calmer pattern this week and conditions are expected to stay this way. Highs will go back and forth between the 70s and 80s. Overnight lows are still not getting close to freezing.

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Neighbors in the Papeton community are coming together to transform the grounds of Edison Elementary School, installing garden beds designed to fight local food insecurity and teach students about growing fresh produce all made possible by a last-minute $5,000 grant from Sprouts.

Watch Liv Wood's report in the video player below: Community rallies around Edison Elementary with garden bed build

The original plan was modest: install just two garden beds each year. But after PTA Vice President and garden manager Sarah Hernandez applied for the grant at the last minute, the entire vision became a reality at once.

"Thank God we did because we were able to get the full $5,000 and so we're here with 10 extra garden beds to do the whole full garden that we planned," Hernandez said.

As a Title One school, Edison Elementary faces unique challenges in securing funding.

"It's free and reduced lunch, poverty level, and so we do everything that we can to support our families and our community," said Edison Elementary School principal Robin Moore.

But for Hernandez, the garden was never just about the money it was about meeting a deeper need in the community.

"We wanted to find a way to help feed the community because there were a few months where there was food insecurity and a lot of people hitting up food pantries. So we just wanted to make sure that, like, we could grow fresh produce so that they'd have healthy food," Hernandez said.

The garden also doubles as an outdoor classroom, where students are learning how ecosystems support each other.

"We also taught the kids about how having flowers in a garden is good, that actually helps bring beneficial insects and also keep away the insects that want to eat all of the fruits and vegetable," Hernandez said.

One of the students learning about gardening and plants is Hernandez's son.

"We were a little late getting planting season started last spring, but we're gonna be running and going on the 3rd grade class; that's where Sarah's son was in 3rd grade last year," Moore said. "It's kind of their project, and now that they're 4th graders, this will kind of be their legacy project until they leave, so that's exciting for them."

When the supplies arrived and the work began, the community showed up no questions asked.

"It's just nice actually seeing everybody helping, and it's really cool seeing that there's more community than we thought," Hernandez said.

Moore said the response was no surprise.

"I really believe when we do need something, and we put the word out, people do respond here because they believe in our school, they believe in our kids, they love our teachers," Moore said.

The outpouring of support left the project's organizer overwhelmed with emotion.

"It is truly amazing, and it kind of makes me wanna cry a little bit because I didn't expect as many people to show up," Hernandez said.

The school is always looking for donations and help from the community. Hernandez said she is now hoping to get a fence installed to finish the project.

A metal bison sculpture created by Native youth in Denver has been stolen, along with the trailer transporting it.

The artwork was in Pueblo for a community education program.

The youth woke up to discover the trailer and sculpture had been stolen overnight from the Springhills Suite at the Marriott parking lot.

The artwork had been traveling through Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs before arriving in Pueblo for a program at the El Pueblo History Museum.

Anyone who has seen the trailer or sculpture is asked to call the Pueblo Police Department's non-emergency number at 719-553-2502.

The stolen trailer carries Colorado license plate EUX-T06. A white shot bed Ford pickup between 2018 and 2022 with a ladder in the back is the suspect vehicle, according to police.

Tipsters may also contact Millue Duran with Casa Milagro Youth Solutions at 720-202-0692.

The "Bison Resilience" sculpture is a youth-led art installation made possible by Casa Milagro Youth Solutions, a Denver-based nonprofit dedicated to helping children and teens heal from abuse and trauma.

The sculpture was created as part of the Bison Resilience Project an educational initiative tied to the Bison Harvest at the TallBull Memorial Grounds.

It carries deep cultural significance, representing the genocide of the bison and its devastating impact on Native communities.

The piece also honors the bison's remarkable resurgence from a historic population of 16 million, to fewer than 1,000, and back to over 500,000 today.

The rear section portrays a full, strong bison symbolizing the thriving era of pre-colonization.

The center features a skeletal design representing hardship, trauma, and historical struggle.

The front represents survival, recovery, and moving forward with resilience

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is investigating a crash that left a motorcyclist dead on Friday night.

The crash happened just after 8 p.m. near Barnes Road and Purcell Drive and involved one motorcyclist. The rider was taken to the hospital, where police said the rider was later pronounced dead.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and being conducted by CSPD's Major Crash Team.

The identity of the motorcyclist has not been released.

Todays Forecast: It will be a much warmer day compared to yesterday. Temperatures will be around 10+ degrees higher than yesterday. We will also be 5-10 degrees above seasonal highs. It will be sunny and dry. A few clouds will be possible in the afternoon, mostly across the high country. High temperatures will top out in the upper 70s to low 80s across the High Plains. They will reach near 80 degrees in Colorado Springs and the lower 80s in Pueblo, with pleasant 70s in the mountain valleys.

Tonight, a weak frontal boundary will move across the region. It will be a dry cold front with no precipitation expected. There could be slightly stronger winds as it passes through. Expect clear skies overnight.

Extended outlook forecast: Tomorrow will be slightly cooler as the boundary moves through. Temperatures will drop back into the 70s across the region under mostly sunny skies. An isolated shower over the high country will be possible. The best chance of rain should remain further west over the continental divide. Temperatures will rebound for the rest of the week. An isolated shower will be possible Tuesday afternoon/evening. The best chance will be over the higher terrain. High pressure will dominate for the rest of the week, keeping temperatures warm with mostly sunny skies!

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KOAA News5 is the proud southern Colorado home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks!

KOAA will stream all non-nationally exclusive Switchbacks FC matches on our mobile app, connected TV apps, and website for Southern Coloradans to enjoy.

Saturday night, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks will be hosting the Oakland Roots Soccer Club at 7:00 p.m. at Weidner Field. For more information about the match and tickets, click here.

Watch the match live below, or use these instructions:

WATCH: Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs Oakland Roots SC Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs Detroit FC

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Disclaimer:

This is sponsored content. All opinions and views are of Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group and does not reflect the same of KOAA.

TCAs Kelsey Peterson made history as the first player in CHSAA history to throw for 10,000 passing yards in flag football.

The senior quarterback has led the Titans to the state championship twice, winning it last season and earning Player of the Year honors. Despite all she has accomplished, Peterson said she had no idea she was on the brink of making history.

News5's Dante Williams has the story in the video below:

AOTW KELSEY PETERSON

"It was honestly crazy. I didn't really even know that was happening. I had no idea that's where my stats are at, but it's such an honor honestly to get that accomplishment. It's not something I ever thought I'd get to do and so, getting that was so cool and I'm so glad I got to do it and have that time to share with my team," Kelsey Peterson said.

A mid-game celebration recognized her historic achievement, but Peterson said the record belongs to more than just her.

"I have worked really hard for this and I mean, so have my teammates. I've worked a lot in the offseason with my receivers and that kind of stuff, so seeing some of that hard work pay off has been so amazing," Peterson said.

Peterson began her football career during her sophomore year, when flag football became a sanctioned CHSAA sport. She said reaching 10,000 passing yards in just under three seasons has felt unreal, but she hopes her true effect is that she becomes a trailblazer for other girls.

"I hope that other girls, younger girls, are going to gain a love for the game and that they're also going to have a desire to play flag football and that they'll gain a hard work ethic and also want to work towards not necessarily that same goal but also work towards a goal," Peterson said.

With a few regular season games and the playoffs remaining, the state's all-time passing leader will continue adding to her legacy, but she's looking forward to the next person who will further the sport.

"I think it's so cool that I have that right now, but I would love to see other girls break that record and other girls also get to do those cool things and have those goals and also thrive and lead a team well," Peterson said.

When Peterson was asked if she had a goal in mind for how high she would want to set this passing yards record, her answer was two as in the number of state titles she hopes to win by the time her high school career is over, putting her team above her own personal accomplishments.

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About Athlete of the Week

News5 works to honor the high school Athlete of the Week throughout the school year in our Wednesday evening newscasts. Were looking for that special teen who is working hard and playing right all while making parents and coaches proud.

Nominate your Athlete of the Week today! See our current and past athletes of the week, click here.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Friday Football Fever continues this week! The games kick off Thursday night, followed by plenty of action on Friday.

Get the latest scores and highlights in the video player below:

Friday Football Fever 2026: Week 5 Highlights and Scores from across Southern Colorado

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Mahjong, a tile-based game, is building a fast-growing following in Central Springs and for many players, what happens around the table goes far beyond the game itself.

Front Range Mahjong, a local organization, hosts open play events that have expanded dramatically since they first launched. Owner Courtney Schreier says she remembers the group's very first open play event.

News5 reporter Liv Wood has more on the impact mahjong is having in Central Springs in the video below:

Mahjong is bringing people together one round at a time

"We had 4 tables at Kinship Landing, and now we have, we have 11, so it's grown so much in the last year," Courtney Schreier said, "I think mahjong is just a great way to get off your phone and talk to people, and it's a very tactile game, and I think that's something that's really cool about it."

The organization plays at many locations all around Colorado Springs including The Brit Pub, Kinship Landing, Bristol Brewing Comapny, and Carboy Winery to name a few. They have intro classes, tournament practice, and open play sessions for all skill levels. They provide all the equipment including tiles, racks, mats, and beginner guides so people can focus on playing and connecting with others.

The game itself, which involves swapping tiles to achieve the right pattern, has a little bit of everything, according to player Sandy Halby.

"It's a little bit of chance, a little bit of gambling, a little bit of almost poker-like experience," Halby said.

But for many players, it's the social connections the game creates that matter most.

"It just brings all these people together. You get to meet new people," Halby said.

Fellow player Pamela Walsh says there is something especially rewarding about watching a newcomer catch on.

"You can see somebody at the beginning being so confused thinking, 'how am I ever gonna do this?' and then that moment where it clicks for them and then they're like they are off and running," Walsh said.

For Walsh, mahjong offers a kind of connection that can't be found just anywhere.

"It's just a way to connect with other people that is um very magical in my opinion and I've met some wonderful people that I never would have met any other way," Walsh said.

The game's popularity is growing so quickly that Walsh says supplies are struggling to keep up.

"It has experienced a resurgence in popularity. It's really hard to get tiles now," Walsh said.

Halby says the friendships formed over mahjong can last a lifetime.

"It's great for your social interaction and I love the game and I love the friends that I've made through the game," Halby said.

And for those who make it to a winning round, there's one moment that never gets old.

"There's nothing like that first time you get to say, 'mahjong!'" Walsh said.

A new outdoor classroom at Rockrimmon Elementary on Colorado Springs' West Side carries the name of Melissa Joffrion, a mother of four and Parent Teacher Organization president who died following an oral cancer diagnosis.

What began as an idea for a bench or two near the walking path where parents drop off and pick up their children grew into a full outdoor classroom after community donations reached $30,000.

Melissa's son Jake Joffrion is a student at Rockrimmon Elementary. The outdoor classroom is a reminder of his mother when he passes it on his way to and from school.

"Yes, every day I usually cry," Jake said.

"I also really like it. I'm glad they made it. I mean, I love how they're putting grass around it. I feel like they're really respecting it," Jake said.

Melissa was deeply involved at Rockrimmon Elementary. She served as PTO president, led fundraisers, and helped teachers apply for grants.

"She just wanted to do everything she could to, to help the teachers be successful and be involved with the school," Justin Joffrion, Melissa's husband and Jake's father, said.

Melissa's cancer was discovered after a persistent sore on her tongue. Her diagnosis was unexpected.

"She was young and didn't have the, the sort of lifestyle that might contribute to a diagnosis of oral cancer," Justin said.

Even as she faced her illness, Melissa focused on the school community. When she died, she asked that memorials take the form of donations to Rockrimmon Elementary.

"Even in her time of passing, she wanted people to donate money to the school instead of to expenses that they had, or flowers, and that was really important to us to make sure that she was honored in that way," current PTO President Chelsey Tyndall said.

"Her husband and family wanted something to both honor her and really bring the school community together," Rockrimmon Elementary Principal Amber Izzo said.

Justin said the location of the outdoor classroom reflects how Melissa chose to bring her children to school and connect with other families.

"She didn't like to kick them out of the car. She liked to walk them down and gave her a chance to meet people and visit, and so we thought it would be nice to have a space where people could gather and socialize before and after school," Justin said.

Justin reflected on the level of support from the community.

"When someone is gone, you learn what the scale of the impact that they had on others and so that was very touching to us because we miss her tremendously, of course," Justin said.

"We really decided we wanted to think outside the box and what could we do that would create more community," Tyndall said.

The outdoor classroom also serves the school's educational mission. Rockrimmon Elementary is an IB school, and teachers had been considering an outdoor teaching space.

"There are so many reasons for an outdoor classroom. I feel like it gives our students the opportunity to really put their learning into action," Izzo said.

"Any time we can find a way to, you know, change the scenery for the students and get engagement levels back up in a new way is always, you know, something a teacher's looking for," 3rd-grade teacher Makena Wims said.

"Being in IB school we really consider the whole child and being outside and the positives of nature and its effect on children we know how positive that is," Izzo said.

3rd-grade teacher Briona Dice described one planned use of the space.

"An example is our upcoming weather unit we're studying the types of clouds and we can come out here and get students to actually look at the clouds and be truly engaged in their learning," Dice said.

Jake turned to his father.

"She was amazing," Jake said.

"She was amazing," Justin said.

The PTO continues to raise money to add landscaping around the outdoor classroom space.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.___

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Tonight and tomorrow's forecast: Quiet conditions tonight under mostly clear skies. Overnight lows will be slightly warmer than Thursday night, reaching the upper-40s and low-50s for the I-25 corridor and Plains, and the upper-30s and low 40s across the high country. Tomorrow well see another mostly sunny day, with temperatures noticeably warmer. Well climb above seasonal averages to highs around 80 degrees in the Pikes Peak Region and through the Plains.

Extended forecast: As a weak system passes through the region this weekend, Sunday will be cooler. Well see the chance for a stray shower or storm developing over the high country, but overall our weather will stay mostly quiet. Another day in the low-80s Monday kicks off a warmer-than-average week. Theres another chance of seeing a few isolated showers and storms develop late Monday into Tuesday.

Sunny and warmer to kick off first weekend of October

Colorado Springs forecast: High: 80; Low: 48. Clear overnight with lows in the upper-40s. Saturday brings a warm-up, with highs jumping about 10 degrees to around 80 degrees under sunny skies.

Pueblo forecast: High: 83; Low: 47. Cool and clear overnight, with warming temperatures Saturday. Highs will climb into the 80s. Sunshine continues through the weekend.

Canon City forecast: High: 81; Low: 49. Cool overnight with mostly clear skies. Well see a Saturday warm-up and highs rise back into the low-80s, warmer than average for this time of year.

Woodland Park forecast: High: 72; Low: 42. Clear and chilly overnight, before a mostly quiet forecast this weekend. Highs in the low-70s Sunday under sunny skies.

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The Colorado Springs Police Department is investigating a fatal crash Friday afternoon.

The crash took place along Rockrimmon Boulevard at the I-25 overpass.

The area around the crash is closed, including underneath I-25.

Police confirmed that one person is dead and one person was taken to the hospital in an unknown condition.

The intersection is expected to be closed for several hours while an investigation is conducted.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is shared.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Secretary of Defense will visit Colorado Springs over the weekend.

According to the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth will visit Colorado Springs on Saturday as a part of his Send Me Tour.

In a press release, officials said Hegseth will deliver an address to 3,500 cadets, and will also administer the oath of enlistment to new recruits at the Air Force vs. Navy game.

The game is set to kick off at 10:00 a.m. at Falcon Stadium.

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24 hours on a bench- that's what Springs Rescue Mission CEO Travis Williams will be doing once again this October to bring awareness to homelessness in Colorado Springs and raise money for the local organization.

A livestream of the event will be available on the Springs Rescue Mission YouTube page and will take place from noon on Thursday, October 8 through Friday, October 9.

Happening at the Springs Rescue Mission campus along West Las Vegas Street, each hour for the 24-hour livestream, Williams will have an hour to talk with people about how the city can better address homelessness and get more people involved in taking action.

We can't do this work alone, said Williams in a news release. The city, our police officers, employers, churches and the Mission each play a part in addressing homelessness. This gives us a chance to sit, listen to one another, and ask a simple question: what does it look like to love our neighbor well?

Some of the guests will include individuals like Colorado State Senator Marc Snyder, City Council Member Lynette Crow-Iverson, guests, and graduates of Springs Rescue Mission programs.

News5's Liv Wood will also be in attendance to speak with Williams for one of the hours.

Watch our previous coverage from last year's event

The goal is to raise awareness and funding, as a local donor has pledged a $25,000 match if the community can raise $25,000 during the live stream.

For more information about the Springs Rescue Mission, click here.

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For retired Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Lear, the Colorado Springs Marathon is more than a race. It is a way to stay connected to the running community and support fellow veterans.

Lear has participated in the Colorado Springs Marathon since its first year, completing different distances depending on the year. This weekend, he plans to run the half marathon. He has raced in about half of the 50 states as part of an effort to run a marathon in every state. But the Colorado Springs Marathon is special to him.

Having a race of this caliber right in your backyard where you don't have to get on a plane, fly, Lear explained. Having it right here in town was a plus.

Lear also values the race because it raises money for Team Red, White & Blue, an organization that helps veterans build connections and stay active in their communities. As a member of Team RWB, Lear said the organization's presence is one of the things that makes the race special.

I like the fact that it's the number one fundraiser for Team RWB, Lear said. It's a great cause as a veteran.

Lear later volunteered to become an ambassador for the race, helping promote it in the Colorado Springs community.

It's easy for me to do, Lear said. I love the organization.

For first-time runners, Lear recommends breaking the race into smaller, manageable goals rather than focusing on the total distance.

The best advice I ever got was to take any race of any distance, especially if it's one you haven't, the distance you haven't done before, one mile at a time, Lear said. Just think of it as, I just need to get to the next aid station.

Lear's own running experience extends well beyond traditional marathons. While training for his first marathon as part of an Ironman triathlon, he cross-trained with swimming, cycling, running and weight training. He also once ran 30 miles as part of a 52-mile course while crewing for an athlete competing in the Ultraman endurance race in Hawaii. His best marathon time came in Portland, Oregon, where he finished in just under 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Now, Lear hopes his experience encourages more people to participate in the Colorado Springs Marathon, whether they are ready for a half marathon or simply want to try the 5K. He cautions runners against attempting a long-distance race without proper training but said the 5K can provide an introduction to the event.

It's a great feeling to see the crowds coming out, to see the sellouts continue, Lear said. If you've ever wanted to try a little bit longer distance than you've tried before, this is a great race to do it.

Friday, Oct. 2 Packet Pickup

11 a.m.6:30 p.m. Pikes Peak Center, Studio Bee Participants are asked to pick up their race packets Friday.

Saturday, Oct. 3 Race Day

6 a.m. Event site & gear check open 7 a.m. Marathon & Half Marathon start 7:30 a.m. 5K starts 8 a.m. Post-race party begins 9 a.m. 5K awards 10 a.m. Half Marathon awards 10:45 a.m. Kids K starts 11:15 a.m. Full Marathon awards 1:30 p.m. Finish line closes 1:45 p.m. Post-race party ends

TEAM RWB

Team Red, White & Blue is using the Colorado Springs Marathon to build community, promote physical activity and help veterans maintain a sense of purpose after leaving the military.

John Reyes, Team RWBs military installation coordinator in Colorado, said the nonprofit is focused on connecting active-duty service members, veterans and civilian supporters through healthy activities and community events. Reyes, who served 22 years in the military, said many veterans miss the camaraderie and sense of purpose that come with military service.

These events specifically, they bring that aspect back to them, Reyes stated. Now Im surrounded by positive people, same mindset, and were doing it in a healthy way.

Team RWB is a nationwide nonprofit focused on health, wellness and community for veterans, active-duty military members and supporters. At this weekends Colorado Springs Marathon, Team RWB will have about 20 entries participating as a group. Amanda Wood will run the entire 26.2-mile marathon, while other members will join her at different points along the course.

Reyes said the group will grow as the race progresses, with participants carrying American, military branch, 9/11 and POW flags.

At the finish line, its just a group of 20 or 30 people running as one, finishing together, Reyes explained.

Reyes said the organization is open to civilians as well as military members and veterans, with civilian supporters playing an important role in helping bridge the gap between military and civilian communities.

They play a huge part of the role, Reyes said. We need supporters and they need supporters.

This year, Team RWB is also dedicating the final mile of its marathon participation to the service members killed during Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia in 1993, the battle depicted in the movie Black Hawk Down.

Reyes said the final mile is meant to recognize the service members who had to travel on foot back to their base during the battle while carrying heavy equipment.

Team RWB will be at the Colorado Springs Marathon Race Expo from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Reyes said joining the organization is free through its app, where members can find activities including pickleball, paddleboarding and archery.

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