Colorado Springs resident Mike Teger is one of four “streakers,” or runners, who have completed all 25 Barr Trail Mountain Races since 2000. 

While each year’s race was special in its own way, this year held extra meaning for Teger, 57, who underwent brain surgery three months ago. 

Part of the surgery involved cutting a balance nerve, meaning he had to work his way from walking to running again to prepare for his 25th attempt up Barr Trail. He knew making it to the finish line would be a challenge, but was determined to collect another coveted finisher T-shirt and keep the streak alive. 

“This race has always had a special place in my heart,” Teger said. “There is a good sense of community. This year is very meaningful for me to be back and finish with these runners and friends. I’m just grateful to be here.”

Teger was one of around 400 runners to complete the Barr Trail Mountain Race (BTMR) on a warm Sunday morning in Manitou Springs. While the grueling 12.6-mile race up and down Barr Trail is a bucket-list item for many in the running community, it was also a chance for redemption for many of this year’s runners, including Teger. 

Since its inaugural run in 2000, the BTMR has been a community-oriented, grassroots race that raises money for non-profit beneficiaries, including local high school running programs. The trail race is also the second leg of the annual Garden to Peak Challenge, which also includes the Garden-10 race and the Pikes Peak Ascent or Marathon. 

The race has been run every year, except in 2012 because of the Waldo Canyon fire and in 2020 due to COVID-19. 

The overall winner in Sunday’s race was Golden native Grant Colligan, 30, who was injured in his first BTMR three years ago. Colligan, 30, returned Sunday to finish in a time of 1:39.32, nearly four minutes ahead of second place.

“This is a classic Colorado mountain race,” Colligan said. “Some of the best runners in the world have won this race, like Matt Carpenter and Joe Gray. It’s one of those classics where it’s pretty rare to have a chance to win, so to win today is a big deal for me.” 

The first overall female was another Colorado native, Janelle Lincks of Thornton, who finished in a time of 1:57:26.32. Lincks, 32, ran the BTMR for the first time since 2021 and is a former runner for Colorado State University. 

Both winners plan to race the Pikes Peak Ascent in September. 

For another runner, Abby Leaf, the race was part of a lifelong goal to complete the Garden to Peak Challenge. Leaf, 30, first ran the BTMR in 2018 and returned eight years later after having three kids. The Colorado Springs native is one of 240 runners who signed up for the three-race series. 

“I was so excited to be back at it,” Leaf, who finished as the fourth overall female, said. “I grew up doing this trail and the (Manitou) Incline, and this was the year to do it. I love this mountain.”

The community aspect of the race was felt from the nearly 50 volunteers running the event to the food donations from local stores and restaurants. At the finish line, area high school runners cheered, dressed for “Christmas in July” as part of the aid station challenge to receive donations for their program. 

Although some things have changed since the first race–no more bib numbers on sticks–the race has stayed true to its original roots. 

As Teger ran up the final hill on Hydro Street to the finish line, he was greeted by his son, Miles, 18, who ran the BTMR for the first time. He was also greeted by Mike Lloyd, 68, another BTMR “streaker” who donned the race T-shirt from 2000.

It was Teger’s second-slowest time, but he had no complaints.  

“Today was not a given at all,” Teger said. “To be here today and be able to finish … to share it with (Miles) is spectacular. Having him here doing something we both enjoy and being on the trails, there’s nothing like that.”

The streak lives on.