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Steamboat Springs — Jenna Gruben is a commuter runner.

A former resident of Steamboat Springs, Gruben now resides in Granby, but she isn't about to forfeit her time on the trails surrounding Steamboat Springs because she lives in another county.

Early Saturday morning, Gruben hopped into her car to make the two-hour drive to Steamboat for the 12th annual Spring Creek Memorial. She started the 9-mile run about 8 a.m. and completed the trail course in 1 hour, 20 minutes and 56 seconds to win the women's division.

"I love this course," she said. "I'm training for a trail marathon so I feel like I was well trained for this race. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful run, how could I not be smiling?"

Bill Goldsmith wore a smile as well after his 1:08:24 to win the men's 9-mile race. He is just happy to finally be running again. The Steamboat Springs man, one of the series' top performers last season, had his second knee surgery in April, forcing him to miss the first four races of the 2003 Steamboat Springs Running Series season.

He announced his return in impressive fashion, completing the challenging 9-mile course in less than 70 minutes.

"Dr. Michael Sisk does good work," Goldsmith said of his surgeon.

Goldsmith said he's been playing soccer and recently participated in Ride the Rockies to get himself back in shape following his surgery, though it doesn't make the 4.5 mile uphill and the 4.5 mile return descent on Spring Creek Trail any easier.

"The first half gets your lungs," Goldsmith said. "The last half gets your legs."

Trail running still remains one of the more popular activities in the state, and the challenging, beautiful courses each director sets for the Steamboat races lures runners of all ages -- and from all areas -- to the series.

Take Stephen Koch, 15, for example. He came up with his family from Greenwood Village to cheer on his younger brother Michael and the Cheery Creek Bruins in this weekend's Triple Crown tournament.

Saturday morning, Michael went with the baseball team to Craig. Saturday morning, Stephen, relatively new to the racing thing, entered the Spring Creek Memorial 5K after hearing about it over dinner at the Cantina.

He finished second in 22:46.

"It was fun," Stephen Koch said. "It was hard to run downhill."

He plans on running for Cherry Creek's cross-country team this fall.

Five members of the Moffat County High School cross-country team showed up to run Saturday morning at the urging of Cortney Grandbouche.

The sophomore pulled together a few of her teammates for the 5K, giving them a chance to compete as well as practice.

"We meet a couple times a week and then run on our own," Grandbouche said of the Bulldogs' summer training schedule.

Fall athletic practices officially start Aug. 11. Between now and then, there are three more running series events, including the 12th annual Steamboat Sprint on July Fourth.

The Steamboat Sprint is a 400-yard dash down Lincoln Avenue that precedes the parade and rodeo.

The next longer race is the 25th annual Mountain Madness Half Marathon, 10K and 2-mile fun run July 13.

To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com