Jane on the bench the Tuesday Night Track group had commissioned in her honor.

Jane Welzel and the Quada Quada Bench

Yesterday there was a brief quote and video of me in the Coloradoan. Unfortunately, it was for the saddest of reasons: someone who I really looked up to passed away on Sunday. Her name was Jane Welzel. Most avid runners in Fort Collins are at least somewhat familiar of her legend, and in addition to being an outstanding runner, she was just one of the nicest people you’d ever meet.

As my friend Nick summarized the other day, “Jane Welzel personified running and community, and her selfless organizational efforts were instrumental in building the wonderful and welcoming running community that we know today in Fort Collins. Jane’s beautiful spirit will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.” Over the last decade Jane has organized Tuesday Night Track (TNT), Tuesday morning City Park runs, the Mountain Avenue Mile and the Bacon Strip Races, among others.

I remember first attending Tuesday Night Track several years ago after hearing about her legend. What first struck me was how fit she was—she had the most impressive six-pack for a woman in her 50s.

Not only did she organize the workouts, but she participated in them as well. Even decades after qualifying for the Olympic Trials, she had good speed, and in local races she was often winning her division. In the 5Ks we both raced in, she usually would cross the finish line only a few steps behind me, despite me being 20 years younger.

After she was diagnosed with cancer in April, she was no longer running with us at the track but she still was coming out, even up until a few weeks ago, to organize the runs and offer support. She remembered everyone’s names—even though there were 30-50 of us—and each time someone rounded the track she would say, “Go [insert name here].”

The one good thing about cancer is that it gives friends and family some time to prepare. For instance, a few weeks ago the TNT group was able to commission a special bench in honor of Jane that will reside permanently at the CSU track. The bench was dubbed the “Quada Quada Bench,” named after Jane’s distinctive Bostonian way of pronouncing “quarter quarter.” (E.g., when we had to run a half-mile followed by a quarter and another quarter, Jane would say, “half, quada, quada.”)

One August 12th, the TNT group held a special ceremony for Jane where we presented her the bench. It was unpainted at the time, but in the ensuing weeks it would be painted her favorite color of green. Below are photos of Jane, the bench and the ceremony.

You can read more about the Quadra Quadra Bench on the TNT Running Page and about Jane in another Coloradoan article that came out on Monday. The article that came out yesterday and a Runner’s World article list a bunch of Jane’s amazing achievements.

I will miss encountering Jane in Old Town by happenstance as I did several times in the past on Friday nights, and of course I will miss seeing her abs of steel at Tuesday Night Track and local races. Rest in peace, Jane.

Jane on the bench the Tuesday Night Track group had commissioned in her honor.
Jane on the bench the Tuesday Night Track group had commissioned in her honor.
Jane and Chris M. on the bench.
Jane and Chris M. on the bench.
Great turnout by the Tuesday Night Track group for what would be Jane's last time at TNT.
Great turnout by the Tuesday Night Track group for what would be Jane's last time at TNT.
The Quada Quada bench in final form, painted in Jane's favorite color of green.
The Quada Quada bench in final form, painted in Jane's favorite color of green.
Making a heart around Jane and letting her know that we loved her.
Photo by Doug Mason
Making a heart around Jane and letting her know that we loved her.
Jane running around the Jack Christiansen Track at Colorado State University, probably in 2013 or earlier.
Photo by Doug Mason
Jane running around the Jack Christiansen Track at Colorado State University, probably in 2013 or earlier.