Imagine waking up on a sunny, but brisk Colorado morning, stretching your legs and then running over 20 miles at an altitude of 8,500 feet.

Fifteen runners did just that on the first leg of the 1995 Homecoming Torch Run.

The 750-mile run began Tuesday morning in Boulder, Colo., — home of the Colorado Buffaloes, Iowa State’s Saturday opponent on the football field — and will end when Torchathon runners hit Ames Friday morning.

“We have 80 students total running in five groups,” said Jeff Siems, 1995 Homecoming general co-chair. Siems said each runner is required to run a minimum of 20 miles in 24 hours during their section of the tristate route.

The first group of runners left for Boulder Friday, Oct. 13, by van.

“The trip took about 12 1/2 hours,” said Chuck Schleusener, torchathon route coordinator and runner. Schleusener was interviewed via telephone as he drove through the Rocky Mountains Monday afternoon.

Despite the high altitude, Schleusener said runners have not had a problem running. With 75-degree temperatures and clear skies, “the weather has been beautiful.”

Running on mostly back roads, the first leg ran until about 7:30 p.m. Monday, when they stopped because Colorado does not allow night runners.

“At 10 a.m. [today] we will meet the second leg in McCook, Neb. The hardest stretch, mentally, will probably be the western part of Nebraska, because there’s nothing out there,” Siems said.

The torchathon is an annual event held to raise money for scholarships given to students with an agricultural background.