Twelve years ago, both my husband and I ran the Bolder Boulder 10k – but we didn’t even know each other yet.
This year, we’re going back.
The Bolder Boulder 10k is an epic race that deserves a spot on your bucket list. First of all, it’s in Boulder, which is a fun town to visit and has amazing weather on Memorial Day. Second, despite being at altitude, it’s a pretty flat course, with just enough turns to keep it interesting. Third, the spectator support along this course is less “cheering section” and more “interactive 6-mile-long party.” Fourth, the Bolder Boulder has a “citizen’s race” (for everyone) and a “pro race” for internationally competitive runners. Finally, the race caps off with a Memorial Day ceremony that includes an F-16 flyover, skydivers carrying flags of the various military branches, a 21-gun salute, and an impressive performance of the national anthem.
The race, which attracts tens of thousands of walkers and runners, has a wave start that is perfectly engineered, with 31 waves just for runners with a qualifying time faster than 68 minutes. These small waves prevent the course from getting crowded and let you run your own race from the start, without having to dodge others that might be going slower than you. After all participants – runners and walkers – are finished, the pro race starts.
The men’s and women’s races are shown on the big screen at Folsom Field. It’s an atmosphere unlike any other race: the University of Colorado’s football stadium is full of runners watching world-class runners. My favorite moment is when the elite field approaches the tunnel and enters the stadium … it’s so cool!
Run Oregon will be covering the race and writing a full recap, but in the meantime, we’re going to be looking for some good restaurant and kid-friendly activity suggestions from our readers. And if you’re up for a trip to Colorado this Memorial Day, find all the details about how to register online here. Registration starts at $55 for the short sleeve shirt package, but there are all kinds of cool Bolder Boulder gear you can add on (I ordered lunch through their online registration portal!) when you sign up.
Send us your thoughts about this race (and where we should eat in Boulder) here!
