Hello all,
It’s another Bolder Boulder and it was bolder and more Boulder-y than ever!
This year instead of running it for time, I took it easy with the Wookie (my boyfriend). He’s not a runner but I was thrilled when he wanted to walk/jog it. The Bolder Boulder is the perfect race for everyone!
The expo is held down on Pearl St Mall in downtown Boulder. Last year when I went to pick up my packet, it was raining so I didn’t get to check it out but this year I got to see all the fun!
There are SO many vendors at this event. This is a 50,000 person race with some real elite athletes and so all the vendors come out and there are som amazing sponsors!
Stopped by the CLIF booth for some fun!
After grabbing our packets and wandering the 3 blocks of vendors we headed out excited for race day!
The Bolder Boulder is a HUGE race. There are 50,000 runners spread across approximately 100 corrals. The first 31 corrals require proof of time under 68 min, the rest of the corrals do not require proof of time with the final corral of walkers required to maintain a 22 min/mile. The first wave is non-professional speedsters, with the professional runners running at the very end of the race which is awesome because that means everyone can watch them!
The course takes you all the way around Boulder and finishes in CU Stadium down on the field. It’s super cool!
So let’s get down to it! This is a real community event and people really have fun with it. There are slip and slides, themed snack stations and lots of people out cheering.
While I had a time to put me in a qualified corral, I dropped back and walk/ran with the Wookie and it was so much fun to see it from this perspective. There were so many people out having fun!
Let’s get this race started!
The race is filled with on course entertainment and lots of people running in costumes which just makes this such a unique and fun race. The miles just fly by no matter your pace.
Dorito Station!
Want to take a dip in this pool? You’ll have to get in line!
Maybe a slip n Slide is more your speed? This was 1 of at least 2 that I saw!
This is a really great race, rarely would I say a 10k is worth traveling for but this one is! So many people, so much fun and there is a real sense of community. Oh and you know those 50,000 people? You won’t run into any major bottle necks because it’s seamlessly organized!
We finished and grabbed our beer and our swag (more on that later). We milled around the stadium and the post-race area for a little bit before heading back to my friend’s house on the course to watch the end of the race and the elites! Beers in hand and ready to enjoy the rest of the race!
Elite women blazing a trail! The heat was definitely getting to them, much more spread out this year.
The elite men were flying just past mile 5!
So really, it’s just the BEST experience all around. You have to come to Boulder and check it out!
OH and all those sponsors mean some awesome swag!
Until next Memorial Day! See ya later Bolder Boulder!
(Oh yeah, free pic downloads and video too!)
English
Congratulations to the two of you. Sometimes it is just fun to run a race w someone and not go for time. Just for the experience of it. Sounds like a great race w awesome swag
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness
The Bolder Boulder is the BEST race for taking it easy. It’s just a great time!