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Bolder Boulder: 10km Of Colorado Excellence
- Feb 17
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
One of the biggest road races in the world for the past several decades, the Boulder 10k sends 50,000 runners through the streets of Boulder, Colorado, on a point-to-point race that ends at the University of Colorado (CU) football stadium, Folsom Field, full of cheering spectators and fellow runners. A global must-do race.
The Destination
Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,430 feet (1,655 m) above sea level. The city is 25 miles (40 km) northwest of the Colorado state capitol of Denver and is home to the flagship campus of the state's largest university, the University of Colorado. It began as a supply town for gold miners in the 1850s who came to find their fortune and it's now a cool college town, known worldwide for its outdoor activities and as a home to altitude running.
Southwest of Boulder, Eldorado Canyon is known for its towering sandstone cliffs and world-class rock climbing. It offers 17.8 miles of exceptional hiking opportunities, as well as bait, fly, and lure fishing on the banks of the rushing creek. The Canyon is renowned in the U.S. for its more than 500 climbing routes, mostly traditional climbing but there are a small number of sport and top-rope routes to explore. Chautauqua Park Being the starting point for a number of hiking trails (ranging in different difficulty levels), the park attracts hikers with different levels of experience from all over. The park also lends itself to nature discovery, especially for those who take advantage of the park’s access to Open Space Mountain Park trails. The Boulder Creek path is a popular, 5.5-mile multi-use path that extends to Boulder Canyon on the west end of Boulder itself and Stazio Ballfields on the east end. It runs through downtown and has many attractions, including the Main Library, Civic Area Park and Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.
The commercial and social heart of Boulder is Pearl Street Mall. There are over a thousand businesses on this pedestrian-only thoroughfare, which runs along Pearl Street from 9th Street on the west end to 21st Street on the east end. It's a gathering place for both locals and and visitors, and where many of the best locally owned shops and restaurants can be found. Pearl Street was named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the Ten Best Foodies Streets in America. There are so many restaurants to choose from, ranging from James Beard Award winners to innovative up-and-comers. During race week it's a hive of activity, boosted by the many thousands who come from out of town.
History
In 1979 the Bosley family had a vision. The plan was to attract a few hundred of their friends and family to race though the streets of Boulder to celebrate Memorial Day. The inaugural race saw 2,700 registrations. The next year, it doubled in size and live entertainment was added to the celebration. Participation continued to soar in the ensuing years and decades, eventually reaching 50,421 in 2010. With an average of 45,000 finishers over the past 10 years, it’s now the largest Memorial Day celebration in the U.S.
Named America’s All-Time Best 10K by Runner’s World, it is the 3rd largest running race in the United States and the 7th largest in the world. Almost 1.2 million runners, joggers, walkers and spectators of all ages have gathered over the years from Olympic medal winners and hopefuls, grandmothers and kids, running enthusiasts and one-race-a-year guests from all over the world come together at the foot of the Rocky Mountains to form one of the sport’s truly unique events.
From its inception, the Bolder Boulder 10K offered equal prize money for the female and male winners. In 1984, it created a separate elite race from the mass event. There was also a deliberate split in the women’s and men’s elite race so that both races could be showcased equally and covered live on the local TV broadcast. Today, it offers one of the largest non-marathon prize purses in the U.S.
Race Organiser
The event is still locally owned and operated.
When?
The race is held annually in May
Distances
10km
Is there an Expo?
The SportsEXHIBIT is held in conjunction with race weekend packet pick-up and registration. It's held in the heart of downtown Boulder on the Pearl Street Mall on Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, May 28th from 10 AM – 6 PM.
How many runners?
50,000
Course
It's not a really early start, with things kicking off with the pushrim race at 6:50 am. If you thought you'd seen a big race with lots of wave starts wait until you do this one. There are 100! Official start times for each participant will be sent in their “Go Time” email. The wave starts began in 1983 and there are 30 waves that require qualification and then it's first come first served for the others.
From the start at Walnut and 30th it's north along 30th before heading west onto Folsom Street, just after 2km and then it's north again, to the suburbs. One of the big differences between this and other 10k events is the altitude. This is Colorado, so the 6.2 miles will feel much harder than they normally do. The start is at 5,275 ft and the highest point is 5,391 ft just past mile 4 as runners head south back into town. There's plenty of water on the course to help overcome the challenges associated with this kind of altitude. Just past the 7km mark it's onto famous Pearl Street, where the crowd noise and support is fantastic. Called the "Rodeo Drive of outdoor apparel," Pearl Street has an outdoor gear shop or two on nearly every block from 8th to 23rd Street and is a mecca for hikers, climbers, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. Keep focused as you head through! There's also plenty of activity on Walnut Street, before the turn south just after mile 5, onto Folsom Street. From here it's a triumphant run to the finish at Folsom Field and what a finish!
With its magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains, Folsom Field, located on the campus of the University of Colorado is one the most picturesque stadiums in College football. It's home to the Colorado Buffaloes and was completed in less than ten months when the Buffaloes battled Regis College on October 11, 1924 with 26,000 fans packed the stadium. After numerous upgrades it can now seat over 53,000. It's an incredible place to finish and the perfect place to host what follows.
The grand finale of the event takes place at Folsom Field every year at noon. It's an unforgettable ceremony honoring the men and women who serve and have served our country, and all of those who have given their lives protecting our freedom.
What's unique?
Plenty. The altitude, the huge numbers and the finish at Folsom Field. How many other events spent $80,000 covering the grass at their finish line?
Do charities benefit?
The organisers donate funds to dozens of non-profit groups who help as volunteers on race day. Each year the event organisers also donate numerous race entries to help nonprofits and local community events raise money.
Our verdict
Events of this scale have to be seen to be believed. The logistics involved are staggering. It might only be a 10km event, but it is most definitely travelling a long way to be part of. With events like this the actual race is only a small part of the experience. This is especially true here, with the elite events and the Parade at noon adding even more than usual. It's now an institution thanks to many aspects; the destination, the sheer numbers and the outstanding organisation. Do it now.
How to register
Online via the race website. It isn't a sell out so you'll be able to enter during race week, including early on race day. However this may change so check the website.
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