BolderBOULDER: Take 2

The first time running a race is filled with countless uncertainties as no two races are the same. Over the past two years we've been figuring out some races out here in the Denver area, including BolderBOULDER, so when we woke up Monday morning it was a bit of relief to have a pretty good idea of what to expect. 

If you happened to read my last post you know that before the Colfax Marathon Relay I wasn't feeling too confident about how I'd do. Well, that's how I was feeling again before this race. My last two runs were not my best, but I pulled it together, spent some quality time with my legs up the wall over the weekend, and tried to put those runs behind me. 

And it's a good thing I did because I beat my pace from last week and last year's BolderBOULDER. I didn't blow it out of the water, but it was better so I'll celebrate that. 

Now that we're veterans of the race, I'll share a few tips for those who want to take this on for the first time:

1. Get in a qualified wave. You can do this either by submitting verified race times when you register or running a mile on the treadmill at the race headquarters. Either way, you want to do this.
2. Plan your parking/transportation in advance. Road closures and rolling waves can make this parking tricky but there are plenty of options to make it a hassle-free experience.
3. Wear layers you can peel off right before your start time. All clothes dropped at the start are cleaned and donated to Goodwill. It's cold in the morning, especially for the early waves, and this will make your start happier.
4. Plan on lots of time at bag drop and pay the $2 when you register. This is a great service but it's also the one aspect of the race that the organizers don't have down to a science. It's actually kind of a mess.
5. Take in the craziness along the course. I really can't imagine another race with the interesting combination of course-side entertainment and distractions. Belly dancers? Check. Slip-'n-slide action? Only if you dare. Bacon pit-stop? Yep. Drum circle. Oh, yes.
6. Celebrate with friends and family. It's a big party at the finish line and post-race expo. If you can, stick around for a bit to enjoy the good craft beer, cheer runners on to the finish as they come through the stadium and check out the expo and Memorial Day salute after the Elite finish. It's a good time.

Woody enjoying an Oskar Blues brew (no light beer for finishers at this race)

Celebrating with Oiselle teammates with the finish line in the background

Overall it was a great day and now it's time to recharge and focus on my next race, the Gothic to Crested Butte 1/3 Marathon in early July.

Congrats to everyone who raced this weekend and more importantly, thank you to all who have dedicated their life to serving and protecting our country. Our freedom - and ability to do so many things we take for granted, like running races - depends on this dedication.

How did you celebrate Memorial Day?

5 Favorite Things from My First BolderBoulder

Today was BolderBOULDER. A 10K race through Boulder, Colorado that starts at a 5,275 foot elevation, peaks at 5,391 feet and ends just under 5,350. As the race’s tagline says: Sea level is for sissies.

When we moved to Denver almost a year ago, I had a really tough time adjusting to the altitude. It took me several months to get comfortable with the lack of oxygen, but I have to say, I didn’t have any trouble breathing at 5,391 feet this morning!

BolderBoulder is an all-inclusive event. The race begins with the speediest of the speedy and ends with the walkers; kids from 6 years old to a man somewhere in his 90’s. And incredible pros running low 5-minute miles! It’s a city-wide party welcoming in the unofficial start to summer.

We met up with my Oiselle teammate Laura, her husband Josh and their adorable 14 month old son (who participated in his first race too!), at their house in Denver at 5:15am to make the trip up to Boulder. We easily found a spot in a parking ramp and walked over to the starting area. With more than 50,000 participants (runners and walkers) I was pleasantly surprised by how well organized the whole thing was.

My favorite things about my first time running BolderBOULDER:

1. Qualified wave starts – with strict watch kept over the corrals – ensuring that the vast majority of the people starting together were actually running around the same pace. With 30 qualified waves and a ton more beyond that, the BolderBoulder team has there stuff together. When my wave went off at 7:22:50 am, we were right on time.

^{This guy got a PR!}

2. On course entertainment that is purely Boulder – the bands, the belly dancers, the slip’n’slides, spectators offering beer and bacon – only in Boulder.

^{This photo with Bret has nothing to do with the on-course entertainment, but I thought it’s cute and I didn’t run with my camera!}

4. Climbing two tough, final hills then kicking it into high gear for a finish in Folsom Field (University of Colorado’s football stadium) in front of thousands of cheering spectators.

3. The chance to hang out with my husband, teammates, and new friends on a sunny Memorial Day!

4. Watching Shalane Flanagan and Deena Kastor cross the finish line that I just crossed a few hours earlier. Okay, so they finished in less than half the time I did, I’m okay with that.

Go Shalane!!!

5. Stale bagel at the finish line? Not here. A lunch bag filled with food from sponsor White Wave. (I could have really gone for a banana, but the popsicle at the post-race expo hit the spot).

I’m not sure yet if we’ll run it next year, but there’s a good chance that we will! This was a pretty great day!

The Birds: Bret, Rebekah, Jess, Laura, me

And if you’re wondering, Afewerki Berhane of Eritrea, won the men’s race in 29:11.37; Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia, won  the women’s race in 32:21.63, almost a full 44 seconds ahead of Shalane. It was an incredible showing!

Check out Laura’s recap HERE.

How did you spend Memorial Day? * What are you looking forward to this summer? * How is it summer already?