Being Bold in the Bolder Boulder

Late last month I was fortunate, and had the opportunity to participate in the Bolder Boulder. Growing up in Colorado I always assumed that I would run it, but never made the time. When the opportunity presented itself this year, I decided that the 30th anniversary run would be great introduction to the race.

The first thing you realize about the Bolder is just how large it is. This year more than 54,000 people participated. That would equal about 1/7th of Wichita’s population. It was just a sea of humanity. The second thing you realize about the race is that it attracts some of the most amazing talent in the country.

The morning of the Bolder B. was overcast with some drizzle. It was a little chilly, perfect weather for a 10K. I was able to qualify for the first wave and was able to start right behind the wheelchair division. As soon as the gun went off, thousands passed me. People ran by like I was running the other direction. I was able to get into a groove eventually, but it was tough going.

The bands, music, and crowds along the course were amazing. The best one of all was the band dressed up like the Ramones, those guys rocked! There were a couple of hills that were fun, nothing too bad. The crowds were all along the course, cheering everyone on. It was a pretty amazing sight. The costumes worn by the runners were also a hoot. I beat one leprechaun, but was beaten by his buddy ha.

The best part of the race was the finish. As we ran into Folsom Field, folks could watch themselves finish on the jumbo-tron. Running around the football field was a blast. I finished in a sea of people and hung out for a while watching the screen for Coach Stahl to finish.

The expo after the race was a lot of fun. Stahl joked that people tried to finish the race faster so they could get to the expo and get more free stuff ahead of the mob. After collecting schwag at the expo, I think there might be some truth to that statement.


Results
http://www.bolderboulder.com/site3.aspx