The 44th running of the Bolder Boulder welcomed 47,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes. The 10K race travels through the streets of Boulder, Colorado, each year and finishes inside Folsom Field on the University of Colorado campus.
This year’s official race starter was CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano, who announced his retirement last year.
In the pro race, Conner Mantz, headed to Paris to compete in the Olympic Games in July, out-dueled Yemane Hailelsellassie of Eritrea over the final 150m to become the first American back-to-back winner in race history! Grace Loibach Nawowuna took the lead early in the women’s race and ran to the 9th fastest time in race history.
In the citizen’s race, results were:
Women’s Citizen’s Race
1. Molly Grabill 33:39
2. Laura Thweatt 34:08
Men Citizen’s Race
1: Aidan Reed 30:02
2. Ryder Searle 30:39
3. Pat Smyth 30:47
The race got its start back in 1979 and grew to eventually become one of the country’s largest timed road races. It now features a separate International Pro Team Challenge race and a professional wheelchair race called the Push-Rim Challenge.
Runners, joggers, walkers, stroller pushers and other participants are greeted on the race route by musical performers of all types. On Monday morning an Elvis impersonator was singing to the runners as they passed by and giving out high fives. Many of the runners don silly costumes for the big race. In the AA wave of runners on Monday one person was dressed up like a red rooster.
Fewer than 50 people have run in every single Bolder Boulder. That includes 72-year-old Bill Schafer, who told RUN it has “become a family tradition” for him, like it is for many participants.
The Bolder Boulder events include a Memorial Day tribute at Folsom Field. This year included a flyover by F-16s from the Colorado Air National Guard.