City: Boulder, CO

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: This Memorial Day tradition is rated one of the top road races in the nation and “Boulder’s Best Annual Event” by Daily Camera readers. It’s amazing how much fun it can be to run or walk more than 6 miles. More than 50,000 participants, from the most fleet-footed elite amateur runners in the A wave to first-time walkers in the ZZ, make this one of the nation’s largest citizen races. An international field of celebrity runners and top wheelchair athletes make this an important race on the national 10K calendar too. The Bolder Boulder’s nonstop party atmosphere is exhilarating. In addition to aid and water stations, entertainment is provided along the route. All runners finish at CU-Boulder’s Folsom Field, where thousands of spectators watch world-class professional racers compete after the amateur races are through.The race fee varies depending on which race package you choose. Every runner is timed, so you will get your time and ranking calculated in a variety of ways after the race. You can register at local running stores or at race headquarters. Try to get your application in by early May. (If the race doesn’t fill up, you can register on race morning, too, but the price is $10 higher.)Nearly 50,000 runners make quite a pack, but the race never feels so crowded, for organizers stagger the starting times in successive waves to give everyone room. Along the way you’ll see belly dancers, including the lady with the sword on her head, and high-stepping grandmas decked out in fringed cowgirl skirts. You’ll hear everything from live jazz bands to bagpipers playing rock ’n roll. Don’t fear wimping out. In the ZZ wave, the pace is a pleasant amble, and the cheers from the crowd are just as enthusiastic.The citizens’ race starts at 7:20 a.m. at 30th Street and Iris Avenue. The elite professionals, among the fastest in the world, start at noon so that citizen racers can watch the pros’ final laps in Folsom Field. If you decide to watch, pick a spot anywhere along the course or at Folsom Field. Runners have included wedding parties and guys who leapfrog the whole way. Marines usually sign up for the “M” section and run in formation, entertaining the crowd with military chants along the route. Blind runners and wheelchair racers inspire us all, as do the fleet-footed gazelle types and seniors running with their grandchildren.