The Bolder Boulder isn't just a race - it's a 6.2-mile party through the streets of Boulder. Every Memorial Day, over 50,000 runners, joggers, and walkers traverse a course lined with live bands, belly dancers, Elvis impersonators, and enthusiastic spectators offering everything from beer to bacon.
The race finishes inside Folsom Field, CU Boulder's football stadium, where runners cross the line to cheering crowds. A Memorial Day tribute honors fallen service members, and elite international runners compete for substantial prize money in the professional race that follows the citizen waves.
Costumes are encouraged and creativity abounds. You'll see running bananas, superheroes, and elaborate group themes. Speed doesn't matter for most participants - the experience of running through Boulder's neighborhoods with the Flatirons as backdrop is the point.