Bolder Boulder

Five Reasons I’m Excited to Run the Fortitude 10k For The First Time

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The Fortitude 10k is produced by the same people that bring you the Bolder Boulder and is held on Labor Day. 2018 makes this a second-year event. After my Bolder Boulder post from this year’s race, a marketing person from the race saw my blog post on twitter and emailed me, asking me if I’d like to be part of the Fortitude 10k Blogger program, aka be a FORT Ambassador! I get to run the race and promote it and I couldn’t be more stoked! I was already thinking about doing the race and this just sealed the deal! I’m actually really excited to run the Fortitude 10k up in Fort Collins and can’t wait!

This year’s Bolder Boulder

Here are a few reasons why I’m shaking with excitement:

1. I get to visit Fort Collins!
While the Bolder Boulder is in Boulder, CO and finishes in Colorado University’s stadium, the Fortitude 10k is in Fort Collins, CO and finishes in the Colorado State University stadium. It’s no secret that the Buffs (CU) and the Rams (CSU) are rivals and I am a proud RAM FAN through and through! I went to school at CSU and am excited to run through Fort Collins and see the new stadium they built. I miss Fort Collins a lot; it was a great city to live in!

The ironic part of this picture is that I’m with CSU’s mascot at CU’s stadium!

2. It’s another big 10k with the same production quality as the Bolder Boulder.
The Bolder Boulder is produced, managed and organized exceptionally well. From the pre-race experience (registration, packet pickups, and bus system) to race day experience (plenty of port-o-johns, the wave system, and the expo area, etc), they really have developed a great system to accommodate thousands of runners. The Fortitude 10k is brought to you by the same team and I can only expect good things.

3. A new lunchbox!
Part of the swag of the Fortitude 10k is a lunch box full of snacks and goodies! I have a fair few from my Bolder Boulder races, but again, one from Fort Collins will be AWESOME!

4. The fact that I get to race a 10k!
Cross Country season is in full swing and as a coach, I’ve been running with the team. I’m excited to see where my current fitness is. My goal is to just run as fast as I can; no watch to guide me! I want to push myself, feeling like I gave it all on the course, and see what I can do. The course looks fun and pretty fast!

5. I get CO socks!
In addition to the lunch box, the shirt, and the free beer at the finish line, you get a pair of Swiftwick socks! I think that’s a pretty fun addition for registering! If the images are true, it looks like they’ll be Colorado socks, too!

Join me at the race! 

Register online HERE and use coupon code WWINF15 to save $5!

HURRY! Prices go up on MONDAY, August 20th, by $10!

Post Bolder Boulder Thoughts & A Look Back On The Years

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Now that it’s been a little over a week since the Bolder Boulder, I’ve finally had time to compile my thoughts…

I just love running the Bolder Boulder. As I’ve written before, this event is fantastic! The swag is great, the organization is impressive, and there’s a party around every corner. It’s well worth the low registration fee! As a way to celebrate those that have fought for our country and remember those that have lost their lives, the Bolder Boulder is always on Memorial Day and the race is followed by a show and celebration including paragliders landing in the stadium.

This year was my 8th year running and every year has brought new and unique experiences.

2010
This was my first year running the Bolder Boulder. I had just graduated college and was just breaking into the running events scene. I had done my first half marathon a month prior, so my friend Joanna invited me to join her and her family at the Bolder Boulder. They introduced me to the whole event, including the bus system, the wave system, and everything; things that I still follow to this day! I remember something about her Grandpa having had done this race almost every year prior – or something equally as awesome. I had so much fun! They had cotton t-shirts still (because that’s what races did back then and I wore it ON race day – tisk, tisk!) and Joanna and I ran and walked together the whole event, I think.
Finish Time: 1:10:35

2011
After the previous year, I knew I wanted to run the race again. Looking at Athlinks, and my race document, this is the only race I ran in 2011. I brought up the idea to the boy I was dating at the time who was not a runner – ever, but he decided it sounded fun and wanted to do it with me. I still remember our random training runs, running around the hills of Arvada, the city we both grew up in, with our Camelbak for water on the run, cotton training shirts and shorts, and then stopping by the gas station to get a power bar afterward because we knew we needed the protein. Looking back, it makes we realized how much I have changed as a person and as a runner, in addition to the advancements in running gear, clothing, and technology. I still wore the race shirt on race day – how terrible – but at least it was tech fabric! 😉 Since then, I have also become a personal trainer and RRCA run coach and have learned so much more about training and nutrition.
Finish Time: 1:01:19

2012
Ah! The year I started this blog! I was super gung-ho about training and doing as many races as possible having just started my “racing the states” goal. I was getting faster overall, figuring out training and reading a lot of running books, magazines and articles. I had finally been taught that wearing that race’s shirt on race day was bad luck. I traveled a lot this year and ran a lot of races out of state (including Alaska). Of course, I was going to do the Bolder Boulder again; I had to blog about it! I don’t remember much about that year’s race except that I wanted to get under one hour. I do remember my friend Teresa ran it too (we did a few races together that year) but I can’t remember if we traveled together and met at the end or what!
Finish time: 53:03 (I believe this was a new 10k PR at the time)

2013
This is the year I skipped and when I first started this post, I couldn’t remember why! I was racking my brain trying to figure out why in the world would I not do the Bolder Boulder!?! I was looking through pictures, thinking through where I was in life at the time….But thanks to Athlinks, I figured it out! The week before Bolder Boulder 2013, I was out of town for my best friend’s wedding AND, more related to running, I had just run my first marathon, the Vermont City Marathon, which is Memorial Day weekend!
Finish time: DNS

Holding up one finger for my 1st marathon!

2014
This year, I knew I wanted to come back to the Bolder Boulder. I was a new 3W Ambassador and they had a few free entries they had gotten. After a raffle, I won one! I was still in training mode and working as a personal trainer here and there. I wanted to run fast but I don’t remember what my specific goals may have been.
Finish time: 55:11

2015
I had become a 3W employee and earned a free race entry again. I don’t remember my specific goals, again, but that I wanted to try and do pretty well. I had also run the Colfax Marathon relay the week before and had just finish coaching track so I was pretty tired. However, it ended up being the fastest time I ever got on this course/race. 3W had a booth in the expo, and I’m not quite sure how I got out of working it that year. 2015 was the strongest year for me in terms of running. I was running A LOT and had a ton of running friends. I was working as a personal trainer, a coach and for 3W Races, so I was really fit. Even though I had a couple of jobs, they were very low-key, and I still had a lot of time to train. This was a good running year and when I last felt really strong.
Finish time: 51:53 (Course Best for me, but not a PR. I had PR’d the 10k at the Heart and Sole 10k a few months prior.)

2016
This was a really fun year. My Mom told me she really wanted to do a 10k and do the Bolder Boulder – so we did! We walked/ran and I had a lot of fun taking in the sights and enjoying some of the fun things along the side. I do remember really wanting to do one of the slip and slides, but the lines were always way too long!
Finish time: 1:34:28

2017
Last year! It was the end of 2015 and into 2016 and 2017 when I really start slowing down on running and having a hard finding motivation to train. I did way fewer races than I had the previous 5 years. I think I was finally feeling the effects of working three jobs. Springtime is when track season is and I was starting to become a race director with 3W Races …. all while starting a business with my boyfriend! Since this time, I have still been on and off with training and running, but last year, I wanted to do the Bolder Boulder again. I got another entry through 3W and tried to get a good time, always shooting for a course PR. I didn’t have that in me that year, not by a long shot, and I do remember feeling very tired on the course. I still finished with a respectable time in general but I remember feeling very down about running in general.
Finish time: 55:16

2018
This year, I’m mixed with thoughts. For my lack of training prior, I did pretty well actually, but overall, I know I can do better and I want to. I really, really, really want to be fast again. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m pretty speedy compared to the general running population, but compared to ME, to my past times, I know I have more in me. What it really comes down to is…well, I’m not quite sure and I could probably write a whole post on this topic. To put it in simple terms, I’ve still been dealing with on and off again love and motivation for running. Having only run literally about 13 times during the months of March and April (truth), I still wanted to do the Bolder Boulder this year. I know it will just sound like excuses, but simply, I’ve been tired. Like, really, really, really, tired. It is probably due to my many jobs, but I just haven’t quite found that happy medium and right motivation to make running a priority again. Anyway, I digress. This year, I wanted to run because I love the event as a whole, but I went in with an open mind that I was going to just treat it like a long run (yes, 6 miles is a long run for me right now) and run how I feel. After finishing, I had to immediately make my way to the expo to work the 3W booth.
Finish time: 56:35

Looking back at all the years I’ve run the Bolder Boulder, it is really cool to see the advances in running gear, the racing industry and myself. From race shirts going from cotton to moisture-wicking tech fabric and my running knowledge of training, form and race practices evolving. It’s cool to see trends in the racing industry too, from pictures moving from having to pay for a print to getting sponsors for them so they can be free for racers and so much more!

I will probably try to keep running this race every year. There are few races I do this with; I’m typically a “one and done” type of racer. I do have a few goals in mind associated with this race specifically:

-I want to introduce a new people to this event; whether they are new to running or just new to the event itself.
-Run for complete fun, drink beer, eat all the food, do the slip and slides and the trampoline…all of it… one year!
-Break 50 minutes at this specific event/race because the course is pretty challenging.

Finish photos from every year! They usually get a good one of me except for this year!

Find out for yourself, come run next year! BolderBoulder.com

They used to only have the one event but now have the Colder Boulder in the winter and the Fortitude 10k at my alma mater, CSU in September.

2017 In Review

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Looking back on 2017

2017 has probably been one of the worst and one of the best years I’ve ever had in my entire life.

It was most definitely one of the busiest years I have ever experienced. But it had a lot of fun moments.

It was definitely the most stressful year. But it was rewarding.

Grand Teton National Park

There were a lot of tears. And a lot of smiles.

There were times I wanted to quit everything and give up. And times that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

It was one of those years.

A lot of the bad included losing a step-grandparent, stressful home/work life balance, a tragedy within our cross country team, hail damage with a shifty, unethical car repair shop, loss of two pets, and probably more that I have repressed.

The good included a lot of travel, realizing love sees no bounds, a successful second year for Golden Mountain Guides, being part of five weddings and lots of time with family and friends.

I really am ready for a new year, carrying lessons from this year.

Here are some highlights from the past year…

January… started off slow. I started training to be a race director, track pre-season started, I started my #60HikesDenverChallenge (trying to hike/run all 60 trails in the 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Denver Book), we did a little bit of snowboarding and I did yoga challenge.

Walden Ponds, Boulder. Start of my #60HikesDenverChallenge

February…I did my first race as the sole Race Director (the Heart Throb 5k in Longmont), track season really starts, and we went to see the Mummies exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

See me in the background?? Literally holding back the flag from the wind as the race started. Sometimes race directors do some random tasks.

March…Ran the Erin Go Braugh 7.77k (my favorite of all the races the company I work for produces), and went to a Bridal Shower for Ben’s sister (which means wedding madness for the year starts).

Oh yeah, my outfit was AWESOME!

April… lots of work between all my jobs and my birthday month (wooo… 30 – that’s sarcasm in case you’re curious). But 30 did come with a zombie-themed escape room (we didn’t escape, for the record).

May… was full of the State Track & Field meet (one of my jumpers missed state by just a few inches – literally), running of the Bolder Boulder, and got hired for my first freelance writing job (10Hikes.com)

June…a ton of hiking (for my #60HikesChallenge and 10Hikes.com), a typical bachelorette party, and the first wedding of the year (Ben’s youngest sister) gets married. I also got a spot on a Ragnar Trail Snowmass team at the last second.

July… brought wedding #2 (Ben’s Cousin), a trip to Pennsylvania, lots of work (finished up my first 10Hikes project which reviewed the 10 best hikes in the Denver Region), and another Bridal shower (for my friend this time).

August...included another bridal shower (Ben’s other sister), a Trip to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, a bachelorette Pary in New Orleans, and Cross Country season starts.

September… Held wedding #3 (my friend), I race directed my biggest race yet (a 500 person 5k), and two trips to Moab with Ben (one for scouting and back again for guiding a 12-women group).

October…was wedding #4 (Ben’s other sister), I finished up my second freelance writing project (reviewing the 10 best hikes for Rocky Mountain Nation Park which is not live online yet), we did another Moab trip, we travelled to Florida and on a cruise for wedding #5 and I ran the Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon.

November…Cross Country season had ended but work with the running company picked up for our biggest race of the year (Broomfield Turkey Day 5k/10k). Then Thanksgiving brings some nice time in Estes Park as we prepare for the holiday season.

Relaxing in Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sprague Lake

December…here we are, in December. This is when we try and play catch up with all of our jobs. Christmas was busy travelling between all of our families and we travelled up to North Dakota to see my friend and her new baby (baby #2 for her) and on to Dakota, IL for New Years and to visit Ben’s Grandparents. We even hit up TWO National Monuments on the way!

In the beginning of 2017, I set a few goals to focus on for the year. Let’s see how I did….

Running Goals –
1. To love running again (I do enjoy the sport again, but I’m not on a meticulous plan; I’ve going a week or more between runs sometimes.)
2. And work my way through hiking/running all 60 trails in the “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles” Denver Edition (I got 17 of the 60 done. I did take on a freelance writing job involving hiking for 10hikes.com which involved hikes that are not in this book. I hiked 50+ different hikes this year. Maybe 60 was pushing it, but not bad for how busy the year was.

Other fitness –
I like to be active in general and play in the great outdoors, but I have one specific goal in mind:
3. Climb 5.10s consistently (I got ONE 5.10 done!)
3a. I guess that means I better start strength training regularly again…too. (Well, I definitely worked out more than I did the previous year, but not as much as I had hoped. I did climb a 5.10 in the gym just a few weeks ago, which felt pretty good.)

Career –
4. I would like to see more clients with Golden Mountain Guides than last year
5. Learn more about the tourism industry, in particular, marketing. (We did see more clients than last year! It’s pretty awesome to see your own company grow! And I did learn  a little bit more about tourism, mostly through our own company.)

Other –
6. Travel to FIVE new places, in or out of Colorado. (Check X5! See above and all the travel we did this year! We even made it to at least 8 National Parks of Monuments).
7.  Learn about a new topic every month. (This gets 1/4 green. We started out strong, learning about Egyptian History, oceans, and I took a month to study Jumps Coaching (track and field). But as our business got busier, we put this one hold, only to pick it up in November, studying Mayan History)

Overall, I am truly glad this year is coming to a close. I’m ready for a “new start” of sorts in 2018.

Chasm Lake – One of my favorite photos from 2017.

Bolder Boulder 2015 – Post Race Recap

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I am going to recap this race first since it is most fresh in my mind. I still have the Colfax Relay from last week and the Colorado Women’s Classic from the week before to recap!

sealevel_sissies_sticker

The Bolder Boulder is one of those races that if you are a runner in Colorado, you have to go to this event. It’s the biggest running event in Colorado and voted America’s Favorite 10k! It’s, I want to say, the 3rd largest 10k in the country. Don’t quote me on that though.

It’s just a great event all around – and that’s saying a lot from me because with over 50,000 people, I don’t usually like being stuck in a crowd that large! But no matter if you’re a competitive runner, casual, social, or a walker, this race is perfect.

For that many people, you must have a wave system, and they do it perfectly. It’s always well-organized and tons of volunteers to help. They have a great transportation system in place (recruiting the local buses to help out), and a huge expo at the end.

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The wave system

The course is kinda difficult; pretty hilly and lots of turns, but it’s manageable. There is entertainment the whole way with bands, belly dancers, gymnastics, houses with slip and slides, beer, jello shots, bacon, cupcakes, and Doritos.

But the best part is when you finish in the stadium. With a quarter-mile left, you run up a steep, short hill and end up in Folsom Field, where the CU Buffalos throw a football around. There’s a ton of people in there and you make a horseshoe finish, with the sounds of everyone cheering for you! It’s an amazing and empowering moment.

The Bolder Boulder is also all about Memorial Day. There is a big Memorial Day celebration after the race finishes and elites have gone with a fly over, para gliders dropping in to the stadium and more!

This is the 5th time I have run the Bolder Boulder, but not 5 years in a row, I skipped one somewhere in there…

In 2010, I ran it with my dear friend, Joanna. In 2011, I ran it with a guy I was dating at the time. 2012, I returned by myself after I started Racing the States and crushed all my previous times with a 53:03. I skipped the race in 2013 when finances were tight. I returned last year when I got a free race entry from 3W Races for running as an Ambassador and lolli-gagged around the course to finish in 55 min.

 

This year, I returned. Another free entry from 3W Races, and I crushed my previous course record of 53:03 to kill it with a 51:53!

I debated between running it for fun and taking part of all the free jello shots and slip and slides, but decided to try for a PR. After all, I did PR on this course in reverse at the Heart and Sole 10k last year. Although, I was looking for a PR today, I told myself I would settle for a Course PR. And that’s just fine with me. This course is hard! This year, with a decently fast qualifying time, I got to register for wave EB, a 7:15am start. The first wave starts around 6:55am, I think, and EB is the EARLIEST I have every gotten to start, which means slightly fewer people on the course to dodge!

Before I started!

Getting ready! Rockin’ 3W gear and my skirt sports skirt!

I started off conservatively, with the idea of finishing strong. I felt really strong for the first half. I slowed a bit with the hill at the midway point, but with 2 miles remaining, I picked it back up and felt incredibly strong, flying by people. It was right within the last quarter-mile, that I described above, that I was struggling, and tried to give it all I had.

Finished!

Finished!

I very happy with how it played out. After visiting with a ton of friends and some of the kids I coached at Green Mountain that also ran the race, I jumped over to the expo where the company I work for had a booth set up. Seeing how busy it was, I jumped in to help and hand out some prizes for the spinning wheel.

Exhausted after tearing down the booth once all the racers left, I was driven back to my car and straight home to my couch! I was super tired!

If you live in Colorado and haven’t done the Bolder Boulder, you should give it a whirl. If you are looking for a great destination race, it’s worth the trip, even though it’s only a 10k!

MORE:

Fellow Coloradoan’s Race Report

Bolder Boulder Website

Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) Runs the Bolder Boulder!