Spirits aren't dampened at Bolder Boulder

Pat Rooney, Special to the Rocky

Published May 26, 2008 at 11:27 p.m.

Text size

Dressed as Smurfs, Brent Abbott, foreground, and his friends dance along Folsom Street during the Bolder Boulder. On a gray day, participants turned the streets into a runners' Woodstock.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Due to soaking rains, the finish line at Folsom Field became treacherous. Here, Eric Scott Koenig, of Boulder, and Kinoshita Yumiko, of Tokyo, slide to the race's end.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Men's citizen's race winter Clint Wells.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Saul Mendoza of Mexico, far right, made it 10 titles in 10 tries in the men's wheelchair event. His winning time was 22:56.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Shirley Reilly, of Tucson, at right, wins the women's wheelchair event. Reilly, who has claimed the title for four straight years, finished in 28:49.

More More Sports

More stories »

BOULDER - The atmosphere at Folsom Field just after daybreak Monday was one of great anticipation.

It was the calm before the annual storm that is the Bolder Boulder, as once again, the 30th edition of the second-largest road race in the nation provided plenty of the sights and sounds that have become a Memorial Day tradition in Boulder.

According to race officials, there were a record 54,040 registered runners and a record 48,955 finishers. Both eclipsed last year's record totals (50,816 and 47,318, respectively).

Entertainers such as belly dancers and live bands lined the course filled by serious runners and costumed weekend warriors alike, proving once again that, despite the dreary conditions, few events ever boast the stirring mix of athletic endurance and old-fashioned fun as the Bolder Boulder.

Numbers game

15,156 is the estimated number of gallons of water and Gatorade consumed on the course.

Late entry a big winner

Who needs something so trite as a little advance preparation? Apparently, not Clint Wells.

These days, the former University of Colorado All-American divides his time between training for the Olympic steeplechase team qualifiers in July and his job at the Boulder Running Co.

So, with the world's largest 10-kilometer race in town, Wells figured he was destined to spend his Memorial Day keeping busy at work. When his schedule cleared, he signed up less than 72 hours before the start of the race. Despite Wells registering somewhat on a whim, he managed to win the citizen's race, finishing in 30 minutes, 55 seconds. His 41-second margin of victory was the largest in the citizens race since 1995.

"All week, I wasn't sure if I was going to do it or not because, where I work, it's a huge weekend," Wells said. "I was a little bit unsure. But at the last minute a couple days ago, on Friday, I decided I'd do it. I knew I was in good shape, so I knew I was physically ready. It was just a matter of whether I could do it or not.

"It was really neat to win it. I didn't think about it too much. It's exciting all along the way, being in the lead and having all those people out there cheering for you. I think I had more fun out on the course than I did when I finally got into (Folsom Field)."

Leap of faith

Nineteen-year-old Ilsa Paulson won the female division of the citizens race, posting a time of 34:44, the sixth-fastest winning time in the female citizens race in Bolder Boulder history.

Paulson recently left the University of Northern Arizona to begin making her way as a professional runner. Her victory Monday was a strong step in that direction, as she became the youngest Bolder Boulder winner since teenager Melody Fairchild won three consecutive races from 1989 to 1991.

"I'm trying to make baby steps in trying to go pro, because that's my dream," said Paulson, who was a three-time high school state champion in Oregon. "The NCAA wasn't my thing. Everything was cool, I just couldn't handle the stress of school and running. Northern Arizona is great - I just couldn't do both."

Brrrrrrrrr!

The 55-degree temperature at the start of the pro races tied the third-coldest race temperature in Bolder Boulder history. The pro race in 2005 also started with a 55-degree temperature. The coldest starting temperature was 53 degrees in 1995, followed by 54 degrees in 1992.

Wheelchair winners

At this rate, in another few years, the trophy for the winners of the men's and women's wheelchair races might have to be renamed the "Saul & Shirley Award."

Saul Mendoza of Mexico made it a perfect 10-for-10 in his personal history at the Bolder Boulder, winning the men's race in 22:56. Mendoza won nine consecutive races before missing the event last year. Shirley Reilly, of Tucson, won the women's race for the fourth consecutive year, finishing in 28:49.

"This year, we have the Para-Olympics, and this is a great way to get in shape," Mendoza said. "This is one of my main targets through the year, and that is why I always come back."

Military matters

One of the most stirring aspects of the Bolder Boulder is the Memorial Day tributes to military veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces.

The CU ROTC organizations for the Army, Navy and Air Force all participated in the race. In the unofficial competition, the Army team edged the Air Force and Navy, though the Navy team said its comrades enjoyed a bit of an age advantage.

"That's OK, because they are all 19 or 20," said Jason Baney of the Navy ROTC. "We are all pushing 30."

The rainy conditions forced the cancellation of the annual prerace sky-dive performance, but Air Force jets still provided a flyover.

Reunions

Many Coloradans use the Bolder Boulder as an excuse to stage family reunions. One such family was the "Grady Bunch," led by Roger and Jane Grady. The couple are alums of the University of Northern Colorado and have shared the race with their sons, Sean and Ryan, for the past eight years or so.

"We always come back for it," said Ryan Grady, who lives in Dallas. "This is just something we've always enjoyed doing together."

Medical report

The cloud cover and cool temperature helped keep the number of dehydration and heatstroke cases to a minimum. According to the race's medical director, Todd Dorfman, there were only "seven or eight" people taken to Boulder Community Hospital, and the two most significant issues occurred in the stands. One man, estimated to be about 70, went into cardiac arrest but was revived by first responders and remained hospitalized in critical condition. Another person suffered what was believed to be a stroke.

He said it

"It was great running conditions, I just wasn't ready to run that fast. I couldn't respond to it. There was no warm-up, they just get out there and go at it. I wasn't ready for it, and they took it to me."

Jorge Torres, former CU standout, who finished 12th after being unable to climb back into contention after the fast pace set by the Ethiopians, Kenyans and winner Ridouane Harroufi of Morocco in the men's professional race.

Gift of garb

A sampling of the many costumes that filed across the finish line:

* Wonder Woman

* SpongeBob SquarePants

* Ketchup and mustard bottles

* Abraham Lincoln

* The police from Reno 911

* Nacho Libre

* Captain America

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News