Costumes, cartwheels and Jello shots: Bolder Boulder marks return to race traditions

May 30—They came dressed as crayons, a giraffe, Where's Waldo and bananas.

The colorful costumes whizzing down Folsom Street early Monday morning indicated one thing: The return of the Bolder Boulder.

The race, run Monday for the 42nd time, is a local mainstay founded in 1979 by Steve Bosley and Frank Shorter, who served as the official starter in honor of the 50th anniversary of his 1972 gold medal Olympic marathon run. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the decorated 10K to cancel the 2020 race and prompted a dispersed 10K called Bolder on the Run in 2021. But on Monday, everything returned to the way it once always was.

In the Bolder Boulder, competitors make their way through the streets north of the University of Colorado Boulder before crossing the finish line at Folsom Field with its Flatirons backdrop.

For runner Kathy Kirsling, it's one of the aspects of the race that makes it so memorable.

"Coming into the stadium is just so special," she said. "It's a special finish."

Kirsling, an Albuquerque, N.M., resident, has run the race for 28 years, including 2020 and 2021.

It's a way to honor her father, who served in the U.S. Army and the Air Force, and it reminds her of attending the race with family. Her mom would run and her dad would offer support, typically from the southern end zone.

"It has a lot of family memories," she said.

The race is a blast for those who compete, but arguably, the onlookers have just as much fun — if not more — as those competing.

Take Gayle Doud and Jeff Lesser, who were among a group on Folsom Street with a sign reading "You cartwheel. We drink." Runners took the call to action seriously, slowing their run to cartwheel on the pavement.

Doud and Lesser live along the course so it's convenient to come outside and watch the runners compete. But it's more than that.

"It's just a good Boulder tradition," Lesser said.

And "it's fun to bring it back," given that the traditional race hasn't happened since 2019, Doud said.

They offered the cartwheel challenge in pre-pandemic years and some Bolder Boulder participants remembered and were excited to see it return, she added.

As the race progresses, there are typically so many people willing to participate in the challenge that they're forced to make it more difficult by requesting a game of leapfrog or a round of burpees.

"After a while cartwheels become too much so we switch out the activity," Doud said.

"It's harder to drink than it is to do a cartwheel," Lesser added.

Just down Folsom, Michelle Gaffney and her crew offered Jello shots — alcoholic for the adults and nonalcoholic for the youngsters — to those running by. So many people wanted one that they quickly emptied the tray.

She echoed the sentiments of Lesser and Doud.

"It's fun to be a part of it," she said.

Elsewhere, there was live music, a slip-n-slide, an Elvis impersonator, belly dancers, drummers and more.

While the Bolder Boulder is a tradition many were grateful to see return, others experienced it for the first time.

Emily Cole, a relatively new Boulder resident, stood along the course, watching for the first time. She cheered excitedly for those who passed by.

"There's so much community spirit," Cole said.

Though the race itself is very much a celebration, the event concludes with a more somber recognition of the day on which it is held.

Tens of thousands filled Folsom Field following the race for a Memorial Day tribute in honor of fallen service members.

There were presentations honoring local living veterans, renditions of the national anthem and taps and a 21-gun salute, all serving as a reminder that "freedom, as we know, is not free," the announcer said.