It's all uphill for Bolder Boulder's new start
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- Created on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 14:09
- Written by Nathan
By JOHN MEYER, THE DENVER POST
BOULDER — The Bolder Boulder has had three finish lines in its 33-year history as one of America's biggest and most celebrated road races, but it has had only one starting line — until this year.
In a major departure from the course that had remained essentially unchanged since the first Folsom Field finish in 1981, the start has been moved three-quarters of a mile south on 30th Street. Runners will begin traveling north instead of south, and will run 1.35 miles before intersecting with the old course. Most of the new section is uphill.
The change was prompted by an effort to make race morning more convenient for 50,000-plus participants and facilitate traffic flow.
"We just want to make it as easy to get to town and as easy to get around town as we can," race director Cliff Bosley said.
The change brings the starting and finish lines much closer together — about a mile apart, versus more than 2 miles. It also creates the opportunity for separate drop-off areas for automobiles and RTD buses.
From a competitor's perspective, it will significantly alter the character of the first mile because of the uphill start in contrast to the old course, which began with a swift downhill. And that raises the question: Will times be slower or faster?
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