The city of Boulder is gearing up for a series of running events that promise to test the limits of local athletes while impacting travel plans for area residents this weekend. The Boulderthon, which includes a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K races, is scheduled to take place Sunday, Sept. 29, drawing participants and spectators from across the region. According to Boulder County, the courses will be active from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Runners will take to the streets, prompting several road and trail closures. Traffic will be affected in several key corridors, Valmont Rd., N 61st St., N 63rd St., Jay Rd., N 75th St., Lookout Rd., and N 57th St. Detours and closures will begin as early as 7 a.m. and last until as late as 3 p.m., so residents and travelers, should plan accordingly to avoid significant delays. Areas such as Notting Hill Gate and Twin Lakes have been provided with specific directions to manage ingress and egress. Local access is still being honored however, expect longer travel times, especially during the key hours of runner passage.
In the city proper, the impact is no less with Pearl St., Mapleton Ave., 14th St., and 23rd St., all slated for closures. The City of Boulder Police, as well as traffic marshals, will enforce these closures. Participants in the race will also traverse multiple-use trails like Cottonwood Trail and Wonderland Creek Path, which will remain open to the public, though heavy runner traffic is anticipated, and caution is urged for all path users.
Community engagement is high with an interactive map available for those seeking to navigate the closures or cheer on the athletes. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office has provided guidance for residents and travelers alike, advising everyone to pay "close attention to the Boulder County Sheriff, City of Boulder Police, and traffic marshals to ensure safety for runners and travelers alike." For some, this event offers a chance to scale personal peaks, to push their bodies through the thin veil of endurance and into something transcendent. For others, it is a Sunday sculpted by the inconvenience of travel delays and fragmented routine, trails once quiet now humming with the cadence of footsteps.
