Boulder turns into one long moving block party on Monday, May 25, as the BOLDERBoulder returns for its 46th running, with tens of thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators expected to swarm downtown and finish inside Folsom Field for the race and the noon Memorial Day tribute. Translation: early-morning street closures, messy parking, and long exit delays for anyone trying to move through central Boulder that day.
Race day basics
The wheelchair pro race rolls out at 6:40 a.m., the A wave follows at 6:45 a.m., and hundreds of additional waves continue through the morning, with the final walking waves near 9 a.m. Check-in and packet pick-up open early, and a mobile locker service will be set up near the start area for early arrivals, according to BOLDERBoulder.
Road closures and timing
Expect major slowdowns in and around the course. 30th Street will close between Arapahoe Avenue and Pearl Street in the pre-dawn hours, and sections of Folsom, Walnut, 13th, and 19th streets will also be impacted. Many closures are scheduled to be lifted by about 1 p.m. Police are urging residents to plan and expect heavy congestion as racers and spectators leave the area, Axios Boulder reported.
Getting there & parking
Paid parking near the finish is available on CU’s campus south of Colorado Avenue and Regent Drive, while parking near the start is available on Marine Street. There are no pre-paid spots this year, and lots open roughly three hours before the start. Rideshare drop-offs are staged in CU lots 434 and 204. Google will host first-come, first-served bike parking at its 30th and Pearl offices (bring a lock), and organizers note there is no dedicated race shuttle service this year, according to BOLDERBoulder.
Registration and capacity
Online entries still show spots and packages starting around $74, according to the race registration guide. Organizers have warned that the field is nearing capacity and, for the first time in race history, will not offer race-weekend or day-of sign-ups, a change local outlets reported as the event heads toward a larger-than-usual field, Denver7 noted.
What this year looks like
The BOLDERBoulder has become a national anchor for Memorial Day. Running USA places the event among the country’s largest, and last year, more than 45,000 finishers crossed the line inside Folsom Field. That scale helps explain the multi-agency traffic plan and why the city braces for major impacts across the morning, per Running USA.
Tips for runners and neighbors
If you are headed to the race, arrive early, carpool when possible, and consider biking, since bike parking is first-come, first-served, and you will need to bring your own lock. Spectators who plan to enter Folsom Field for the Memorial Day tribute should review the university’s clear-bag rules before they go; the full list of permitted bags and stadium rules is available from CU Athletics.
