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Colorado > Boulder Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay
Boulder, CO
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Date
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Event
Details
The foothills of the Colorado Front Range Mountains are the backdrop
along the course for runners who come out to participate in the Boulder
Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay (formerly known as the Boulder
Backroads Marathon & Half Marathon), which takes runners on a
mostly off-road course through the countryside just north of the city,
along mostly dirt roads and quiet rural lanes. Runners see farms,
cottonwood groves and several ponds along the out-and-back course's
rolling hills, which starts and finishes near the Boulder Reservoir
Park and Sixmile Reservoir just outside town.
Colorado's rugged outdoors is the setting and with it comes a steep
challenge for runners who take part, namely the long, steady climb in
elevation from the starting line all the way up to the half-way point
in the race, at the intersection of North 39th Street and the aptly
named Plateau Road. The course climbs roughly 300 feet in elevation
from the start to the half-way point, from an elevation of about 5,200
feet above sea level at the starting line near the reservoirs to nearly
5,500 feet above sea level at the turnaround point.
The good news is, of course, that what goes up must come down -- after
running a mostly uphill race for the first 6.5 miles of the course,
runners get to follow a mostly downhill course on the way back to the
finish line, as they run the same course in reverse for the second half
of the 13.1-mile race. Be sure to bring a sturdy pair of sunglasses for
this run, as the sun is often out this time of year for the race, and
Colorado's wide-open blue skies and bright sun necessitate protection
during the event.
More than 1,300 runners came out for the half marathon alone at the
2007 running of the race -- out of just under 2,000 runners for all
events combined -- making the Boulder Backroads event one of the
state's more popular half-marathon running events, even if it's not
strictly a road race like most of those run in city centers. Walkers
are welcome for both the full and half marathon races, and the event
also includes a marathon team relay.
Also, because the race takes place
at over 5,000 feet above sea level -- and many participants train at
our near sea level -- race organizers encourage entrants to allow
themselves a few days to acclimate to the Colorado altitude before they
take part in the race.
Race
Weather & Climate
Located just to the east of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, about a 30-mile
drive northwest of Denver, the city of Boulder typically sees cool
weather conditions as the seasons are changing from summer to fall. In
September, average monthly temperatures range between 77°F and
47°F. The area also sees an average of just over 1.7 inches of
precipitation during the month.
Fees
$75 if registered by May 31, 2009
$80 between June 1 - July 31
$85 between August 1 - September 16
Registration
To reserve your spot in the fall 2009 running of
Colorado's Boulder Marathon, Half Marathon or Relay, register
online at Eventville.com.
Website
www.boulderbackroads.com
Half
Marathon Course Map
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Larger Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in Colorado's annual Boulder Marathon, Half Marathon &
Relay?
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your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Boulder Marathon,
Half Marathon & Relay
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