Bolder Boulder bringing new 10K race to Fort Collins
For many Colorado runners, the Bolder Boulder has long been a Memorial Day tradition, thanks to its picturesque course through city neighborhoods and a grand finish inside a packed Folsom Field on the University of Colorado campus.
Officials with the city of Fort Collins and Colorado State University hope they can create some of that magic up here, too. The two organizations, along with Bolder Boulder race director Cliff Bosley, announced Wednesday that a new Labor Day 10K race will be held in Fort Collins starting next year, finishing at CSU's new on-campus football stadium. The Fortitude 10K will be the first public event at the $220 million stadium, with an expected 10,000 participants, including an elite field.
"What the Bolder Boulder has done for Boulder is what we want to do in Fort Collins," said Gary Ozello, CSU's community and outreach director, who approached Bosley with the idea for the race three years ago. "We talked about how a community race could highlight the growth and energy of Fort Collins, help drive tourism, create a positive halo and economic impact for the city."
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The Bolder Boulder celebrated its 38th running this spring. For all but two of those years, the race has finished at Folsom Field, as a stadium filled with community members welcomes the more than 50,000 participants, including some of the world's best runners in the elite race.
For years, Bosley has been approached to take over organizing existing major road races or creating a Bolder Boulder series at cities throughout the country. He's turned down those opportunities, however, unsure if the uniqueness of the Bolder Boulder could be replicated in larger markets that may not be as community-focused as a college town nestled in Colorado's foothills.
"It's always flattering when other people come and say, 'Hey, how about you come and do something in our town.' The uniqueness of what we do might not be something we can replicate somewhere else. We got a sense in talking with Gary about the heart of the community. We found it profoundly similar that the university is the center of both Boulder and Fort Collins," Bosley said. "It made so much sense to bring this race to Fort Collins and finish it at CSU."
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The 6.2-mile Fortitude 10K will start at Moby Arena and weave through the Campus West and Avery Park neighborhoods, loop around Sheldon Lake at City Park and head east on Mountain Avenue, before a finish through CSU's Oval to the stadium.
"We’re proud that the stadium is going to be a part of it,” CSU president Tony Frank said of the race, which will be Sept. 4, 2017. The Rams will play their first football game at Sonny Lubick Field the following Saturday, “We have always intended for this (stadium) project to be a place that serves the community in a lot of ways, certainly more than six times a year. We’re really pleased it’s going to be the finish line of this great event.”
Frank Shorter, the 1972 Olympic marathon champion and co-founder of the Bolder Boulder, emcees the race every year from Folsom Field and he expects to emcee the Foritude 10K. In attendance at the announcement Wednesday, he said Fort Collins is a perfect place to host a premier 10K, bookending the summer running season.
"There's much more of a connection for running between the two cities than people think," said Shorter, who co-founded the Bolder Boulder with Bosley's father, Steve. "To me, it made perfect sense. This is a match. Fort Collins is a great running city, with a very supportive community."
2016 Fort Collins race calendar
Fortitude 10K
What: New 10K race in Fort Collins
When: Labor Day, 2017
Where: Starts at Moby Arena and finishes at CSU's on-campus stadium
Registration: Opens Nov. 1
Information: www.fortitude10k.com
Xplore reporter Stephen Meyers covers the outdoors and recreation for the Coloradoan. Follow him on Twitter @stemeyer or @XploreNoCo.
2016 Fort Collins race calendar
