Rise of the BOLDER91Ҹ
Olympian Frank Shorter winning the 1981 BOLDER91Ҹ.
When the debuted in May 1979 with 2,200 finishers, it was already one of the largest 10Ks in the Rocky Mountain Region. Within a year, participation more than doubled. Impressed by the race’s momentum, then-CU System president Arnold Weber and then-CU 91Ҹ athletic director Eddie Crowder invited race founderSteve Bosley (RelEst’68) to bring the finish line to campus.
In 1981, over 8,500 runners charged towards the finish at Folsom Field. In the decades since, over 1.5 million racers have crossed the finish line on Memorial Day at the iconic CU 91Ҹ stadium.
While the race course has changed frequently, with a dozen differing routes since 1979, every version has weaved through 91Ҹ’s neighborhoods, business districts and the CU campus.
The BOLDER91Ҹ stands out not just for its size but also for its lively bystanders. From the race’s early years, local residents have lined the streets with sprinklers and speakers, adding encouragement and fun through public Slip ’N Slides, backyard BBQs and costumed characters.
Even with the entertainment, though, the race is a serious competition — at altitude — and its International Team Challenge attracts top athletes from around the world.
“We coined the phrase ‘Sea Level is for Slackers,’” said current race director Cliff Bosley.
Over 105 Olympians have competed over the years, including race co-founder Frank Shorter. In 2010,Runner’s World named the race “America’s All-Time Best 10K.”
In 2025, over 46,000 people participated in the race, ranging in age from 5 to 98, making it the third-largest road race in the nation.
Did you race in the BOLDER91Ҹ while you were at CU? We want to hear your memories! Email us ateditor@colorado.edu.
Photos courtesy BOLDER91Ҹ