This is it. It's the cream of the crop! The race is about 50,000 people. You want hills? You got'm, but not TOO many! How about high elevation? Oh, you're a mile high, baby! The race starts out that I signed up at the last minute, so I had to pick up my bib at the race. I was nervous. Normally, I like to have it ready the night before. So, we wake up uber early and head to the park'n'ride. Seems inconvenient? No, not at all! A total breeze and we're there with plenty of time to spare. I get my bib and they were smart enough to give me a t-shirt bracelet so that I don't have to carry my swag with me through the race. If you have stuff, no worries! For $2, FedEx will deliver it to the end!

The race is amazingly organized. They must have over 50 waves. If you want to be in a qualifying pace wave, you need to submit proof that you can run that fast. Good news for those of you that get stuck behind people who choose an arbitrary pace. Once they start those waves, it's boom-boom-boom, one-after-another, right on time. Who fired the gun? None other than resident and former gold medalist Frank Shorter! Okay, time to hit the course.

I started out quickly. Probably not a good idea. I was in Boulder for a few days, but we were still pretty far up in altitude. Honestly, for the size of the race, I thought that the crowds would be amazing. Sure, there were slip'n'slides and singing Elvises (Elvae?), but not a HUGE crowd screaming and cheering. But, then you realize that you're in BOULDER, fittest city on the planet, and everyone is running the darn thing!

There are some hills. Nothing completely breaking. At one point, they have a sign with the course "peak" to let you know that it's mostly down hill. Well, up until the final stretch. You have to scuttle up a pretty rough section into the stadium. By the time I hit the finish line, I was spent.

At the finish line, they hand out a lunch bag and beers. Then, they have an expo area where vendors hand out countless amounts of free food, drinks, and samples. Finally, you head to the stands to wait for the elites. They start around 11:30am and the walkers are STILL making their ways to the finish line. Will they make it? Who knows!! Spoiler: they do and at the last possible minute. You're watching the women and men elites on the jumbotron while seeing the helicopter in the distance. Everyone erupts in cheers as they round the bend and finish along the field. Then, I got to the airport as quickly as possible.

Great race! Bucket list ESSENTIAL.