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30th Bolder Boulder: Finish-line beer a longtime tradition
Editor's note: As the 30th Bolder Boulder approaches, the Camera is commemorating the race's milestone with daily coverage leading up to Memorial Day. Each day features stories, photographs from the first race and trivia. Coming Friday: The race's economic impact.
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Bolder Boulder organizers expect to hand out nearly 31,000 cans of beer to quench the thirst of runners at the finish line Monday morning -- a sudsy tradition that has outgrown its kegs, according to the race director.
The race began offering a cup of beer to its of-age participants in 1981, said Cliff Bosley, director of the Bolder Boulder, which turns 30 this year. But tossing out cans to runners began to make more sense as the race grew, Bosley said.
Throughout the years, runners have guzzled various products, including Bud Light and Miller Light. One year, Boulder Beer Company, a local microbrewery, offered a special Bolder Boulder beer.
In 2003, the race switched to Michelob Ultra, a low-carb beer with fewer than 100 calories. Anheuser-Busch has pinned runners and golfers as its target market for Michelob Ultra, sponsoring large-scale races and tournaments, including the Bolder Boulder.
Bosley said runners are split on the beer tradition. Some snub it at the finish line, while others say: "That's the best beer of the year."
Julia Herz, a spokeswoman for the Boulder-based Brewer's Association (with admittedly a local brew bias), said she's thought about what the best beer would be as she's crossed the Bolder Boulder finish line in past years.
Her suggestion: a great American craft beer, particularly a local brew -- perhaps an American wheat, a lager or a pale ale.
"Something that's full of flavor, yet refreshing," Herz said.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at 303-473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com.
Posted by buffs_buzz on May 22, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A craft beer after running a 10K? No thank you. I prefer something lighter. A cheap American beer in a can will do fine.
Posted by Buzz on May 22, 2008 at 6:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One thing the Bolder REALLY needs to improve is the tons and tons (literally) of waste it produces. While many local companies are adopting a zero-waste policy, and the City puts millions into its mandatory recycling programs, the BB is living in the dark ages while touting itself as a progressive event. Wrong.
I was very happy in the past to have their beer poured out of a keg (long lived, reusable) into a paper cup (easily recyclable); much less waste than 40,000 aluminum cans and their plastic packaging.
The local race management company 5430 Sports does a great job of waste reductrion: http://www.5430sports.com/ECO/news.htm
There's a national program in place specifically to improve races: http://www.eco-logistics.biz/
The BB gets a free pass in this town; its past time they brought themselves up to current standards of excellence, and if not, the Camera should bring them to task instead of writing these puff pieces.
Posted by edwizer26 on May 22, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dale's Pale Ale!
Posted by hatmonger on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That stuff is not "beer."
Posted by Dick_Tater on May 22, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Will run for beer!
DT
Posted by boratbuff on May 22, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hear hear, Buzz! Good point. Unfortunately, if you want good, investigative journalism, you're going to have to pay for it (like The Economist, Wash Post, NY Times, etc). You're not going to get it for free in the online Camera. Just puff pieces.
Posted by dweitz on May 22, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Boulder Beer Co is returning to Boulder Creek Fest. So if you're in the race and the Mich Ultra isn't enough, head down to the festival for a Buffalo Gold, Sweaty Betty Blonde, Singletrack or Hazed & Infused. Profits go to Rotary Club and Rugby Club...Oh, and the cups are biodegradable "corn" cups that will be composted. Glad to be back! - Boulder Beer guy
Posted by janabelle on May 22, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Buzz instead of just blogging about it why not talk to Cliff and see if you can head up his BB zero waste program next year--help him out.
Posted by driveby_poster on May 22, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I suppose I.D.ing 31,000 runners is no big deal.
Posted by theprairieprankster on May 22, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have an answer to the waste problem of all those cans.
Beer bongs for everybody!
Posted by positraction on May 23, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This article is followed by one about "teen drinking targeted."
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