Maggie Shannahan, Alyssa Chisholm and Mallory Pearson stand on Mile 5 of the Bolder Boulder route just after 7 a.m., dodging the puddles left behind by an early-morning shower. More rain is on the way.

Over the next four hours, 54,040 runners will pass Mile 5 on their way to Folsom Field, setting a new participation record for the Bolder Boulder's 30th birthday.

But right now, it's still early, and quiet as the girls -- all 17-year-old Monarch High School students -- wait for the first of the wheelchair racers to fly by.

The three volunteers start waving and cheering when the first wheelchair racer rounds the corner of 20th Street and speeds onto Walnut Avenue.

Shannahan says volunteering is almost as fun as running the race -- and doesn't involve too much training. Her friends are running in the race, and she's looking forward to cheering them on.

“And we get to wear these adorable vests,” she says, pulling at her hazard-orange garment.

The girls say they’ve been charged with keeping non-runners off the streets, and also with finding help for racers who’ve run out of steam.

“We’re supposed to watch for people who look like they’re turning green,” Chisholm says. 

‘Their own stride’

Michael Strach stands at the curb on Folsom Avenue, watching the elite men’s runners speed by.

Strach used to do a lot of running himself, including the Bay to Breakers 12K race in San Francisco, Calif. But that was several years ago. More recently, a stroke has taken away his ability to run, and he gets his exercise from swimming.

Strach has walked the Bolder Boulder in years past, but running it isn’t really an option.

But Strach, who works at McGuckin Hardware, said he likes to watch the race. He likes early mornings anyway, and he only lives a few blocks away, so he decided to come down and watch runners at the peak of their form.

“Everybody has their own technique, everybody has their own stride,” he said. “It’s cool to watch.” 

Heroes and legends

Going into Mile 6, Batman looks strong. He’s a stoic character, so he answers cheers from the sideline by quietly raising his fist and chugging away.

Batman isn’t alone. Plenty of racers have set aside their jerseys in favor of more creative attire, huffing to the finish line dressed as bananas, hula-dancers, Spiderman and horses.

Elvis is on hand a few blocks west on Folsom Street to cheer them on.

“It was hard to decide whether to run or cheer,” confides Elvis, who also goes by Peter Szameitat a Boulder High School cross country running coach. He looks like an early, healthy Elvis, not the late, TV-shooting, exercise-averse Elvis.

Szameitat says he chose the rhinestone-studded white tracksuit over the track-shoes because he thought he’d have a better chance of cheering on his friends and students from the sidelines.

“I don’t know what it is, but people smile when they see Elvis,” Szameitat says, smoothing his pompadour. “And when you smile, you run a little harder.”

Just a little farther west on Folsom, racers making the turn to the stadium are greeted by the sight of a bronze of Boulder running legend Frank Shorter. Today, the Olympic gold medalist’s likeness is sporting a kilt and being serenaded by wailing bagpipes, courtesy of the group of kilt-clad gentlemen from Centennial State Pipes and Drums. 

Paying for the powder

Finishing the Bolder Boulder in 38:26 is nothing to sneeze at, but Chris McDonald of Niwot knows he could have done better.

“Last year, I finished a minute faster and I didn’t hurt,” he said.

McDonald knows the culprit for his slower time this year: Too much time skiing, not enough time running.

“It was worth it,” he said. 

Can I call you right back?

The faces of the runners who make up the citizens’ race bear the whole range of human emotions as they stream into Folsom Field just before 10 a.m. Some are jubilant and accelerate around the field to shave off the last few seconds. One woman’s face is a rictus of pain as she closes in on the last 50 yards.

She has to dodge a man who has slowed down to answer his cell phone. 

'Turtle’s pace'

Lots of people in Folsom Field look like they’re either praying or angry. But they’re not reverential or upset — they’re cold, and trying to keep their body heat in and their hands warm. Runners said the sporadic rain and temperatures that barely got above 50 degrees were good for racing but chilly for spectators.

“I enjoyed it when I was out on the course, but it’s a little cold now,” said state Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, who ran the citizen’s race with his son, Dan Mitchell, 17, as they recovered inside Folsom Field.

Mitchell said he met his goal of getting through in less than an hour for his first Bolder Boulder. Next year, he said, he’ll train harder.

“I was going at a turtle’s pace, but I was smiling the whole way,” he said. 

No-drop zone

The low clouds and inclement weather kept skydivers from performing their annual descent into Folsom Field, although an Air Force flyover did take place as planned. 

Father-son runners

Grey Gibbs, 41, and his son, Patrick Gibbs, 9, looked tired but contented as they rested against a pillar at Folsom Field. This is the fourth consecutive year the pair have run together.

“It’s just fun to get out and run with my dad,” Patrick Gibbs said.

Grey Gibbs smiled.

“I think this is the last year I’ll keep up with him,” he said.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Ryan Morgan at 303-473-1333 or morganr@dailycamera.com.