Bolder Boulder director Cliff Bosley smiled when asked about his race's tag timing system Monday.

That was quite the different response than a year ago.

After the results process was crippled in the race's first attempt at tag timing last year, the 2008 Bolder was able to usually get results to its customers within about 30 minutes of finishing. That beats the two days it took last year after the system was overloaded with data.

"The good news was that it was working," Bosley said. "We were actually holding off on pushing the results through until we were sure it was working. We were monitoring some people and were able to determine anecdotally it was working."

The race used IPICO tags again this year but hired The End Result to filter the data. That seemed to clear up the problem caused last year when the timing system generated thousands more pieces of data than expected.

Still, the race didn't allow the results to go through right away. Organizers waited until they thought the system was working before opening the flood gates.

"We erred slightly on the side of a caution and released the results a little later than we could have," Bosley said. "We wanted to be right and weren't worrying about being (fast)."

Melody's memories

Three-time Bolder citizens winner Melody Fairchild ran in Monday's race with her former sixth-grade teacher, Lorrie Allen.

Allen and Fairchild are big parts of the race's 30-year history. Allen has ran every race and Fairchild's wins as a teenagers are some of the most memorable moments in the race's three decades.

"I was flooded with memories as I was running through the streets," said Fairchild, a two-time national champion while at Boulder High in the early 1990s. "The last two miles, all the people were really good encouragement."

Windsor runners

Liz Smith ran Monday's race with a Windsor High School physical education T-shirt just days after tornadoes ripped through the northern Colorado town.

Smith said the tornadoes just missed her house, but she was happy to represent her town in the aftermath of the storms.

"Luckily it missed our house, but it was scary because I was with a sixth-grade trip in Estes Park," Smith said. "But I figured I'd come out here and wear my T-shirt and show our pride we have in our town."

Perky puppet

The Bolder Boulder typically showcases top-notch costume design in its citizens race, but only one man makes it his duty to entertain through his costume.

Steve Cohen has lived in Boulder for 28 years and is known as the "puppet guy" to Bolder Boulder participants.

"I was born to be a puppet," said Cohen, whose costume makes the 52-year-old resemble a life-size marionette.

In addition to the detailed craftsmanship of his gear, Cohen also plays the part by dancing and walking around in a puppet-like manner.

"The crowd likes it," Cohen said. "When they need a lift they come around the turn and they just laugh. What else can you do?"

After Cohen finished the citizens race, he planned on walking back through those who were still running to lighten their spirits.

"I'll walk the entire course backwards," he said. "All the stragglers will come around the corner, and then they gotta keep going.

"I'm the entertainment. I'm the mobile entertainment."

Weather fit for an elf

In other costume news, the winner of the fastest costume-bearing participant goes to Fairview junior Alex Weinheimer.

Dressed as elf in an evergreen jacket and oversized belt that surprisingly was appropriate in the chilly weather, the 17-year-old Weinheimer finished in 35:34.98.

"This is the 13th year in a row (that I've competed), so I figured I should have some fun with it," Weinheimer said. "It's thin felt, so it's not that bad."

Weinheimer finished fourth in the 800 and ninth in the 1,600 for the Knights at the state track meet two weeks ago.

Memorial Day race

Between the competition and goofy outfits, it's easy to forget that this race takes place on Memorial Day, a holiday intended to commemorate U.S. men and women who gave their lives to their country during military service.

With that said, the crowd was consistently at its loudest when military personnel rounded the turn into Folsom Field. One such instance occurred when Staff Sgt. Isaac McCorkle and Sgt. Justin Griffis came racing into the stadium.

McCorkle and Griffis were carrying the United States and Marine Corps flags, and other members of the Marines followed behind.

"It feels good to run around and have everybody cheer for you when you're running by," Griffis said.

The two officers said the responsibility of carrying the flag makes the race "slightly" harder, but the crowd's cheers "make it all worth it."