Typical race-weekend conditions
Warm & mixed- High / Low
- 23° / 9°
- Humidity
- 58%
- Rainy days
- 38%
Averages from ~10 years of history around race day.
Know before you go
- Distance
- 10 km (6.2 miles)
- ✈️ From London
- ~10h31
- 🕐 Time
- -5h vs UK
- 💷 Money
- £1 ≈ $1.34
- 🗣 Language
- English
- 🌫 Air quality
- Good
- 🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+
- Welcoming
- 🛡 Safety
- Caution
Country-level indices: LGBTQ+ via Equaldex · safety via Global Peace Index 2025 . Air quality is recent PM2.5; money is indicative.
The route
Wave starts roll out from near 30th Street and wind through Boulder's neighbourhoods, lined with bands, belly dancers and Slip 'N Slides. The course finishes with a lap inside the University of Colorado's Folsom Field for a Memorial Day tribute.
Course elevation
Boulder sits around 1,650 m. This is a rolling neighbourhood 10K at altitude, not a sea-level time-trial. Treat watch files as estimates; train for hills and thinner air.
Entry fee
Indicative entry is £55 per runner. Confirm the current bib price on the official site; ballot, charity, and tour prices can differ. The weekend total (hotel, travel, extras) sits in the estimator, not in the bib price.
Where to stay
Downtown Boulder near Pearl Street Mall keeps you walkable to the start and the best food and breweries.
Getting there
Denver International (DEN) is about 45-60 minutes from Boulder by shuttle bus (Green Ride / RTD) or rental car; there is no direct rail. Race-day parking is first-come on the CU campus south of Colorado Avenue and Regent Drive (lots open three hours before the start); start-area parking is on Marine, east of 30th. No pre-paid parking. Expect a slow exit after Folsom Field — the official page is the map to trust.
That weekend
A pre-race expo at the CU-Boulder Rec Center distributes bibs; stick around for the pro invitational race and the huge Folsom Field finish festivities.
Who it's for
A Memorial Day 10K at altitude (Boulder sits around 1,650 m) that finishes with a lap in Folsom Field. For runners who want a party course — bands, neighbourhoods, stadium — and will treat the elevation honestly. Not a sea-level PB. The trip is Denver airport plus a 45–60 minute transfer; there is no direct rail. Skip it if you wanted a flat city 10K you can fly into and walk from the terminal.
Sample 4-day trip
Arrive, explore, race, then head home. A proper weekend, not a rushed fly-by.
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Day 1: Arrive
Fly into Denver (DEN). There is no direct rail to Boulder: allow 45–60 minutes by RTD bus, Green Ride shuttle, or rental car . Public transport from the airport to Boulder is limited. Book a private transfer if you want door-to-door.
Check into downtown Boulder near Pearl Street . Altitude and Memorial Day crowds both matter.
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Day 2: Shakedown Run and Explore the City
Collect your bib at the BOLDERBoulder expo at CU Rec Center . Jog an easy shakeout on Boulder Creek Path.
Afternoon for Pearl Street people-watching or Flatirons hikes only if legs feel fresh. This is a party 10K at altitude: save energy.
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Day 3: Race Day
Wave starts near 30th Street wind through neighbourhoods lined with bands and Slip 'N Slides. Finish with a lap inside Folsom Field .
Celebrate on Pearl Street. Memorial Day means a festival atmosphere, not a quiet time trial.
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Day 4: Final Day
Recovery breakfast on Pearl Street. Shuttle or RTD back to DEN needs 45–60 minutes: leave generous margin. A private transfer from Boulder is simpler.
Three nights covers expo, race, and Folsom Field festivities without rushing the airport.
What drives the cost
Long-haul to DEN plus the Boulder hotel weekend is the cost. Entry is modest. Downtown Pearl Street rooms on Memorial Day fill and price up; three nights is the calculator's shape so you are not racing the shuttle the same day. The Flatirons hike and Rocky Mountain day tour are the extras that double the activity line. A shared airport shuttle beats a last-minute private car if you're watching the total.
