So I'll be in Boulder from this Thursday-Monday and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of trails/places to run? Also, restaurant and coffee shop suggestions would be appreciated as well.
So I'll be in Boulder from this Thursday-Monday and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of trails/places to run? Also, restaurant and coffee shop suggestions would be appreciated as well.
Any way you can get out of it? Much nicer places in Colorado than Boulder.
Trail run: Start at Chautauqua and take the Mesa trail south toward Eldorado Springs. Keep going if you want and enjoy the views. It can be rough in patches and is certainly up/down, but it's convenient, then you can roll down 6th afterwards and jump in the creek, full of mountain run-off, cold water.
Concrete path is Boulder Creek path, which can get very congested during the weekends, filled with cyclists, skaters, casual tourists gazing, kids hoping in and out of the Boulder Creek, but it goes on for several miles and quiets down on the eastern part of town.
Or, take the creek path west till it ends, cross over Canyon and run up 4 Mile Rd. to Poorman's, which goes straight up for half a mile, then drops back down into town. It that doesn't kill you then a passing car will.
Just up out of town on the western edge: Go up Magnolia and start it when it becomes dirt to mimic what the CU teams do in-season. It rolls up and down for about 6 or 8 miles all the way to Peak to Peak.
On the mall to hang out, go to the burger place just off the mall at Broadway and Pearl. Former pro cyclists making good food. Catacombs bar, underneath the Boulderado, changed its message after all these years and is now a bit more upscale, but might be a cool, quiet place to hang. Saturday morning is the farmer's market two blocks south of Pearl and maybe 14th. It's a place to get more than just good food, if you know what I mean.
Conor O'Neil's still has a loyal following. Check out who is playing at the Boulder Theater, maybe the Fox Theater up on the hill.
And if you do all those things, you'll stay out of my way while I enjoy the truly special places.
That all sounds great. I can't wait to run on some of those trails--especially Magnolia. I'd rather skip the concrete trails, I like softer surfaces.
But you never know..I just may bump into you.. My brother and I are quite the adventurers. Thanks though.
I just may be able to explore the surrounding cities a little bit. What do you have in mind?
The reason I'm visiting Boulder is because my brother lives there. And this short trip is kinda determining whether or not I wanna spend next summer here to live and train.
If your brother lives in Boulder and you refer to his adventurous ways, why are you asking?
Go up to Brainard Lake and run around there before the lightning strikes. Go over to Winter Park and run at Snow Mtn. Ranch and the YMCA. Run up Sunshine Rd. to Gold Hill. Drive down to Colo. Springs and run from Manitou Springs up to Pikes Peak. Geez, about a ton of undiscovered places to hike and run.
There's a coffee shop on every block, and you can find some good food for next to nothing if you get out of Boulder proper. Micro-breweries are everywhere.
Too bad there's more persistent afternoon thunder showers right now. It was nothing but hot, baking 90s for two weeks just a while ago. It the mountains it would be 80 and in the 40s at night.
There may be better places to run in Colorado but Boulder is still a heck of a place to train. If it is convenient for you with your brother around don't let other posters try to minimize the idea.
From my limited knowledge-For mountainous trails, the mesa trail has some good climbs, there are longer/steeper climb options on green mountain and bear peak, and a quick trip up flagstaff or mount sanitas is fun.
If you are looking for something with a little less elevation gain but still with some climbs, the doudy draw trail head, marshall mesa trail head, betasso preserve, and magnolia road are good options.
If you are looking for something pretty flat than boulder reservoir or boulder valley ranch are your best bet for being on trails.
And obviously within 1-3 hours there are countless places to go out and get in some amazing summer runs.
I've been to and run in Boulder three times so far. My top three suggestions, in terms of ease to get to and nice places to run are:
1. Magnolia Rd. Legendary place from Running With The Buffaloes book. If you can run there on a weekend morning, you should see plenty of great athletes out there. Keep driving uphill until the pavement stops. Park and start running out. If you're not from altitude, take it easy or else this road will kick your a$$. Lots of rolling hills and high altitude.
2. Teller Farms on the eastside of Boulder. Really nice crushed limestone path with great views. Forget which road it's off of, but I'm sure someone else here knows or ask when you get there.
3. The Reservoir. Again, lots of people out there and lots of great dirt roads to run on. Access to other trails from there (Eagle something?).
Boulder is a great place to run in. Enjoy!!!
Just for the sake of time, I wanna know of some places to run. Hopefully I'm able to make it to those places outside of Boulder.
But yeah, I've heard about the afternoon thunderstorms and 90s weather.. that can be annoying. Even in the Upstate of South Carolina where I am, it's only been in the upper 80s with often afternoon thunderstorms as well--the humidity is wicked though.
I'll definitely hit up a lot of local restaurants and coffee shops.
All those sound awesome! I'm coming from an area of very limited trails close by and I have to drive about 30 min just for some decent dirt paths so I think I'll really enjoy them while I'm dying from the altitude of course.
Here, helped you out a bit. Quick Google search found:
http://www.runcolo.com/f13/teller-farms-trail-boulder-colorado-79/
http://www.runcolo.com/content/running-magnolia-road-boulder-colorado-271/
http://www.protrails.com/trail/337/boulder-denver-golden-fort-collins-lyons-boulder-reservoir-loop
http://www.runcolo.com/section/colorado-running-trails_1-407/
Like I said, you can't go wrong with any of these. Stop by here too, if you have the time:
Thanks man! I appreciate that. I'll check out as much as possible.
ahillxc wrote:
So I'll be in Boulder from this Thursday-Monday and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of trails/places to run? Also, restaurant and coffee shop suggestions would be appreciated as well.
Hey "ahillxc",
How's your Boulder experience so far? Which routes have you been on and what's been your impression of them? Keep us (well, me) updated.
Thanks!
Lately (not sure why) I've seen a rise in people who come out to Boulder wanting someone to stay with who are lying to my face about their times. Why do this? Athlinks tells me what I need to know about you.
Don't play me into being dumb wrote:
Lately (not sure why) I've seen a rise in people who come out to Boulder wanting someone to stay with who are lying to my face about their times. Why do this? Athlinks tells me what I need to know about you.
There are three possibilities here: 1. You are joking 2. You are horribly misinformed on the purpose and content of this thread. 3. You just went full retard for the fourth time this week. I'm going with 2 and 3.
Please confirm which it is.