Boulder is overrated. I want to move.

I love Boulder. Moved here 7 years ago.

Yeah, the wind is annoying sometimes. Yeah the trails are crowded (people like me moving here in the past 10 years have added a ton to that!). My biggest "complaint" is that it is hard to access tracks for a track workout (at least during a school day)....plus the (outdoor) tracks do get covered in snow/ice quite often!

I ran for 5 winters in Ithaca and 3 winters in Michigan. The winters here are a piece of cake compared to that. The northeast and midwest have generally much harsher winters on average IMO.

And the summer running? It's really not that hot because there is very low humidity most of the time. Whoever said they had to "run before sunrise" in the summer here is totally full of it.

I agree the elevation is "too low" to be sleeping at. I'd rather be at 7,000'-8000 feet (and yes, i did live in Nederland for a summer). I often go up into the other parts of Colorado for high altitude trail running/ big mountain running...but I'd also say "altitude is overrated in general" too.

To really like Boulder (or any place) I think one has to like the town for aspects outside of running. I like the food here, I like the beer here, I like the bike path network and the coffee shops and the music/art. I like the political landscape. I like the view of the flatirons and the fact that the sun is so bright I have to wear sunglasses most days. Real estate is definitely overpriced now and there have been some changes that I'm not fond of (even in my short time here), but overall it is the best place I've ever lived in in the US.

CO native wrote:

I've been there once wrote:

If it's too hot can't you just drive a few miles west and it'll be way cooler at 8000'+?

Good option, takes 30 to 45 minutes (actually easier to get out of Denver or C Springs compared to Boulder) and it will be several (5 to 15) degrees cooler. Downside for hot afternoons of course are thunderstorms and lighting that roll in off the peaks by about 1 or 2 every afternoon.

You can get up to Mags from Boulder in 10-15 minutes depending on where in town you live. You can be at Hessie Trailhead in 30. Tons of options.

BoCo resident wrote:

CO native wrote:

Good option, takes 30 to 45 minutes (actually easier to get out of Denver or C Springs compared to Boulder) and it will be several (5 to 15) degrees cooler. Downside for hot afternoons of course are thunderstorms and lighting that roll in off the peaks by about 1 or 2 every afternoon.

You can get up to Mags from Boulder in 10-15 minutes depending on where in town you live. You can be at Hessie Trailhead in 30. Tons of options.

Was thinking upper Magnolia, Rollinsville, Nederland but yeah the lower area isn't far (ha! if the traffic isn't bad in the city). There's also that Sugarloaf area, maybe 20 minutes from downtown.

Sage I know you're a big internet star and all with 100,000,000 followers, but sunrise here is at 5:30 - 6 in the summer, so a starting run at 6:00 before heading to work is simply great. It's cool, quiet, you get great views up in the hills, and hardly anyone is out.

Stay in Colorado, guys.

Try Reno NV.

Altitude, decent trails, ability to get up higher if needed. Great outdoor scene, run, mtb, tri, ski, etc. Up and coming city. Close to bay area. Probably cheaper than Boulder and definitely cheaper than SF. 252 sunny days out of the year.

I've run in many places in California and while the weather is great, I've found the running options in many areas to be lacking. The terrain is too damn steep in many places, most of the cities aren't very pedestrian friendly, and the rural areas are full of two lane roads with blind curves, no shoulders, and drivers who haul ass and don't move over for you. Even in the Bay Area, there are a lot of locations with no good local running options. I'm not a fan of having to waste time driving somewhere to run- I like having some decent routes right out my front door. If you do drive to a trailhead, your options are usually to do an out-and-back run on the ridgetop or an out-and-back run in the valley - but if you want to do a loop, you're going to have to climb a 1,000 foot grade.

I have been to a lot of running cities in my 37 years on the planet. There are a lot of reasons to downvote Boulder but the weather is not one of them. It's windy EVERYWHERE at times and it is far worse in most places.

The cost of living is one. If you are putting running first in your life, you probably aren't rich or even buying a house, which means you have to rent. Which means you get to have roommates until you're at least 30.

The population is another. The bike and running paths are clogged with people and the grocery stores are a combination of vain sweaty runners and imperious soccer moms trying to hang onto their 30s looks through a combination starvation and malicious driving. Sometimes it's nice to be in a town where most of the people are NOT thinking about running, cycling or rock climbing.

It's a pleasant enough town for its size but it is more about reputation than reality. If you are not a professional runner then you should probably not move there for the running.

Come to Athens, Ga my friend. Similar city feel to Boulder but better weather.

Only if you enjoy living in a swamp over the summer....lol

CO native wrote:

CO native wrote:

Front Range is too hot. But up in the high country it's pretty nice.

And it's pretty easy to beat the heat for running. Just get up early and run! It's rarely above 75 at 8 AM. So if you start at 6:00 or 6:30 you can get in a great run and have the rest of the day.

Can't believe how many nancies who can't get up to run before 9 consider themselves serious runners.

that's a great line - cheers

While I found the article below to be convincing for the Fort Collins-Boulder-Denver stretch it is also relevant for the Keystone-Silverthorne-Dillon-Frisco-Breckenridge-Vail-Glenwood Springs-Carbondale-Aspen stretch too.

https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/08/welcome-to-colorful-east-california/

Van Cities and $5 rec center showers are consistent out there and these places are unusually booming!

"the Keystone-Silverthorne-Dillon-Frisco-Breckenridge-Vail-Glenwood Springs-Carbondale-Aspen stretch"

Including nine towns in one linear array is quite a stretch.

Regarding training, you sound soft.

Regarding Boulder being boring, I think you are correct about that for someone in your position. Boulder is a married, well-off, tech bro's wet dream. Expensive. Sushi! Exclusive. Yoga! Homogeneous. Orange mocha frappucino! Posh.

For a single guy in his upper 20s or 30s, it's pretty lame. Not many single ladies besides the CU scene, and they are kids. You end up going out in Denver. But, I'd bet that for divorced / never married dudes in their 40s+ it is probably an awesome MILF / cougar factory on par with the best that LA has to offer.

Venezuela libre! wrote:

Regarding training, you sound soft.

Regarding Boulder being boring, I think you are correct about that for someone in your position. Boulder is a married, well-off, tech bro's wet dream. Expensive. Sushi! Exclusive. Yoga! Homogeneous. Orange mocha frappucino! Posh.

For a single guy in his upper 20s or 30s, it's pretty lame. Not many single ladies besides the CU scene, and they are kids. You end up going out in Denver. But, I'd bet that for divorced / never married dudes in their 40s+ it is probably an awesome MILF / cougar factory on par with the best that LA has to offer.

Not quite.

I think Boulder is one of the best places to be. Great scenery, great group runs, food, beer, well maintained bike paths and trails to get around town, flex work arrangements (one of the best for this)

Boulder weather:

- Usually great but winds and weather have been (I’m told) bad lately. Toughest winter I can remember since moving here ~7 years ago and someone who has been in Boulder 40 years told me this is like coldest winter they can remember in 10-15 years.

- tried doing a track workout here last week in Boulder and with the “chinook” winds it was a disaster

Downsides:

- Higher cost of living (comparable to expensive coastal cities)

- During the work week (Mon thru Fri) Boulder gets a lot of commuters and with the number of commuters into Boulder it means the ways in and out of the city get very clogged with impatient drivers in a bad mood trying to leave Boulder at 4pm nearly flattening bikers and pedestrians . Living in boulder and working in Denver is great but cant do the opposite. do not attempt to drive to Denver at end of a work day.. They really need a train!!!!

I haven't really thought this winter has been that bad. I don't mind the cold though. Boulder actually plows the bike paths before most of the roads. They have these little golf cart plow things that drive around on the Boulder Creek Path and connecting paths. Snow is almost never an issue in regards to running. Wind. Maybe. I can probably count on my fingers the number of days where wind has been a serious problem for running. Just treat it like a hill workout. Big deal.

The Best XC Race on the Planet (or whatever they called it) had a particularly windy day one year. Can't remember which. 2008? But everyone had to deal with it, so who cares?

The worst winter by far in recent memory was 2007. It was the year we hosted the USA Cross Country Championships at Flatirons Golf Course. We got hit by 3 or 4 major snowstorms in a row. It was the only time I can remember snow buildup being an impediment to running for a while.

Organic Ding-Dong Addict

It's a pleasant enough town for its size but it is more about reputation than reality.

Which is what draws so many there. Yet the truly top runners, the ones who have made USA teams for Olympics and World Champs, aren't inviting all comers to show up for their training groups. You also aren't seeing top collegians who weren't Buffs moving there right after college. The reputation it has from Shorter, Plaatjes, Jones met up with a housing market that became overpriced in the '90s, which effectively put an end to the former. You'll find lots of talented competitive age groupers working in other career fields there and the Buffs and ex-Buffs and not much else.