Flagstaff vs Boulder

Go to Flagstaff

boulder is the best place on earth. plus theres a hill called flagstaff so you can get the best of both worlds ;)

you probably want more info. well some of the best runners in the world consistently train in boulder. beautiful high school and middle school tracks if you have a track workout, got the CU Buffs team and all their running routes, you got gravel trails, woodchip trails, soft dirt, you name it. Boulder's culture is all about fitness, and it is the happiest city in america

Frankly, they are both pretty great places to spend some time. Boulder is obviously the better established running mecca, but there are a ton of people training in Flagstaff, especially in the middle of winter when conditions in Boulder get to be difficult.

Flagstaff is a much slower paced community because there are a lot of retirement communities. But you still have NAU and good bars and restaurants. Boulder is a much younger town even beyond CU.

Honestly, if you want to focus like a laser on your running, go to Flagstaff. If you want to train hard, but have some fun on the side and not take yourself too seriously, definitely go to Boulder.

im at work wrote:

you probably want more info. well some of the best runners in the world consistently train in boulder. beautiful high school and middle school tracks if you have a track workout, got the CU Buffs team and all their running routes, you got gravel trails, woodchip trails, soft dirt, you name it. Boulder's culture is all about fitness, and it is the happiest city in america

Where are the wood chip trails in Boulder?

Precious Roy wrote:

Frankly, they are both pretty great places to spend some time. Boulder is obviously the better established running mecca, but there are a ton of people training in Flagstaff, especially in the middle of winter when conditions in Boulder get to be difficult.

Flagstaff is a much slower paced community because there are a lot of retirement communities. But you still have NAU and good bars and restaurants. Boulder is a much younger town even beyond CU.

Honestly, if you want to focus like a laser on your running, go to Flagstaff. If you want to train hard, but have some fun on the side and not take yourself too seriously, definitely go to Boulder.

I would not call Flagstaff older at all. Sure, AZ has it's fair share of retirees, but very, very few of them live in Flagstaff. Most in the warmer climes down the mountain.

I've never been to Boulder, so I can't compare. But Flagstaff was pretty good to me. Trails everywhere, not very big, and very easy to get out of town.

I have been all over the Front Range and it is super crowded. Not been to Boulder specifically, but that I-25 region and the gridlocks to get into the Rockies on the weekends, that would crush me. Of course, Flag has a couple mountains, not a whole range. So really, they are probably hard to compare.

Flagstaff is higher, cheaper, and a mountain town at heart. Great connected trails, mostly dirt and crushed gravel. Boulder has a better social scene if that's what you need.

Recently moved to Boulder. Was in flagstaff two years ago for a few runs. Flagstaff is more remote, and seems very small. If you’re really good, and you don’t mind training solo, you’ll find success there.

What drew me to Boulder was the sight of the mountains no matter where you went. You have to choice of staying at 5k feet for running, or driving less than 45min and being at 9k feet. It just depends on your priorities and if you want to work too. Much more to find in Boulder.

Dude, you can't go wrong with either but Flagstaff is the new Boulder. Everybody who is anybody runs there. Makes Boulder look like a puke stain.

Both full of pretentious dbags. One is more costly than the other.

On a budget and just want to run and don’t care about career: Flagstaff

Have money and Want both solid career, social life and running routes: Boulder

Albuquerque

Marfa

Boulder is awesome, but one merit for Flag is ability to get away from winter weather with a two to three hour drive down to PHX.

It sounds like boulder is the place for me. What are some of the good places around town like restaurants and such? And is there a map or way online to find some good trails?

I'm at 1000 feet and can get to 8000 in 30 minutes. And no snow (at 1000). But go ahead, go to Boulder.

Regardless of where I went I think it would be more beneficial to live at altitude full time, but I need to do more research on that

Flagstaff is located at an appropriate altitude for maximum physiological benefits. Boulder is too low. From Flag you can access Sedona, Camp Verde and PHX for more specific sessions at lower altitude.

Flagstaff is also not drama-filled and political like a Boulder.

Flag is constantly getting more expensive due to not being able to expand. You can't tear down a national forest and you can't build something over 4 or 5 stories tall. There are also no tracks open to the public in town. Jobs outside of education and retail barely exist as well