By Chris McDonald
Incredible to think Spring, the BolderBoulder, and our All-Comer Track Series are just around the corner. Not to mention, the Olympic Trials and an Olympic Games. The Club’s Board, Advisors, and many volunteer team leaders went back to work in January to get us ready for this big year.
New Board and New Social Coordinators
In January, we sat a new Board for 2024, and set a busy agenda for the year. Our next meeting is Monday, March 25th. The agenda includes a review of our operating plan for the Summer Track Series and Mile High Mile, and a plan for our monthly social. Stalwart members, Tom Lemire and Diana Shannon, organizers of our Sunday social run from East Boulder Community Center, stepped into the social coordinator role and have a plan. If you would like to help, reach out to Tom right away. For more information on the 2024 agenda, read the Board Minutes published to our website following each meeting.
Aspire OTQ 2024 Kickoff Event
Our biggest, and arguably best, Social evening took place Sunday, January 28th. It was our Kickoff for 2024, and Meet-the-Aspire-OTQ-Athletes Event, hosted by BUILD Sports Performance in Louisville. heck out our News Release about the event, and also our Kickoff Event Video on YouTube.
Facilitating the FAQ with our athletes was a privilege. Special thanks to Dan King, Marcey Cote, and Athlete Representative Joey Berriatua for helping us produce such a memorable community event. Thanks to Jack Pottle who spoke on behalf of BRR members. Did I mention we have now raised over $21,000 for our Athlete Support Program?
View more photos on our Facebook Photo Gallery
Two of our Aspire OTQ athletes have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials! Carmen Graves and Joey Berriatua each have automatic times in the 3000m steeplechase and are getting ready to rock this coming June. We’re so excited for them! Keep up with the athletes’ progress by following @aspireotq on Instagram.
There is still time to contribute to Aspire OTQ. In fact, this is the absolute best time to do so! We still have some bonus items available for donations at $30+, $150+ and $200+, not to mention Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers for large contributors and sponsors. Speaking of, we’d like to extend special thanks to Big Shooter Coffee and ALTIUS Financial for their significant contributions each of $2,000 or more.
For those donating $30 or more, we have a dozen pint glasses remaining in stock that come with two free beers at Shoes & Brews! Their Light Lager brewed specially for our launch event by Master Brewer Roger Andersen was spectacular. Get to S&B and say hello to Roger personally!
Donate $150 or more and receive the limited edition BRR Running Kit, shown in this video, by World Championships Bronze Medalist Marybeth Price.
Donate $200 or more and Race Director Cliff Bosley will provide a complimentary BOLDERBoulder race entry! Only 40 entries are available so donate now and comment “YES I CAN” on the donation form. You will receive a promo code from Kate De Simone for your complimentary entry. Listen to Cliff speak to the Boulder Road Runners’ long-standing collaboration with the race in this short video.
Help Put On the BOLDERBoulder
Speaking of the BOLDERBoulder…more than 40 of our member volunteers help produce the event each year with more than 140 members running the event. Many will do both! There are three ways to volunteer:
- 20 members of our Club Race Teams will again set up and take down the mile and kilometer course markers. Each volunteer receives a complimentary race entry and helps the Club raise nearly $2,000. This role is very popular and the slots fill up fast. Email me now (at my address below) if you want to serve on the most unique crew of the day!
- We need two people to serve as run guides for a BBB runner (BOLDER BOULDER’s BOLDEST) who took a spill recently and will need support to keep their streak alive running every BOLDERBoulder. Your entry fee will be covered. Send an email with the subject “BBB Guide” to deb@boulderroadrunners.org.
- To volunteer for other roles coordinated by Jennifer Lynn, simply click and complete the sign-up form: https://bb10k.configio.com/volunteer.
Race Highlights
Everyone racing with the BRR logo on your singlet represents all of our members, and honors the legacy of our Club, and our community. At the USA Track & Field annual banquet, Chris Grouch (Mountain Running) and Roger Sayre (Long Distance (Road) Running) received 2023 Athlete of the Year honors. The BRR Men won the season-long Colorado LDR Grand Prix. Team members of all age groups contributed to the win, which is based on age-graded results. A great honor for our Club and core to our mission. Photos courtesy of USATF Colorado
 Chris Grauch received the 2023 Masters Athlete of the Year for Mountain Running from USATF Colorado. |
 Roger Sayre received the 2023 Masters Athlete of the Year for Long Distance Running from USATF Colorado. |
 BRR members accept the Grand Prix Cup at the USATF Colorado Awards 2023 |
See more race results and photos in Race Roundup.
Save the Dates for our Summer Track Series and the Mile High Mile
We return to the refurbished CU’s Potts Field this Summer for our All-Comer Track Series. Meet dates include June 6 & 20, July 18, and August 1. The Mile High Mile will be at Niwot High School on July 27, with ambitions to top the remarkable results posted last summer by Austen Dalquist (4:02.55) and Team USA’s Kaela Edwards (4:34.38).
Crew leaders needed!
There are five crew leader roles open on the event team that will be paid in cash and kind; Day of Operations, Registration, Volunteer Coordinator, Field Events logistics, and Marketing. Email track@boulderroadrunners.org to apply. These roles will be selected on/or before April 30th.
Sweden 2024!
Please email me if you’re considering the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden August 13-25. At least eight of our members are booked already and actively collaborating on logistics to give our members the best possible experience and an opportunity to perform at their best.
Happy running to all our members and community partners. I look forward to seeing you out there.
Chris McDonald
president@boulderroadrunners.org