Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRunners take off from the starting line of the citizen's race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostEthiopia's Ruti Aga (F17) and her teammate Mamitu Daska (F16) set a fast pace during the women's elite race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. Daska won the race with a time of 32:44.84 edging out her teammate Aga with a time of 32:45.64. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostKenya's Barnabas Kosgei, A404, takes the lead over the rest of the pack during the citizen's race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. Kosgei won the citizen's race with a time of 30:00.28.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostKenya's Barnabas Kosgei, A404, takes over Ian Butler, #A601, for the lead during the citizen's race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. Kosgei won the citizen's race with a time of 30:00.28. Butler came in 6th place.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostUS Marine Corps member Tyler Chittick, right, prepares his men for the 21 gun salute during the Memorial Day tribute on the field at Folsom Field after the running of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder road race on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The event is an important part of the BolderBoulder as a way to honor the men and women who have served the United States during peace and war. The tribute included one of the largest enlistment ceremonies in the state of Colorado, the presentations of the Nation's Colors, the playing of Taps by the US Navy Northwest Region Band and sky divers carrying flags from each branch of the military.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostAlamosa's Lauren Martin makes her way towards Folsom Stadium on her way to winning the women's citizen's race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. She won with a time of 34:44.03 . Running next to Martin areTanner Martin, A595, left and Jeff Schuler, A472, right. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Jeremy Papasso, Daily CameraThe Chik-fil-A cows perform on stage during the 2017 Bolder Boulder 10K citizens race on May 29, 2017, in Boulder.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostNatosha Rogers (F2) middle establishes an early lead as runners position themselves quickly in the front of the pack during the women's elite race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. Rogers took 3rd in the race with a time of 33:41.69. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostHundreds of people cheer the elite runners as they enter Folsom Stadium during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMembers of the honor guard present the Nation's Colors during the Memorial Day tribute on the field at Folsom Field after the running of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder road race on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The event is an important part of the BolderBoulder as a way to honor the men and women who have served the United States during peace and war. The tribute included one of the largest enlistment ceremonies in the state of Colorado, the presentations of the Nation's Colors, the playing of Taps by the US Navy Northwest Region Band and sky divers carrying flags from each branch of the military.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostDaniel Arute, with the US Navy Northwest Region band, performs Taps during the Memorial Day tribute on the field at Folsom Field after the running of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder road race on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The event is an important part of the BolderBoulder as a way to honor the men and women who have served the United States during peace and war. The tribute included one of the largest enlistment ceremonies in the state of Colorado, the presentations of the Nation's Colors, the playing of Taps by the US Navy Northwest Region Band and sky divers carrying flags from each branch of the military.
Cliff Grassmick, Daily CameraMeggan Mattson, left, and Alicja Gilbert, are happy finishers during the Bolder Boulder citizens race on May 29, 2017, in Boulder.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRunners position themselves quickly in the front of the pack during the citizen's race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMembers of the honor guard present the Nation's Colors during the Memorial Day tribute on the field at Folsom Field after the running of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder road race on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The event is an important part of the BolderBoulder as a way to honor the men and women who have served the United States during peace and war. The tribute included one of the largest enlistment ceremonies in the state of Colorado, the presentations of the Nation's Colors, the playing of Taps by the US Navy Northwest Region Band and sky divers carrying flags from each branch of the military.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRunners cools off from a hose being sprayed on runners along Walnut Street during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Cliff Grassmick, Daily CameraKyle Kennedy shows an amazing kick at the end of his Bolder Boulder citizens race on May 29, 2017, in Boulder.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRunners make their way up Folsom street toward the stadium during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Jeremy Papasso, Daily CameraJulie Willson reacts after cooling off on a slip-n-slide during the 2017 Bolder Boulder 10k citizens race on May 29, 2017, in Boulder.
Cliff Grassmick, Daily CameraCheri Madsen wins the women's push-rim wheelchair race of the Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017, in Boulder.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA runner takes a breather during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRunners grab cups of water during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRunner Scott Hogg, B221, dressed up as a taco during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPeople watch runners run during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostRunners grab cups of water during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostUS Marine Corps member Tyler Chittick, right, prepares his men for the 21 gun salute during the Memorial Day tribute on the field at Folsom Field after the running of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder road race on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The event is an important part of the BolderBoulder as a way to honor the men and women who have served the United States during peace and war. The tribute included one of the largest enlistment ceremonies in the state of Colorado, the presentations of the Nation's Colors, the playing of Taps by the US Navy Northwest Region Band and sky divers carrying flags from each branch of the military.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSavannah Roybal cheers on runners along Folsom Street during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirefighters Alec Shogan, left, and Jake Dickes, middle, with Boulder Rural Fire Department, run with an American flagduring the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The duo ran the entire race in their bunker gear. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Jeremy Papasso, Daily CameraGabi Jones dances with a beer after jumping into a pool while running in the 2017 Bolder Boulder 10K Citizen's Race on May 29, 2017, in Boulder.
Dori Mann holds a sign as she cheers on racers during the 2017 Bolder Boulder 10K Citizen's Race on Monday in Boulder. For more photos of the citizen's race go to www.dailycamera.com Jeremy Papasso/ Staff Photographer/ May 29, 2017
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA runner, with a patriotic sign on her back, makes her way towards Folsom stadium along Folsom Street during the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA runner ties his shoes before the start of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostEric Richards, of Broomfield, warms up for his 12th Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. This marks the 39th year for the Bolder Boulder that takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 racers taking part in the popular road race.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Runners take off from the starting line of the citizen's race of the 39th annual Bolder Boulder on May 29, 2017 in Boulder. The popular race takes place on Memorial day every year with over 50,000 runners taking part in the event.
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By Helen H. Richardson | hrichardson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post, Jeremy Pappaso | pappasoj@dailycamera.com | Boulder Daily Camera, Cliff Grassmick | grassmickc@dailycamera.com | Boulder Daily Camera and Paul Aiken | aikenp@dailycamera.com | Boulder Daily Camera
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BOULDER — Leonard Korir is from Iten, Kenya, a town that has produced more world-class runners than any other place on Earth, but he’s also an American citizen serving in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Carson. Fully mindful of what Memorial Day represents, Korir fought heroically to give the Bolder Boulder an inspiring finish.
Korir, a specialist who serves the Army as a driver and as a member of its World Class Athlete Program, came up just short Monday in a thrilling sprint to the finish of the men’s elite race. Gabriel Geay of Tanzania won in 29 minutes, 2.19 seconds, and Korir was just 0.62 seconds short of first place.
Nearly 40,000 spectators roared support for him over the last 200 meters, and Korir wanted to show them what America means to him.