For twelve years, Eric has faithfully participated in the annual Memorial Day 10K run-the Bolder Boulder. The Bolder Boulder is the largest Memorial Day celebration in the nation. Over 51,000 runners/walkers registered to take on the course (6.2 miles). They were celebrating their 30th anniversary, so there was a lot of hoo-hay to go around.
On BB race day, we usually stay the night at Eric's parent's house, since they live 20 miles from Boulder. We wake up at 4:45am, so we can eat, pack a bag, and be out the door at 5:45 am. Then we drive in the cold and the dark to be at the runner drop off point (near the start line) around 6:30am. Since Eric is a fast guy, he usually runs in the AA wave, which starts about 7:00 am.
As the captain of the support team, I then drive to a parking spot near the finish line and bust my butt to get into the CU stadium, by the time Eric is expected to start. Half of the fun of being a spectator is to try and catch your loved one coming down the ramp into the stadium. I all my years of BB spectating, I've only missed Eric enter once. Yeah, I'm that good. (If you can blow up the pic, Eric is in blue and wearing a white visor. His race is #200).
This year, Eric had an ambitious goal. He was determined to beat Jesse's (his older brother) BB record he set when he was 17. A time of 37:38. Well, Eric beat it by 2 seconds. But 2 seconds is as good as two miles. He also set a new personal record, beating his old time by 5 minutes. Way to go Iron Eric!
Then we went home and slept for a good remainder of the day.
May God bless all the active military, veterans, and their families on this 2008 Memorial Day.
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