Beautiful Boulder

I snuck away to Boulder, Colorado over the weekend and I can’t help
but rave about the running in that gorgeous mountain town. It’s no secret that Boulder is an endurance
athlete’s paradise, but it was my first chance to truly enjoy some exercise
while visiting. I was struck, as always when I’ve traveled to Colorado,
by the vast expanse of open space, beckoning me to get out and play from the
moment I made my way out of the Denver
airport. The air (albeit thin – I was gasping for breath for the first 20
minutes of each run!) was fresh and clean in a way that revived me
instantaneously.

Rather
than stay right in Boulder, I holed up in the
Niwot Inn, a haven of mountain charm merged with modern, yet affordable, luxury
in the tiny town of Niwot, northeast of Boulder. Just down the
road less than half a mile from the Inn, the
Niwot Loop Trail begins. I ran for an hour, across open fields and shady creekside
paths, cottontail bunnies and prairie dogs scattering into the bushes when
startled by my footfall.

The
next day I drove a few miles southwest to the Boulder Reservoir Park, where another
system of trails and fire roads looped me around “the Res” for 50 glorious sun-baked
minutes. There’s nothing better than being able to access open space within a
few miles or less from one’s front door!

While
I stuck to running flat and fairly easy trails on my weekend trip, the mountains
surrounding Boulder
offer challenging routes for more adventurous outings. And when finished
running, Boulder
offers a broad selection of delicious restaurants to satisfy any athlete’s appetite.
If you’ve never been to the area, Boulder
is definitely worth considering for a fun & fit getaway!

–
Holly Bennett