Drew Hunter has not raced the Bolder Boulder 10K. At least not physically.

The elite runner and Longmont resident, has, however, gone through the race several times in his mind, a process of visualization that he says has been a key part of his preparation for his Bolder debut Monday as part of the Team USA white squad.

Visualization is a technique, he said during a press conference last week, that anyone wanting to run their best can use in the remaining days before the race. “I haven’t seen the course yet,” said Hunter, a prep mile star who signed a pro contract out of high school and now, at 27, is moving up in distance. He does know the layout of the 6.2-mile, point-to-point course, its hills, turns and quirks, from talking with his father, Marc, the 1980 Bolder Boulder champ, among others, and he made a date with teammates to run the course beforehand.

“Visualization can help you calm your nerves,” said Hunter, by tamping down the stress we sometimes feel beforehand. “You have done a dress rehearsal. Imagine the crowd cheering you on. All those things can help regular runners.

“When it gets tough, it can remind you that this is where you want to be and this is what you want to be doing.”

University of Colorado alum Carrie Verdon-Ellwood, fresh off an American record in the road 25K, said the Bolder Boulder is a tough course.

As all of you who have run the race know, one difficult spot comes at the 4-mile mark, atop the hill in front of Casey Middle School. Visualizing yourself reaching the hill feeling strong and running hard up the hill and down onto Spruce and Pearl Streets can help you conquer the hill on Monday.

Another deceptively tough stretch is the turn from Walnut onto Folsom Street, past Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Street and up that steep hill into Folsom Field.

During the next four days, run that stretch in your mind, again seeing yourself feeling strong and fresh.

One way to come into the race feeling fresh, says Joe Klecker, another Bolder Boulder tyro and former CU star, is by decreasing your mileage as the race draws near.

Klecker is running 20% less mileage this week and decreasing his workouts from, say, 6xmile to 4xmile.

Emulate Klecker and cut down your mileage so you feel fresh on Monday. As Mackenzie Caldwell of Team USA, another former CU runner and Bolder newcomer, said, “the hay is in the barn.” Meaning, your many months of work for the 2025 Bolder Boulder are finished, and it is time to “trust your fitness.” Of course, you could visualize yourself having fun on Monday, running with old friends, meeting new ones, stopping for some of the refreshments offered along the course, or trying the Slip ’N Slide.

And new this year is an attempt at a “Jort” — a jean short combo — world record at the 3K mark, according to flyers posted around town.

BOSLEY, SHORTER, FORSTER: Friday night runners and fans will have the chance to see three Boulder originals together onstage when Bolder Boulder founder Steve Bosley and 1972 Munich Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter are interviewed by eTown founder Nick Forster in the latest Talk of Our Town event at the downtown eTown concert hall, 1535 Spruce. Tickets: $15, doors open at 6:30 p.m. talk begins at 7 p.m. Details: www.etown.org.

LA SPORTIVA SANITAS CHALLENGE: A community gathering with food and drinks, preceded by a trail run, is set for tonight at La Sportiva, 2100 Broadway, to mark the end of the monthlong Strava Challenge on the Sanitas Clockwise Loop. Four fit runners will take home $1,000 each, based on the fastest lap times turned in during the month, or the most completed loops (male and female), all tracked by Strava. The run kicks off La Sportiva’s Summer Run Series. Tonight’s run starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the giveaways at 6:30 p.m. Runners Roost, In Motion, Shoes & Brews and Fleet Feet are holding group runs, along with Bolder Boulder sales going on all weekend.

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