Bolder Boulder ‘09 - Twitter, Tech, and Bacon
Racing Colorado
Photo by Brian Scaglia, www.scaglia.org
Beer, bands, belly dancers, bagpipes, and yes, even bacon (at a presumably “unofficial” aid station) were all featured in the 2009 Bolder Boulder. These are among the things we expect in Boulder on Memorial Day. One element that Bolder Boulder is known for is the “unexpected”, generally in the form of costumes and antics of runners and supporters alike. Another element that changes from year to year is the role technology plays in the race.
Of course there’s the component most obvious to the runners, the RFID shoe tag. The race has stumbled in this area in the past, but this technology for timing runners seems to be getting more reliable. Results were available immediately after the race (and as of this posting, still are) here. Runners are provided with several pieces of data, including overall time, mile splits, and average pace, in addition to place in division and overall. Verizon also jumped in the fray, offering race results via text message. Text bib to Verizon at 66196.
Television coverage of a mass amateur running race is what it is. Although I didn’t watch, channel 7 was to have live cut-ins within its newscasts all morning, with cameras at the start and finish lines. Streaming video via Internet is getting easier, and the race featured live feeds from about 3 points on the course. While it was a reasonable attempt, the live Internet coverage was only fair. The cycling world has really taken some good strides in presenting live coverage via Internet, as demonstrated in this year’s Tour of California, and even the recent collegiate nationals in Fort Collins. Certainly Bolder Boulder will catch on.
Twitter users were actually a group that provided some real time feedback. Using the hashtags #bolderboulder and #bb09, runners ‘tweeted’ (I hate that word) their experiences, from the crowd, to rice and adzuki bean chips provided in the lunch. Several runners made use of Twitpic to publish their photos, including the popular bacon station. Curiously, the race’s Twitter account, @BolderBOULDER09, posted only 1 tweet (I still hate that word) after their announcement, “6 days to go”.
With all the tech in the background, my sincere props to those who just laced up their shoes, went out, took in the Boulder air, and raced their hearts out, regardless of technology. No iPhones, iPods, i-anything - just the real run that is the core of Bolder Boulder… plus the bacon!
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Hi trying to find an old friend from Scotland, living and working out there… some where? Peter Fleming? former marathon internationalist. Does anyone know where he is now … email address…? Please get in touch…
Frank McGowan.
Frank - almost a year later I wonder did you track Peter down. He is an old school friend of mine - don’t remember you from school so perhaps you know him from somewhere else. I’d like to know how he is doing too.
Cheers!
Frank don’t know if you’ll remember me I ran with Peter at Bellahouston Harriers.Did you get in touch with Peter if so can you let me have his E-Mail address so I can contact him.Last I heard he was in Boulder Colorado.I have a young girl at Warrington Athletic Club who is moving to Denver to live and is looking for a club there.Hoping that Peter might be able to help.
E-Mail me on jbrownrussell26.2@ntlworld.com please
Jim