Boulderthon’s Economic Impact Nears $23 Million in New Report

January 30, 2026

In just its fifth year, Colorado’s premier fall running event draws 15,000 runners, 50,000+ attendees and generates millions for Boulder community

BOULDER, Colo. (January 30, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ — According to a new report from Visit Boulder, the Official Destination Marketing organization for the City of Boulder, the 2025 edition of Boulderthon generated an estimated economic impact of $22.8 million in total. They also noted that the race supports over 6,400 jobs with the strongest effects in lodging, food/beverage and retail spending. The report estimated that $8.9 million in impact was created directly in the Boulder community, and $13.9 million in impact was generated indirectly in the region.

“Community events like Boulderthon offer a unique opportunity to enrich the lives of locals, and to invite more people from around the country and the world to see why we love our home here at the foot of the Flatirons,” said Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett. “Local businesses see a boost, visitors leave feeling excited about their experiences, and the benefits for our city are significant and lasting.”

“Boulderthon is a strategic asset for the City of Boulder and one of our most important annual events. In only its fifth year, Boulderthon now drives nearly $23 million in economic impact – supporting thousands of jobs and generating meaningful revenue for our hotels, restaurants, retailers, and small businesses,” said John Tayer, CEO of Boulder Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to welcome runners, fans, and community members from Boulder and around the world, and to recognize the vibrancy, economic vitality, and community benefit this annual event delivers to our city.”

These calculations are generated through an industry tool developed by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, which factors in visitor spending behaviors by event type and includes a competitive set of destinations with similar populations and economic environments. It’s used by more than 350 other cities around the country and globe and has calculated estimates for over 500,000 events.

“Having Pizzeria Alberico and Frasca right at the start line of Boulderthon, it’s been incredible to see how much this race has positively impacted Boulder in just a few short years,” said Bobby Stuckey, owner of Pizzeria Alberico and Frasca, two local dining destinations in Boulder. “What’s typically a quieter fall weekend has become vibrant and full of life. From increased foot traffic to an overall elevated atmosphere, Boulderthon has been a huge asset for our restaurants and for the city as a whole.”

“Boulderthon consistently brings great energy and foot traffic to Avanti and race weekend is always a strong one for our business,” said Hayley Edmisten, director of marketing at Avanti Food & Beverage. “Beyond the sales impact, it’s an incredible community event that brings together locals, visitors and runners of all backgrounds in a way that feels uniquely Boulder.”

The sixth annual Boulderthon returns on Sept. 27 and registration is now open. The 2025 race drew record-breaking participation, as over 15,600 runners from across the nation and the world took to Boulder’s streets for Colorado’s premier fall racing event. This 56% growth over 2024’s total of 10,000 marked a banner year for the event. It was recently featured among the 100 largest races in the United States in RunSignUp’s latest report on industry growth.

For more information on Boulderthon, visit www.boulderthon.org, and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT BOULDERTHON

Boulderthon is a 501(c)(3) community nonprofit founded in 2021 to bring a world-class marathon to Boulder. In only its fifth year, the event generated an estimated economic impact of $22.8 million locally and regionally. The race has grown from 1,600 participants to more than 15,000 participants, making it one of the fastest-growing races in the U.S. The event was recently recognized by USA Today as one of the Top 10 races in the U.S. Outside of race weekend, the organization leads ongoing volunteer and environmental adoption efforts, hosts free year-round community events, and has a program to promote accessibility to racing through no-cost bibs. The race offers a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Run. The marathon is a Boston Marathon Qualifier and a USATF Sanctioned Event, measured by a Level A USATF Course Measurer. For more information, visit www.boulderthon.org.