Posted: May 9, 2004

Athletics: Bolder Boulder Collecting Used Running Shoes

BOULDER, Colo. - (May 8, 2004) - Bolder Boulder is once again collecting used running shoes for the One World Running (formerly Shoes for Africa) program. The running shoes collected will be shipped to runners around the world or recycled into athletic surfaces.

"This is the third year we have been a part of the shoe collection program," explained Cliff Bosley, race director for the Bolder Boulder. "The response from our participants has been incredible. Last year after race day we had an entire van full of shoes that we were able to donate to the program."

After coaching and racing in Cameroon, the number of African athletes running barefoot inspired journalist Mike Sandrock. In 1986, he teamed up with elite runners Lorraine Moller, Steve Jones and Arturo Barrios in starting Shoes for Africa. The program recently changed their name to One World Running to better reflect their mission to supply running shoes and equipment to aspiring runners all over the globe including runners right here in Boulder County.

If One World Running cannot use the shoes, they will be donated to Eco-Cycle. Eco-Cycle sends the shoes to a factory were they are ground up and made into athletic surfaces such as soccer, football and baseball fields; weight room flooring; basketball and tennis courts; playground surfacing tiles and padding under hardwood basketball floors.

Shoes are being accepted at the Bolder Boulder store located in the FlatIron Crossing Mall and at the Boulder location at 3054 28th Street (northeast corner of Valmont and 28th Street). Out-of-town participants can ship their running shoes to One World Running, c/o Bolder Boulder, 4571 Broadway St., Boulder, CO, 80304.

For more information about the program, please contact the Bolder Boulder at (303) 444-7223 or email race@bolderboulder.com.

About Bolder Boulder
The Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10K, a Running USA Founding Member, is the 3rd largest timed road race in the country and the 5th largest in the world. The race attracts up to 50,000 runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers, and draws professional racing teams from all over the world to compete for the largest non-marathon prize purse in road racing. The race starts at the north end of 30th Street in Boulder near the First National Bank of Colorado, winds through neighborhoods with live music and entertainment at every corner, and finishes in the University of Colorado's Folsom Field. More than 100,000 spectators watch the festivities from inside the stadium and along the course. Every year, the race makes donations to local charities that provide volunteers to help stage the race. Over the years, beneficiaries have included the Boulder Humane Society, Attention Homes, Younglife, Boulder Optimists, local schools, and church youth groups. The Bolder Boulder is proud to be partnered with the following primary sponsors: Celestial Seasonings, Frontier Airlines, Millennium Hotel, New Balance, Seagate Technology, and CarFind USA.

The 26th Bolder Boulder will be held on Memorial Day, May 31, 2004. Visit the race website at: www.bolderboulder.com.