In partnership with the PLAY Boulder Foundation, the organizations will provide valuable resources to the local running community’s favorite park
BOULDER, Colo. — Boulderthon, powered by lululemon, has announced a new local giveback initiative, which will refresh Tom Watson Park, a known runner’s hub in the Boulder area. Boulderthon will contribute $50,000 to resurface the park’s parking lot, add a water fountain and enhance the grounds and landscaping. Boulderthon has also created an extra incentive for locals to get involved in the community project by pledging to match every community dollar donated up to an additional $50,000. The campaign will run through Dec. 31, with locals having until the final day of the campaign to make their donations towards the Tom Watson Park revitalization. The campaign is a partnership with PLAY Boulder Foundation, the official non-profit partner of the City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Boulderthon officially adopted Tom Watson Park earlier this year. With the adoption of the park, Boulderthon has launched year-round volunteer opportunities that support the space and plans to continue to create initiatives to enhance the locals’ experience when they visit. The park adoption and restoration are a part of Boulderthon’s mission to invest in year-round community events that strengthen Boulder’s running culture.
“The Boulderthon team is committed to not only bringing a world-class running event to Boulder, but also to enhancing the runner’s experience year-round,” said Alexa Squillaro, event director of Boulderthon. “As a Boulder resident, I understand the value behind Tom Watson Park for the local running community, which made the adoption and refresh an easy decision for our next community initiative. Our team looks forward to working with the community to elevate the park to be further enjoyed by locals and visitors.”
“Tom Watson Park is one of Boulder’s great public spaces, a place where people gather, build community, and connect with the outdoors. This partnership with Boulderthon reflects what’s possible when businesses, community members, and the public sector come together to invest in the spaces that connect us,” said Angie Jeffords, executive director of PLAY Boulder Foundation. “At PLAY Boulder Foundation, we believe these collaborations create lasting impact, and we invite our community to help shape the future of this special place.”
Boulderthon’s annual event also makes a notable impact on the local community. Earlier this year, Boulderthon released a report in partnership with Visit Boulder, the Official Destination Marketing organization for the City of Boulder, which found that 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.
The sixth annual Boulderthon returns on Sept. 27, and is expecting another record-breaking participation year. The 2025 race drew over 15,600 runners from across the nation and the world took to Boulder’s streets for Colorado’s premier fall racing event. Boulderthon offers a distance for everyone, featuring a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Run. For those interested in taking part in the 2026 event, registration is currently open.
For more information on Boulderthon, powered by lululemon, visit www.boulderthon.org, and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT BOULDERTHON POWERED BY LULULEMON
Boulderthon, powered by lululemon, is a 501(c)(3) community nonprofit founded in 2021 by Phil Dumontet 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.