Boulder's legacy – How to build active lifestyles
published in the Boulder Daily Camera, August 2016
Being the smart and forward thinking crowd that we Boulderites are, we feel the heat to show leadership on topics of global interest. On some things, we are truly extraordinary, and – let's not be shy – the world could use our help.
We've spent a lot of energy over the past decade trying to show the world how to solve global warming by, of all things, creating a municipal utility. It appears that this idea isn't working out so well, but trying out edgy ideas that don't always work is part of innovative leadership.
But, this is Boulder and it's important to our identity that we keep pushing edges and dragging the rest of mankind along with us towards a better tomorrow. What else do we have cooking that we might show to others in the interest of making the world a better place?
I have a suggestion...
For at least a generation, Boulder has been finding innovative ways to encourage members of our community to stay active in healthy ways. In a world where couch potatoes and obesity are becoming the norm, Boulder is an extraordinary exception. Maybe the best legacy our community can offer the world is our story about what we have done to help our citizens lead active and healthier lives.
While our ideal location for active living is part of that story, it's more than that. We have philosophies and institutions that build on our geography, and they are what makes Boulder one-of-a-kind.
First, while team sports are great, here in Boulder we also work hard to get our children into activities where they can stay active as individuals. It's not always easy to get a roster together for a football game, but all you need is good shoes for a hike or run. Throw in a bike and a bunch of safe bike trails and you give kids mobility along with their exercise. Then, get them a pool pass at one of our great outdoor pools, some even without the dreaded temptation of ice cream, and get them swimming.
Second, we find ways to turn these individual activities into something we all love – competitive play. In this, Boulder has no equal.
Take the Bolder Boulder. My kids started running the Bolder Boulder when they were five years old and have run almost every year since. This year, they ran it with their children who are all under the age of 8 and have done the Bolder Boulder a few times already. I have many friends with the same story.
But if you really want to see the youth of Boulder compete, spend a summer Saturday morning at a Boulder Valley Summer Swim League meet. This fabulous swim program has energized whole families every summer for generations. What other sport allows kids from the ages of 5 to 18 – brothers and sisters – to all compete on the same team? Thanks to this wonderful institution, a town that sits far from the ocean is full of people who appreciate the joy of laps and open water swimming.
We even have triathlons for kids. Just last weekend, I watched my grandchildren compete in a triathlon along with hundreds of other young children. Watching their excitement before the race, their focus in transition, and the pure joy of running across the finish line assured me that their active lifestyles were well underway.
Third, it's just not fair that the kids have all the fun, so let's join them and make it a family affair. Every Memorial Day I see whole families running the Bolder Boulder and every summer weekend is full of bike races, triathlons, and other outdoor opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Many of us participate and all who do are healthier for it.
Finally, we keep raising the bar of how active we are. Since 1978 when those lunatics in Hawaii cooked up the idea for the 140.6 mile Ironman triathlon, Boulder has grown into the Mecca of the sport and the home of many World Champions. While not all of us have found the inner Superman we need to do a full Ironman, many of us have done a triathlon or two. In many towns in America, this would be seen as an extraordinary feat. In Boulder, it's what ordinary people do.
What we have developed in Boulder to promote active lifestyles is amazing and unique. In a world of screens and computers, we have rediscovered the joy of physical activity. This is much to be proud of and well worth sharing.
Being the smart and forward thinking crowd that we Boulderites are, we feel the heat to show leadership on topics of global interest. On some things, we are truly extraordinary, and – let's not be shy – the world could use our help.
We've spent a lot of energy over the past decade trying to show the world how to solve global warming by, of all things, creating a municipal utility. It appears that this idea isn't working out so well, but trying out edgy ideas that don't always work is part of innovative leadership.
But, this is Boulder and it's important to our identity that we keep pushing edges and dragging the rest of mankind along with us towards a better tomorrow. What else do we have cooking that we might show to others in the interest of making the world a better place?
I have a suggestion...
For at least a generation, Boulder has been finding innovative ways to encourage members of our community to stay active in healthy ways. In a world where couch potatoes and obesity are becoming the norm, Boulder is an extraordinary exception. Maybe the best legacy our community can offer the world is our story about what we have done to help our citizens lead active and healthier lives.
While our ideal location for active living is part of that story, it's more than that. We have philosophies and institutions that build on our geography, and they are what makes Boulder one-of-a-kind.
First, while team sports are great, here in Boulder we also work hard to get our children into activities where they can stay active as individuals. It's not always easy to get a roster together for a football game, but all you need is good shoes for a hike or run. Throw in a bike and a bunch of safe bike trails and you give kids mobility along with their exercise. Then, get them a pool pass at one of our great outdoor pools, some even without the dreaded temptation of ice cream, and get them swimming.
Second, we find ways to turn these individual activities into something we all love – competitive play. In this, Boulder has no equal.
Take the Bolder Boulder. My kids started running the Bolder Boulder when they were five years old and have run almost every year since. This year, they ran it with their children who are all under the age of 8 and have done the Bolder Boulder a few times already. I have many friends with the same story.
But if you really want to see the youth of Boulder compete, spend a summer Saturday morning at a Boulder Valley Summer Swim League meet. This fabulous swim program has energized whole families every summer for generations. What other sport allows kids from the ages of 5 to 18 – brothers and sisters – to all compete on the same team? Thanks to this wonderful institution, a town that sits far from the ocean is full of people who appreciate the joy of laps and open water swimming.
We even have triathlons for kids. Just last weekend, I watched my grandchildren compete in a triathlon along with hundreds of other young children. Watching their excitement before the race, their focus in transition, and the pure joy of running across the finish line assured me that their active lifestyles were well underway.
Third, it's just not fair that the kids have all the fun, so let's join them and make it a family affair. Every Memorial Day I see whole families running the Bolder Boulder and every summer weekend is full of bike races, triathlons, and other outdoor opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Many of us participate and all who do are healthier for it.
Finally, we keep raising the bar of how active we are. Since 1978 when those lunatics in Hawaii cooked up the idea for the 140.6 mile Ironman triathlon, Boulder has grown into the Mecca of the sport and the home of many World Champions. While not all of us have found the inner Superman we need to do a full Ironman, many of us have done a triathlon or two. In many towns in America, this would be seen as an extraordinary feat. In Boulder, it's what ordinary people do.
What we have developed in Boulder to promote active lifestyles is amazing and unique. In a world of screens and computers, we have rediscovered the joy of physical activity. This is much to be proud of and well worth sharing.
