An annual tradition on Memorial Day in Boulder is the BolderBoulder 10k. Although I didn’t run it this year, it was one of the first things I did after moving to Boulder in 2008.

Here’s what some people think about the event…

Clare Tischer – “I’ve lived in Boulder since 2007 and have had the joy of running the Bolder Boulder for two of the three years I’ve been here. As of 2010, the average runner’s age is 44. If that isn’t motivation to strap on your sneakers, I don’t know what is. Besides the fact that it’s incredibly well-organized and attended, it consists of a little of everything I love about this town: fitness, dramatic age gaps, the amazingly cold (although domestic) beer at the finish line. Most importantly, it’s about each individual’s personal best. Want to run a sub-40? Do it. Walking the entire course? No big deal. From Mile 1 to 6.2, every participant is being cheered on by all walks of life– retired locals in their lawn chairs, babies in rompers, CU students slamming beers and heckling runners to try their muddy slip ‘n slides, regardless of your pace. In a community that is consistently rated as fittest and with so many fiercely competitive tri-athletes calling this place home, that’s a really beautiful thing. After my run this year, I joined friends for a lawn party and watched the last few waves finish. At the very end, two women were helping a much older woman (perhaps their grandmother?) walk the course by holding her tightly on both sides. Shortly thereafter, the pros dashed through at lightning speed. You’ve got to love an event that means showing up and being your version of bolder. ”

Andrew Hyde – “Love the energy, community and human performance. Boulder comes out in force and I love being a part of it. Well run, super fun.”

Tara Anderson – “The Bolder Boulder represents everything I love about Boulder: community, people living a healthy lifestyle, artists, performers and gorgeous weather. It’s my own annual tradition and this year was the seventh consecutive race I’ve run.”

Allow me to introduce myself:  My name is Warren Ng and I am one of Boulder’s newest entrepreneurs.  Having just begun my entrepreneurial career, you might call me an entrepreneurial virgin.  While my education and professional experiences have been peppered with elements of entrepreneurism, Napkin Labs is my first leap into the unknown associated with how to create a successful company.  While the idea was very much there, the execution needed help and in the few short months that my business partner and I have dedicated to Napkin Labs, we’ve accomplished a great deal because of the camaraderie and support of the startup community in Boulder.

Immediately, in many of our preliminary conversations to suss out the viability of our business, a few names who have been pivotal to creating the startup community I’m writing about came up which include Brad Feld, Andrew Hyde, and David Cohen to name just a few.  Through these contacts, we were quickly welcomed and assimilated into the diverse community of experienced entrepreneurs who approach business in a “pay it forward” sort of attitude. Each of the contacts we met with felt the need to help others as they had been helped early in their growing careers.  These sort of interactions happened multiple times a day and has resulted in success at a pace that would have otherwise taken many more months if not years to arrive at had the community not lent the support to Napkin Labs as it has.

For the support received to date, thanks goes out to all!  I look forward to the day that I too can pay it forward.

So what does all that mean.  If you are considering taking the entrepreneurial plunge or have just done so never hesitate to reach out.  Schedule as many meetings as you can to learn from those around you.  Don’t be afraid to reach out to those you’ve never met.  You will quickly find a welcome committee in response to your requests.

No longer should it be difficult to get time with VCs or advisors; remember it is you the entrepreneur that offers upside potential.  It’s VCs like Brad Feld who get this and know that with some advising they can help.  Thus programs like http://winterinthebunker.com/ where world class advising is offered for free and Entrepreneurs Unplugged where slice of life interviews are open to the public are popping up more and more across the entrepreneurial centers spread throughout the states.

The approach to entrepreneurism has been redefined and the barriers that have once prevented it have now dissolved due to the support of startups.  How do you support startups?

More about the author:  Warren Ng is the co-founder of Napkin Labs, a product innovation consultancy that utilizes a crowdsourced approach to innovation to enable breakthrough ideas to bubble up at the intersection of diverse thinking as consumers and experts in all fields.  For more information about the author or Napkin Labs visit www.napkinlabs.com or follow on Twitter: @warrenng or @napkinlabs.