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October Won’t Stop The Boilermaker Road Race October Won't Stop The Boilermaker Road Race

A 15K With More Than 300 Feet Of Change In Elevation, It's A Race Like No Other

By Anthony Ruggiero

Runners cross the finish line at the 2019 Boilermaker. They continue down the street to the post-race party with live music, food and beer.
© 2019 Anthony Ruggiero

UTICA, N.Y. (NCC News) – Moved from the second Sunday in July to the second Sunday in October, the Boilermaker Road Race is ready to bring life to the city of Utica.

Known as the event of the summer, the usual 19,000 runners, tens of thousands of spectators and volunteers, and many more attendees of the post-race party will be a little bit different this year.  Mark Donovan, president of the road race, said this year’s race was moved back to October due to concerns with the coronavirus.

“We settled on October to give the race its best chance of happening in person,” said Donovan.

The world-renowned 15K race has almost 7,000 runners this year, along with over 400 running virtually. Participation in the race is limited to those who are vaccinated for the coronavirus.

The event not only drives the city of Utica, but it brings people together. Donovan said that people take off weekends and even the whole week in July to get back to the area.

“The Boilermaker is known as Christmas in July, and the point of that is that is when families get back together,” said Donovan.

The event can bring people together in more ways than one. It is one of the largest events in Central New York since the beginning of the pandemic.

Local spectators who have seen the race evolve over the years come out and sit in the same spot every year. Leo and Maria Callari have stood on the corner of Cliff’s Market on Culver Avenue at the first mile marker since the first Boilermaker. Kids have signs saying, “hit to power up” all along the course, as each runner that taps their sign evokes an even bigger smile on their face.

Runners who cross the finish line will receive a finisher’s medal, along with enjoying some water and chocolate milk. They then walk down Varick Street to the Boilermaker’s post-race party, restricted to registered participants because of the coronavirus. Saranac Brewery, a major sponsor, handed out free draft beer to people of legal age at the party.

The start times are 7:30 for the 5K, 8 for the wheelchair 15K and 8:15 for the 15K, all in the a.m. Results will be posted online around two hours after the race.

Anthony Ruggiero:
ALMOST SEVEN-THOUSAND RUNNERS WILL TAKE THE STREETS ON SUNDAY FOR THE NATIONS SECOND LARGEST 15-K. THOUSANDS MORE WILL BE SURROUNDING THE STREETS CHEERING ON SOME OF THE NATIONS BEST RUNNERS, AS WELL AS THEIR FRIENDS. BOILERMAKER PRESIDENT MARK DONOVAN SAYS THE RACE HAS A BIGGER MEANING BEHIND IT.

Mark Donovan:
“The Boilermaker is known as Christmas in July, and the point of that is that is when families get back together.”

Ruggiero:
THE RACE WAS MOVED FROM THE SECOND SUNDAY OF JULY TO OCTOBER TENTH. THE BOILERMAKER IS RESTRICTED TO VACCINATED PEOPLE ONLY AND THE POST-RACE PARTY IS JUST FOR THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING. DONOVAN SAYS THE LIMITATIONS WERE NECESSARY TO HOLD THE LARGEST EVENT IN CENTRAL NEW YORK SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

Donovan:
We settled on October to give the race its best chance of happening in person ”

Ruggiero:
THE 5-K WILL START AT SEVEN-THIRTY, THE WHEELCHAIR RACE AT EIGHT AND THE 15-K WILL BEGIN AT EIGHT-FIFTEEN. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN, BUT THAT WON’T STOP A SEA OF RUNNERS FROM CROSSING THE FINISH LINE. ANTHONY RUGGIERO, N-C-C NEWS.

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