Independence Day is behind us and the coming weekend turns the area’s attention to the streets of Utica for the 48th running of the Boilermaker Road Race.
Entries were announced as a sellout Monday, July 7, with more than 15,000 participants registered for the five- and 15-kilometer Sunday-morning runs.
Fewer than 200 spots remained for the Boilermaker Walk on Saturday on Mohawk Valley Community College’s Utica campus.
“We are thrilled to announce that three of our signature events on Boilermaker weekend have sold out,” Boilermaker president Mark Donovan said in a statement. “The 15K, 5K and the Utica National Kids Run are completely full with over 16,500 participants registered. We are excited to welcome and host all of these participants as well as their families and friends for what is gearing up to be another fantastic Boilermaker.”
Registered runners will be able to transfer their bibs the event’s annual Health and Wellness Expo on Friday and Saturday. Limited drop downs from the 15K race to the 5K will also be available.
2024 champions set to defend titles
John Korir and Grace Loibach Nawowuna are among the 15K runners scheduled to run the Boilermaker on Sunday as the 2024 champions defend the titles they won on the streets of Utica.
The 28-year-old Korir, a Kenyan citizen who now resides in Fortville, Indiana, has added wins in the Chicago and Boston marathons since running the Boilermaker in 42:11 to beat countryman Jemal Yimer by nine seconds; Yimer is not on this year’s elite entry list. This year’s entries include Patrick Kiprop, who won Atlanta’s 10K Peachtree Road Race on the Fourth of July, and Wesley Kiptoo who won the 15K Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida, in March, and the seven-mile Bix 7 road race in Davenport, Iowa, last July.
Nawowuna, also Kenyan but residing in West Chester, Pennsylvania, defeated Emmaculate Anya Achol in a photo finish last year with the runners posting matching times of 49:18. Achol will not be retuning, but Nawowuna will face challenges from Veronica Loleo, winner of the 12K Lilac Bloomsday Run in record time in May, and Rachel Chebet, winner of the 2024 Bix 7.
Race Day Forecast
The Weather Channel suggests the possibility of light rain Sunday morning with thunderstorms in the afternoon, but rain or shine, it looks like a warm race day.
Sunday’s races will set out with temperatures in the mid 70s as temperatures head into the 80s as the day goes on. Chance of rain is about 60% over the course of the day with a light breeze.
Boilermaker Weekend
The festivities begin Friday, July 11, with the Health and Wellness Expo presented by Mohawk Valley Health System at Mohawk Valley Community College.
The Expo runs from noon to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. In addition to packet pick-up, runners wishing to transfer their bibs or switch races should check in at the solutions desk.
For bib transfers, either both runners should be present, or one with the other available to speak with a representative on the phone.
Drop-down requests will also be accepted at the solutions desk with approximately 140 spots available.
The Utica National Kids Run takes place at Mohawk Valley Community College Saturday between 8 and 10 a.m., with packet pick-up Friday at the Expo. Races for kids ages 4-12 cover one quarter of a mile, three quarters of a mile and one mile. Participation is free, and all registered participants receive a t-shirt, refreshments and a goody bag.
The Boilermaker Walk, also at Mohawk Valley Community College and presented by Slocum Dickson Medical Group, sets out at 11 a.m. Saturday with courses covering one, two, three and 3.75 miles. Online registration remains available at Boilermaker.com, and participants can register in person at the walk bib pick-up table at the Expo. Registration costs $8.
On race day – Sunday – the 5K run sets out at 7:15 a.m. from the intersection of Burrstone Road and York Street. The wheelchair race starts at 7:45 a.m. with the 15K run 15 minutes later, both starting from Culver and Dwyer avenues.All three races finish at the F.X. Matt Brewery on Columbia Street, home of the post-race party.
Road Closures
Law enforcement agencies will begin closing roads for the races Sunday at 5 a.m. with the full course scheduled to be shut down by 5:30 a.m.
The finish line area – portions of Columbia, Court, Lafayette, Varick and Whitesboro streets – will be closed beginning at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Closing for the 15K will be all of Dwyer Avenue, parts of Culver Avenue, Beechgrove Place and Turner Street, and Route 5S west from the Culver Avenue ramp.
Closing for the 5K will be routes 5, 8 and 12 at Burrstone Road, and Burstone Road from Sunset Avenue to Old Burstone Road.
Intersections will be open to cross traffic until 6 a.m. at Welshbush Road, Sherman Drive, and Albany, Genesee and Oneida streets. Campbell Avenue will be open to cross traffic until 6:45 a.m.
Raceday Parking
5K runners can use the west lot at ConMed on Chenango Road and catch a shuttle to the start. Shuttles, running 6-6:45 a.m., are for registered runners only, and are not open to spectators or race volunteers.
Shuttle service to the 15K start line is available from 5:30 to 7 a.m. Birnie Bus will pick up runners at the corner of Court and State streets near the finish Line, and near the rear of the post-race party area on Whitesboro Street.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Things to know about the 48th running of Utica’s Boilermaker Road Race
Reporting by Jon Rathbun, Herkimer Times Telegram / Times Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
