This weekend I am sadly missing one of the all time greatest things Utica has to offer: the 15K Boilermaker Road Race. Of course, I am missing it for a very good, family reason, but the fact remains. Missing it.
I was never really aware of the Boilermaker as I grew up in Rome, when I only ran when forced to by circumstances. After I joined the army and learned to love running, my father suggested I run the Boilermaker, but nothing ever came of it till I had left the army and gotten fat and sedentary. For a couple of years, while I ran sporadically to keep my qualification to the National Guard, I kept saying, “Oh, I’ll run the Boilermaker one day.” Finally in 2009, several years out of all armed forces, I decided to do it. I started training in March, and I ran it. I registered late and had to pay an extra $15. A co-worker said, “That’s fifteen bucks that’ll say: ‘I ain’t quittin’!'” As they say, true dat.
What a fun race! Yes, it’s long and yes, it’s hot. There are hills. Quite frankly, nothing to frighten someone who ran in Monterey, CA or who trained by running up to Herkimer County Community College (I did both). And what support! Every step of the way there are people cheering you on. Bands are playing. People are waving signs and ringing bells. Somebody hands out popsicles. Every mile there are people handing out water or ice cubes.
If the spectators ever get boring — and I never saw them do that — the other runners will entertain. My first year I saw a man in a super hero costume complete with cape and a girl with a martini glass on her head. At least, it may have been a cosmopolitan glass. I drink martinis. While running through the golf course I had to sprint briefly to catch up with a fellow whose shirt said, “Slow and steady still gets us to the beer at the end of the race.” I just had to let him know he had inspired me. Kind of ironic: I sprinted to admire “slow and steady.” I like that.
I could go on and on about the Boilermaker. In fact, I think I will. I see my word count is over 300 and I like to keep my blog posts short. I will make tomorrow’s post about my second year running the Boilermaker. And just wait till 2012.
Mohawk Valley Girl 