Author: Janice Laikwan
(Editor: Harold P)
Event Name: Boilermaker Road Race 2024
Event Date: July 14, 2024
Location: Utica, New York
Synopsis: Memorable: the unforgettable cheers, and encouragements from the crowd! Most Memorable: the helicopter, and airplanes cheering us from above!
Briefly describe the overall venue & course: Pro: A lot of water stations! Not only from the event organizers, but also from the residents of Utica! Unbelievable how I stayed hydrated throughout the 15KM. Con: The course is narrower than I have experienced in the past. You may want to expect a lot of people on top of you at the beginning of the race, but it gets better!
How was the weather?
At 8AM, the weather started great with a little breeze. It got super hot during the race afterwards! So if you do not want to be roasted, run faster ;)!!!
My Race Experience:
Start of the race: After my bathroom and tie up my shoes rituals, the National Anthem of USA started playing, but wait up, it was instrumental! That was a first for me, and so beautiful! Hold on! not done yet! Have you ever seen a helicopter fly over your head? Wow I did! A helicopter flew so close to my head! Amazing!! Okay, now, on the race course, before even crossing the start line, people started to run and I was so confused, but I walked to slowly find my rhythm and pace.
During the race: For about 2KM, I was getting bump and sometimes pushed by people. However, it was not their fault. The roads were narrower and there were no other places to go since a lot of people were already on the sidewalks hahaha
For about 5KM, the first big famous hill that I heard from Yvonne! OMG it was a big hill! hahaha I am exaggerating! In the moment, it looks super big because I could see the others runners so tiny going down the hill as I was starting to go up! Yep, definitely big seeing it, but running it was not so bad if you stay hydrated! I had to take one gel on that hill since I needed a boost of energy to get to the top. Weeeheeeeeee!!! after the hill, you go down down down, baby!!! Careful the knees though 🙂 I saw Face as I was going down that hill! Congratulations again Face! It was nice seeing twice during my race and you always had a smile and high-five others on your way down!
The other 9KM was smooth with ups and downs! As you go up, you must do down eventually! It was pretty much a roller coaster; up we go, down we go! Nonetheless, I was enjoying the sceneries of the beautiful city of Utica and their banners! As you enter different part of the city, a banner would say “Welcome to East, West, South or North of Utica”! Although I did not have my name on the bib, I was seeing the look and stare of the crowd cheering for me and I believe they were saying “you’re almost done!” At least that’s my brain is telling me! (I had another 5 KM to go HAHAHA)
Last 1.5KM, usually, when you turn at a curve and think you saw the finished line! Well that was me. I thought that I was actually done as a curve. NOPE! not done yet hahaha 700m left and I finally saw that finish line, but hold on! Their was a small hill at the end! 😉
After the race: one word = Freebies! Ohh wow so many free stuff that the little grocery bag they gave me did not handle that hahaha
I saw Judy first! waiting by the stage and food meeting area. I was so happy to see everyone after the race and drank one beer or two with them. Oh boy, that second beer hit me fast! So I was done! As for Heather, wow! 4 beers right? Yvonne 5 beers?! hahaha kidding
I had the pleasure to share my race experience with the RunK2J runners present during the Boilermaker Road Race 2024! But that’s pretty much sum up my race experience to you in this race report 😉
Would you do this event again?
Absolutely yes! Although it was super hilly and hot, I had so much fun running this course. The feelings are indescribable as you have to run it to experience the satisfaction to finish it and the cheers of the crowd to understand how I felt!
Would you recommend this event?
Absolutely yes!
Not only it’s a great event to have fun, but to connect with other runners! I had a blast sharing a room and car ride with Susan, and sitting by the pool with Judy, Yvonne, Susan, and Mike! Of course, the supper with Heather, Ify, and Randy.
Ahh, I certainly cannot forget the geocaching with Harold! As everyone was looking at the beautiful lake and color changing of the sunset, he was looking under a bin; yes! a trash bin hahahaha!!! All a sudden, we found Mike lifting the bin as well!
Everyone could not resist and laughed, but we embarked in Harold and Mike adventures and started to geocaching as well HAHAHA!!! Fun time!
Closing thoughts. Any hints for others planning to do this race? Where to stay? Things to bring? What to wear? :
It was only their 47th anniversary and it was super spectacular. I cannot imagine how their 50th anniversary will be! As such, I plan to go back on their 50th anniversary 🙂 Would you guys want to join me? 😉
Where to stay? Red Roof Inn & Suites Herkimer! Although the bed was so so, the pool was amazing! The people let the runners to use their shower and pool even after we checked out!
Things to bring? Bring your swimsuits!
Overall Venue Rating: :
5 – Monumentally Awesome
Please rate the course:
5 – Excellent
Run K2J 