Boilermaker Road Race

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The Boilermaker Road Race is a 15 k (9.3 mile) race in Utica, New York, United States. It draws many people from all over the world and has over 11,000 participants.

The Boilermaker is one of the largest 15k road race in the United States. It is a popular event in Utica and attracts a number of competitive and professional runners.

At the finish line the Matt Brewing Company, brewer of the Saranac beers, gives all of the runners free beer.

The race began in 1978 and held its 30th consecutive race in 2007.

The organization is non-profit and is predominantly funded through donations from corporations. One of its main contributions to the community is through the operating of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in Utica.^[1]

The 30th Anniversary Boilermaker in 2007 featured a well-publicized fatality: Sean O'Neill, a 2001 graduate of Whitesboro High School, collapsed and died on Memorial Parkway. Four days afterwards, a group of O'Neill's friends gathered to run the remainder of the race in his memory.^[2] Moreover, this was only the fourth death to occur during the race in its entire history, the others occurring in 1979, 1992, and 2004.^[3]

About Us ^[4] [[The Boilermaker is dedicated to leading the healthy lifestyle movement through exercise and fun. What started in 1978 as a 15K road race with 780 runners is now a weeklong celebration, which culminates in the world’s best 15K, the Boilermaker.

Held in Utica, New York, the gateway to the Adirondacks, Boilermaker Week kicks off with a golf tournament and includes a host of other activities for runners, walkers, the community, sponsors and volunteers. The Boilermaker events, such as the Health and Fitness Expo, the 5K Run, the 3 Mile Walk, the Youth Run, and the newly introduced Miler, allow the community to show visitors from all over the world the best of what the area has to offer.

If you are an avid runner or someone who wants to meet a new personal fitness goal, the Boilermaker 15K is for you. With a challenging, spectator-lined course, the Boilermaker 15K is often referred to as the nation’s best 15K—due in part to the Post-Race Party at the F.X. Matt Brewing Company.

For those who want to experience the Boilermaker without running a 15K, try the 5K, the 3 Mile Walk or the Miler. We offer something for the entire family, no matter what the age or skill level—all with a focus on fun and fitness. Whatever level of participation you choose, you’re sure to enjoy an exciting, one-of-a-kind experience. ]] ^[5]