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It's Boilermaker Sunday and the Observer-Dispatch will be with you live throughout the day as over 15,000 runners take to the streets of Utica for the 49th annual running of the road race.
Be sure to check back throughout the day, as we'll be talking with runners prerace and after, check in with the crowds cheering them on and, of course, letting you know who wins.
On race day - Sunday - the 5K run sets out first 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.
5K runners can use the west lot at ConMed on Chenango Road and catch a shuttle to the start. Shuttles, running 5:30-7 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 7:45 a.m. Birnie Bus will pick up runners at the corner of Columbia and State streets near the finish line, and near the rear of the post-race party at 409 Court Street and 802 Whitesboro Street.
The annual event reached its entry caps at the end of June with 4,500 runners signed up for the 5K run through the city presented by Utica National and 11,000 for the featured 15K which is presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
The 11,000 entries are the most for the 15K since 2019. The record field was 14,445 in 2017 before entries were capped. As many as 11,895 runners have completed the course in 2014. Approximately 80% of the entered runners complete the race in a given year; 8,472 of 10,687 entrants finished in 2025, matching the highest percentage (79%) since before the 2020 race was limited by the coronavirus pandemic.
Binghamton National Weather Service Meteorologist Adam Gill said the average temperature for the road race weekend to be in the mid to upper 80s.
"It looks like it will be mostly sunny through the day, with cloud cover only being about five to ten percent," Gill explained, adding that Sunday is looking dry with winds of about three miles per hour.
Currently, Gill said there looked to be no signs of precipitation on race day. "The humidity will be on the lower end, but definitely drink water and wear sunscreen."
Weather permitting, an element from the US Air Force is scheduled to conduct a flyover for the 49th annual running of the Boilermaker Road Race.
Should skies stay clear, a KC-135 refueling tanker jet from the 914th Air Refueling Wing out of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will grace the skies above the post-race party, held just outside of F.X. Matt Brewery.
“The Boilermaker is honored to be in a position where our country’s Air Force is prepared to participate in a flyover to help us celebrate the achievements of our over 15,500 participants on Sunday,” said Boilermaker President Mark Donovan in a statement. “In addition to our gratitude to the military and its personnel involved, we are also grateful for the work done by Senator Joseph Griffo and his staff to secure this exciting development for the benefit of Boilermaker Nation.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: It's Boilermaker Sunday. Follow along here for race updates
Continue reading...
Be sure to check back throughout the day, as we'll be talking with runners prerace and after, check in with the crowds cheering them on and, of course, letting you know who wins.
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Race times
On race day - Sunday - the 5K run sets out first 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.
Raceday parking
5K runners can use the west lot at ConMed on Chenango Road and catch a shuttle to the start. Shuttles, running 5:30-7 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 7:45 a.m. Birnie Bus will pick up runners at the corner of Columbia and State streets near the finish line, and near the rear of the post-race party at 409 Court Street and 802 Whitesboro Street.
Boilermaker draws runners
The annual event reached its entry caps at the end of June with 4,500 runners signed up for the 5K run through the city presented by Utica National and 11,000 for the featured 15K which is presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
The 11,000 entries are the most for the 15K since 2019. The record field was 14,445 in 2017 before entries were capped. As many as 11,895 runners have completed the course in 2014. Approximately 80% of the entered runners complete the race in a given year; 8,472 of 10,687 entrants finished in 2025, matching the highest percentage (79%) since before the 2020 race was limited by the coronavirus pandemic.
Weather is looking good
Binghamton National Weather Service Meteorologist Adam Gill said the average temperature for the road race weekend to be in the mid to upper 80s.
"It looks like it will be mostly sunny through the day, with cloud cover only being about five to ten percent," Gill explained, adding that Sunday is looking dry with winds of about three miles per hour.
Currently, Gill said there looked to be no signs of precipitation on race day. "The humidity will be on the lower end, but definitely drink water and wear sunscreen."
Air Force flyover planned
Weather permitting, an element from the US Air Force is scheduled to conduct a flyover for the 49th annual running of the Boilermaker Road Race.
Should skies stay clear, a KC-135 refueling tanker jet from the 914th Air Refueling Wing out of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will grace the skies above the post-race party, held just outside of F.X. Matt Brewery.
“The Boilermaker is honored to be in a position where our country’s Air Force is prepared to participate in a flyover to help us celebrate the achievements of our over 15,500 participants on Sunday,” said Boilermaker President Mark Donovan in a statement. “In addition to our gratitude to the military and its personnel involved, we are also grateful for the work done by Senator Joseph Griffo and his staff to secure this exciting development for the benefit of Boilermaker Nation.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: It's Boilermaker Sunday. Follow along here for race updates
Continue reading...
