UTICA, N.Y. -- There couldn't have been a more beautiful day for this year's Boilermaker Road Race.

About 19,000 runners packed the streets in Utica Sunday morning for the 5K and 15K races, with thousands more spectators cheering them on along the route.

This was the 41st Boilermaker.

Runners come from near and far to participate in what has become a beloved tradition for many.

"You can tell the whole community completely rallies around it. You can feel it like every mile, so it's really a great race for that, a great community-based race," one runner said.

"Yeah, this is hands down the best post race party. I mean, we run all over the place and we love the community up here," said another.

And it was a very memorable Boilermaker for one couple, who got engaged at the finish line. 

 
For Kevin Unser and Taylor Arcuri, the party was delayed slightly as Kevin had one more task before enjoying the post-race activities. Kevin proposed to Taylor as she crossed the finish line after completing the 9.3 mile run.
 

"We didn't much this year, but we did great," said Unser. "It was probably the best Boilermaker ever."

If you missed any of the 2018 Boilermaker Race, Spectrum News will be re-airing the race at 7:30 p.m. Sunday night.