Years ago, the Boilermaker Road Race's 15K was capped at 14,500. This year, it was set at 8,500 bibs.

Boilermaker President Mark Donovan said the cap was lowered because the number of runners had dropped due to COVID-19.

For example, Donovan said last year a total of a little more than 10,000 runners took part, but that’s combining both the 15K and 5K runs.

What You Need To Know

  • The Boilermaker 15K has sold out, but options for interested runners are still available

  • As of Friday afternoon, runners can sign up for the Charity Bib Program or join a waiting list to participate in the 15K

  • As of Friday afternoon, the 5K still had approximately 800 spots available

“Road racing, overall, the recovery after the pandemic is slower than the industry had hoped. Unless you're the Boston Marathon or the New York Marathon, virtually every other race in America is continuing to grow year over year, which is great," said Donovan.

Even though the 15K cap has been met, people can still do the 15K if they join the Charity Bib Program – which does have a limited number of bibs - or sign up to be on a waiting list which is a first-come, first-serve basis.

The list already has more than 100 people on it and is growing.

“We don't know where we'll be in a few years, whether we'll get back to pre-pandemic levels. But it doesn't really matter. Last year with 10,000 people in this event, you wouldn't have known the difference between 10 and 19. Beautiful day, people had a ball. And honestly, that's what it's all about now," Donovan said.

There are still opportunities for people to run in the Boilermaker 5K.

The 5K’s cap is 3,500 people.