The Boilermaker Road Race steps off on Sunday in Utica and organizers discussed what they want for the future of the popular 15K.

Thousands of people from all over are getting ready for this weekend's Boilermaker.

The race has come a long way from when it started with Earl Reed of Utica Radiators wanting to give back to his community. But even when it started, there was a hunger beyond Reed’s for the event.

“In an age of no internet, no anything, somehow this crew of Boilermaker people got approximately 800 people to come from all over the country. The winner came from Colorado," Boilermaker Road Race President Mark Donovan recalled.

What You Need To Know

  • Thousands of people are getting ready for the Boilermaker this Sunday

  • The race has come a long way from when it started with Earl Reed of Utica Radiators

  • The hope is for the race to continue to grow, as the cap increases since the introduction of COVID-19

Boilermaker Race Director Jim Stasaitis has been involved with the race for 40 years.

“Back then it was ‘78, it was a running boom and there were a lot of serious runners. The recreational runners weren't that prevalent at that time. So these were all serious, hardcore runners," Stasaitis said.

Prior to COVID-19, the race grew and grew.

In 2019, there were 19,000 racers. The Boilermaker hit a reset button after the introduction of COVID-19, but it’s growing and raised the cap this year. There will be a total of 8,500 runners for the sold-out 15K race and 3,500 for the 5K, an increase of 20% over 2022.

“You give people a good time, they go home and they come back the next year with a friend,” Reed said.

"And that's the track we believe we're on. If we have another year of 15 to 20% growth next year and another year after that, we will be back to where we were in 2019," said Donovan.

The Boilermaker president, however, hopes the race keeps its small-town feel. Despite the sea of racers, he said it’s the spectators who keep that feeling alive.

“All the folks who have been coming out for years, we need you to come out. You know, you helped last year's female winner win. And this year, last year's male winner set a record in the event he's coming back. So come on out here, cheer him on and everyone on, and we'll continue to be a part of it," Donovan said.

The Boilermaker Road Race is Sunday.