Boilermaker: The Beginning

The genesis of The Boilermaker race began with a celebration of a milestone. Now the great race has reached its own milestone and we're looking back to where it all began. The Boilermaker road race was a way Utica Radiator Corporation could celebrate its 50th anniversary. At less than a dollar a person the original budget was $750... Today, 34 years later it has become and nationally known event. Race Founder Earle Reed says, "As the founder of the race I'm totally happy with it, it's great. And I try not to take credit for it, it was a little group of runners. I ran the race the first year, 56 minutes and change. And I suddenly realized when I was at the finish line that the race director can't be running the race because things are going to crop up as the well cropped up the next year."
                        Despite the minor speed bumps, the race endured and one of the main reasons is because it's all about the community. ECR President and CEO Ron Passafaro says, "I think that's what the whole event is about is something bigger than ourselves. And whether or not it's the committee or whether or not it's those that founded it or the sponsors themselves, this is all about the entire community."

The founder of the famous road race says he wanted to start the event to celebrate that company's milestone but hopes that it has a bigger impact on people today. Reed added, "I think the biggest thing for the Boilermaker is if it changes someone's life for the positive. I'm not saying you've got to run a lot of races, but if someone goes out and runs the Boilermaker and they train for it and they run the Boilermaker and they accomplish that. That to me is the greatest satisfaction, they've accomplished something and they're walking away and if we can raise someone's self-esteem, mission accomplished."

Link for the entry: http://www.ecrinternational.com/giveaway.asp