Remembering the First Utica Boilermaker
July 4, 2012 6:00 AM 
It all started back in 1978 when Earle C. Reed decided he wanted to give back to the community that had supported his long standing family business Utica Boilers (Formerly Utica Radiator). According to Boilermaker.com that first Utica Boilermaker 15K featured some 800 runners and was staged at a cost of—are you sitting down—a whopping $750! The race received a major boost in 1983 when the legendary Bill Rodgers participated for the first of several times and brought nationwide attention to the Utica Boilermaker. This year’s race on Sunday will bring quite a few more than 800 runners from all over the world.
Some 14,000 runners will participate in the 15K with another 4,000 running the 5k. For more on the history of the Utica Boilermaker click here and for a list of the finishers in that very first race back in 1978 click here.
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