2024 Boilermaker 15k Recap: More Than a Race?

The motto of the Boilermaker 15k, “The world’s premier 15k event,” is “More than a race.” Truthfully, it made me scoff a bit when I read it on signage at the starting line. While that tagline may sound like a cliché, and indistinguishable from similar sentiments echoed by hundreds of other races, I discovered what that can mean, during the 47^th running of what is, arguably, an iconic race.

Boilermaker history

Growing up, I would accompany my family, almost every July, on a 5+ hour drive to Utica, NY, home of the Boilermaker and for much of my dad’s family—a large, lively, and loving Lebanese bunch.

My parents started running the race in the early 80’s, when they first met. But thirty-some years later I toed the starting line for the first time alongside them and my two brothers. The Boilermaker truly is a family affair—the only race all five of us have run together.

But this year’s edition of the race held added significance. It was the first Boilermaker we would do following the passing of my dad’s sister—my Aunt Leila Massoud Duxbury—after a courageous 11-year bout with cancer. As it poignantly states in her obituary, “Leila was a leader, and an inspiration to everyone who knew her. Always upbeat and happy, Leila had smiles for everyone and flourished most when conjuring up new ways to enjoy life. She was happiest cooking for friends and family and inviting them over to enjoy the many delicious Lebanese and Italian specialties she created.”

Leila turned her passion for Lebanese cooking into a career—establishing Massoud’s Café in 2001 with two of her sisters—Kamleh Kennerknecht and Jamel Sheehan—where she exhibited her excellent culinary and hospitality skills. It’s hard to pick just one favorite dish, but my aunts’ tabbouleh salad, grape leaves, and falafel sandwich were some of my favorites whenever I had the privilege of dining there—on the house. They would never accept our money.

Although the Boilermaker isn’t a sure-thing every year, there was no doubt we’d all run it this year, in her memory—and to honor an extremely joyful, generous woman. My brother Justin custom designed shirts for us with a silhouette of Leila’s characteristic grin lighting up her entire face. The shirt reads: “Boilermaker 2024: For Leila.”

Each year my family ran the race, Leila and her husband Bob would wake up early, drive to the Parkway, and stand on the sidelines in the front row cheering on runners. Leila and Bob were so gracious to always host my family for race weekend and five months later for Christmas. In the years before my younger brother Jordan and I ran it, they were our ride to the race. We would join them off-course to watch my parents and Justin run.

First Boilermaker

The first time I ran the Boilermaker 15k in the early 2010s, I planned to run it with Justin. Although we started out together, we wouldn’t finish together. Having never raced a race—or done speed workouts—I had no idea what to expect trying to run “fast.” I had never even followed a training plan, opting to run whatever I was feeling on a particular day. I had one pace, and would rarely deviate from it.

Back on that scorching July day, as we eagerly waited for the pistol to fire at the starting line, Justin offered the best racing advice I could have received in that moment: “Just remember, it’s supposed to hurt.” Simple, but at the time it was all I needed to keep pushing forward through unprecedented pain.

About four miles in, I gave him the go-ahead to leave me behind and make his race a solo mission. But even though I no longer had a racing partner, I still had my pacer. I could spot Justin up ahead throughout the remaining five miles. Despite much hurt, I finished with a pace of under seven minutes per mile. I had never run a mile anywhere near that fast before, let alone nine of them.

Despite my disappointment at not finishing with Justin, that race was a turning point for me. I thought, if I could run that fast—relatively speaking—without speed work, just imagine what I could accomplish with dedicated training. Since that day, my love and aptitude for the sport has only grown. Through increased mileage, committed training, and more racing, I learned what it meant to run with purpose. And gradually, I began to develop into a more well-rounded and accomplished runner, with multiple marathons under my feet.

A tale of two races

Fast forward a decade later, and a race time was the last thing on my mind. I wasn’t running this year’s race to PR. I was running for Leila, and I ran with my wife—a newer runner, who, after years of on-again, off-again running, recently made the commitment to the sport on the heels of nailing her first 10k at the 2024 Monument Avenue 10k in our home city, Richmond, VA.

Just as I trained alongside her for months and ran the 10k with her, I saddled up by her side for the 9.3-mile trek. My wife doesn’t run well in heat and high humidity—what runner does? That’s like saying I enjoy buying running shoes—what runner doesn’t? But she really doesn’t run well in the heat. So, naturally, she was hesitant about doing a race in July that’s had notoriously hot race days in years past.

Honestly, I was a bit uneasy about the idea, too. Like, she really doesn’t do well in the heat. But that wouldn’t stop me from pushing her to run it for the first time.

I credit my parents for supporting and encouraging her to start running again and register for and run this race. She heard me repeat the same sentiments so often—about sticking with running—the message was falling on deaf ears. Can’t blame her, I do the same thing. Who doesn’t?

The more, the merrier

This year, my dad recruited one of my extended family members to join us at the starting line for the first time—another reason this was a special race. After years of us failing to entice additional family to run the Boilermaker, my determined cousin George eagerly accepted the challenge to take up running for the first time. He’s discovered it’s a great cross training activity—a nice complement to his intense Jujitsu classes.

Unfortunately, while we gained one racer, we also had one drop out due to an injury. Justin and his wife were unable to make the trip to run the race. To say they were missed is an understatement. This race wouldn’t have been nearly as special without the shirts Justin worked so hard to design.

Redefining racing

Typically, I do just two races per year—two marathons. I’ve already done three races through the first half of 2024—one marathon PR and two “fun races” with my wife. Through racing with my wife, I have come to greatly appreciate race day beyond vying for a PR.

When I’m not stressing over achieving a specific time on race day, I’m more aware of the special event race day truly is. I’m more present while I’m running. I’m more grateful for the privilege of racing, and how fun race day is surrounded by fun people. I realize race day isn’t just about me, it’s about engaging in a shared transformative experience with thousands of unique people—each with their own story.

And the Boilermaker is full of some characters. You’ll see racers dressed in Blues Brothers attire, banana suits, and beer can costumes, to name a few wild getups. One of the biggest 15k’s also draws quite the crowds. There are equal numbers of colorful spectators handing out complimentary beer, popsicles, and cool showers from their hose or sprinkler. Safe to say their water bill will be uncharacteristically high this month. Band after band plays yesterday’s hits and DJ upon DJ blasts today’s hits—a song for all tastes.

Hydration stations are brimming with ice cups—a lifeline for sweaty runners trying to beat the heat—and a PR. My wife sure appreciated it—she held onto ice throughout the race to cool down.

Adorning the racecourse are an array of local hotspots including the Utica Zoo entrance, Utica University, and the picturesque Valley View golf course atop the race’s biggest hill. The Boilermaker 15k ends at founding race partner Saranac Brewery, home of the downtown post-race party and award-winning Adirondack Lager.

More than a race

As I said, the Boilermaker is a family affair, but not just for mine. It’s apt to say, as a twist on Olive Garden’s motto—yes, I’m quoting Olive Garden—“When you’re here running the Boilermaker 15k, you’re family.” (Massoud’s Cafe > Olive Garden.) It really feels like that throughout a course lined with thousands of the most generous, energetic crowds cheering on family, friends, and complete strangers alike. The concerted cheers are a unifying force for the more than 10,000 Boilermaker runners who often run in packs due to the large race size. It makes you feel like you belong at this race and that every runner matters, regardless of any finish time.

While race day began with a scoff at the starting line, I was all smiles by the time we reached the finish line. This was one of the most significant, fun races I’ve ever done. So, yes, the Boilermaker 15k is much more than a race. Like all races, it’s whatever you choose to make it. My family chose to make this race about Leila, a celebration of her life and immense impact on our family.

Although she wasn’t standing next to her husband Bob on the sidelines this year, Leila was there in spirit—in his heart and in all of our hearts—cheering us on as we remembered her big smile and bright-eyed cheerfulness so perfectly captured in her portrait on our race shirts.