Around Utica...

Grace Church

Masonic Campus church

Genesee Street former bank Bldg

Corridor in Munson Williams Museum adjoining Fountain Elms

RR Watchtower with Utica Club Brewery in background

Hot Moon

I call it "Hot Moon" because the moon on Saturday seemed to reflect the hot humid weather we had, and will have for the next 4 or 5 days. The dog days of summer are often reflected in the evening sky as well as in the hot steamy sund drenched days and hazy skies of daylight....starting to look forward to the cool of autumn.

Utica Boilermaker 2011; A Testament to The Great Things That Can Happen In This Community!

at the start

mad dash to the finish

Competing in my 26th Utica Boilermaker with 13,000 15K runners from all over the world and the USA, was definitely an inspiring and uplifting experience. The first 2 miles though was an obstacle course as I found myself bouncing off of, and around, runners who seeded themselves in faster groupings.13,000 runners is definitely the maximum number and more thought should be given to policing the seed, and subsequently maintaining the quality and competitiveness of the race. I was seeded 4003(yellow bib) with my previous time of 1:15:51 and finished 2,256 place this year and in 2,457th place last year out of aprox 13,000 runners/11,000+ finishers. Next year if I do run the Boilermaker, I will have reseed myself to get a green bib number to avoid the increasingly large number of much slower runners who seed or get seeded inaccurately. After the "thinning out" of runners by mile 3, the race quality improves dramatically, and you enjoy having space to run and take in the thousands of spectators and entertainment venues on the course. There seemed to be more spectators this year on the course as even formerly barren stretches on Champlin Ave., were lined with hundreds of people cheering us on. The final mile was densely packed with thousands of spectators making the last leg and dash for the finish, an even more exciting and exhilirating experience. The post race party was super, with plenty of entertainment, beer, and plenty of food and drink for thirsty and hungry runners. The big disappointment was the cancellation of the long awaited military jet fly-over, substituted with a lone commercial helicopter which flew over at the appointed time of the jet fly-over. All-in-all, had another great Boilermaker experience and a great time in Utica, NY. The warm and receptive crowds, the Utica scenery and beautiful weather and the great job by the race committee proved that Utica definitely is the "City With A Warm Heart".




Me going the last mile....


My son running in the 5K


With some friends and my son

Boilermaker this weekend!

Can't believe it's Boilermaker weekend already. Seems like yesterday I was running the course last year, and then enjoying a cold beer at 9:30 in the morning. This will be my 26th Boilermaker 15K race and I am looking forward to another exciting opportunity to be a small part of the event. Even if you are not running, get up and grab a cup of coffee support and enjoy this spectacle! The fighter jet fly-over will be a part of this years event once again, as well as the assemblage of bands, thousands of spectators, and 17,000 registered 15K and 5K runners. A great testament to what can happen when we work together in the Mohawk Valley!!!



2010 Boilermaker

This Summer....

Ahhhh, what to do this summer? A few possibilities depending on where your interests lie....

Old and New Forest Cemeteries off Oneida Street in South Utica, is an interesting escape on a hot summer day. But take a walk through time under the canopy of the tall stately trees you will find cooler temps and quiet places next to ponds to reflect. The statues and memorials here are beautiful and thought provoking examples of a by-gone era of craftsmanship,wealth, strong family,locality and religious devotion.



USS Oriskany Monument. Worth a quick picture op visit is the USS Oriskany Monument in the Village green in Oriskany. Dedicated to the aircraft carrier "Oriskany" the monument features one of the ships anchors and a jet from the carrier. There is a small museum there, but was not open when we stopped.



Adirondack Park. The border of the park is less than a half-hour away. The park is the largest park system in the US and is a must see and do this summer, for anyone living or visiting this area. There is much information on things to do and see for just about everyone, so a simple google search will open up a pandora's box of opportunities to camp, swim, kayak, hike-bike-run. Also,the Adirondacks are a shoppers mecca.Places like Old Forge, Lake Placid and Lake George have an exciting array of hotels, restaurants, shopping, theme parks, micro-brews etc. All of which offer a little diversion after a day in the wilderness.