Utica Boilermaker 15K, N.Y.
Sunday, July 13, 2003Race report from Una...
Date: Tue Jul 15, 2003
Subject: Utica Boilermaker 15k Race Novel
Hi Everyone! This is going to be long!!! So here are the stats should you not want to go any further: 8181 (gun) 8117 (chip) out of 8829 runners
488 (gun) 487 (chip) out of 547 F35-39
Gun Time 1:50:41
Chip Time 1:43:28
11:06/mileI have to say, this past weekend was one of the most fun I've ever had. Felt like I was a kid again on spring break!
Julie and I left Ottawa at 5pm for Utica, in one of the worst rain storms I have ever driven through. Naturally, the climate changed the minute we got on the ramp to the 401. I'll never
understand it. Anyway, we arrived at the US Border to a small lineup. The Border Guard said "Where are you from?" I said "I'm doing great how are you doing?" Julie said "Toronto" and gave me the YOU ARE A MORON look. I heard "how are you". I sheepishly said "Ottawa". He asked where we were off to and I was whooping Utica Boilermaker Road Race. He looked totally disgusted and bored with me and let us on our way. LOL. I am a moron. LOLOther than getting off at the wrong exit (can someone please explain to me what 12S EAST or 5R West means? What are the letters for!!!!) we really had a great drive. We walked into the hotel and I immediately recog'd Jenny. She and DH Mike had just arrived at the Best Western. We hugged. The man at the desk waited patiently for us to get back to registration. We decided to grab dinner at the nearby steakhouse. Dinner was a hoot. Nothing like starting off with, "what would you like to drink?" and be met with:
Mike: What type of beer do you have? (Server recites) Mike orders.
Jenny: What type of non-alcoholic beverages do you have? (Server recites) Jenny orders.
Julie: What type of frozen drinks do you have? (Server recites). Julie orders.
Una: (finding this hysterical) Diet Coke please.Server comes back.
Mike: What kind of salad do you have?
Julie: What kind of dressing do you have?
Una: I'll have from the a la carte menu a baked potato (sour cream on the side), steamed broccoli, mushrooms and bruschetta.Poor Server. An entire table of Meg Ryan's from When Harry Met Sally.
Dinner was good, company was terrific. We laughed so much! Julie documented the experience on film. I think the extent of which shocked our guests! We went back to our room, and Jenny presented me with a box of goodies (fat free Pringles, Tasteycakes, an inspirational book, and a Peter Gabriel T-shirt). They went off to their room, and Julie and I watched Nick at Nite and TV Land. It was close to 3PM before we nodded off.
After breakfast on Saturday Jenny, Mike and their friend Rick took Julie and I for our first Target experience. I cannot believe how inexpensive coolmax and dry fit are in the US!! I bought goodies that can't be had in Canada (baby goldfish crackers?!? Cute!!). We made it back to the room for 1PM to meet Gisele and head off to lunch at Babe's across the street. I thought this was some sort of Hooters establishment, but it was nothing like that (thank you). Well didn't they have a dealie going that if you showed your race registration you got a free pasta meal incl soup or salad! We pigged out. The table was off centre and I whacked my head on the dining light when I sat down. I'm a slow learner. Proceeded to repeat this exercise much to the amusement of those at the table 3 more times. Ouch!!! Rick provided translation services to the server when Gisele exclaimed "whollllllayyyyy shetttt": "that would be French for Holy Sh*T" he says. Hahahahahahahah!! We were pretty loopy and giggly throughout.
Off to pick up the race kits - extremely well organized. We were a little shocked in the car to discover Personal Lubricant in the kit (seems these Utica folk take post race festivities to a whole new level!!), along with the Band-Aids, magazine, pasta, Advil, Tabasco flavored popcorn (YUMMY!!!) and candies, etc.
We got back at the room and met up with Shari, took quick showers and off to dinner we went. The restaurant was "1912" I think, but Julie's photo will clear that up for me if I'm wrong. It was wonderful to see Deb and Harriet again, and to meet Bryan and Daniel. Outside of the restaurant we asked some passers by to take a group photo. I chatted with one of them, and he asked what part of Canada I was from. I was a little confused. He said he picked up the 'accent'. His buddy said, "I didn't hear her say 'eh'." LOL The first guy said, "she didn't, but she definitely has an accent, and she speaks very eloquently... like Canadians". That was a nice thing to say. He was going to run the race as well. He was born in Utica, but has lived in New Orleans for the past 20 years.
Back to the rooms we went, and got ready for race day. Gisele took a whole 5 minutes (leave it to the pros!!!), the rest of us approximately 3 hours. Poor Gisele was beat and trying to sleep while Julie, Shari and I talked fundraising tactics. Nortel silent auction here I come! Gisele sat up and looked at me and quietly said, I can't believe you guys can talk so much. LOL I proceeded to stub my toe twice on the same cot wheel within 5 seconds (I really am a slow learner). Correct me if I'm wrong ladies, but I think we may have seen 1AM.
We didn't want to sleep through thank goodness, and after asking the front desk guy the general manager's name because they refused to extend the checkout beyond noon we surely didn't want a wake up call from them :), Shari and I set our watches, and Shari set the clock radio. 5AM came very fast, the gentle alarm of Shari's watch, the chime and light show of my watch, quickly followed by the racket of the 'not quite on the radio station call number' blast of the song title I can't remember. Could I figure out how to turn it off? Heck no!! Shari finally got it. Julie commented the alarms will be set in future by the people who DON'T wear glasses! LOL Amazingly we were out the door by 6AM.
It was chilly after the heat waves we've experienced! 59F and misting. Once we got out of the shuttle we cozied up to a building to cut the wind. This guy was talking to anyone who'd listen, and putting on temp tattoos of the CDN and US Flags. After a few minutes I realized this was Gary (in from Montreal) who we met at the NCM Penguin dinner in Ottawa! I believe he ran the race with Gisele and Mike. Once everyone was accounted for (I've never seen a portapotty line(s) so long that once you 'go' you get right back to the back of the line because by the time you get to the potty again you'll be ready to 'go' again! Yikes!) we tried to line up for the race. I've never seen so many runners in one place in my life. It was really exciting.
The Star Spangled Banner was sung (I've never attended a race where this was done... I really liked the calm that set over the crowd), the cannon went off and the elites went. We waited. And Waited. Over 7 minutes later I crossed the start line. I had already lost the Penguins I came with! At mile 3 I met up with Jim (my pace bunny from National Capital). We chatted for a mile or so, then he went off. What a lovely course. I was taken aback by the crowd support, the US Flags everywhere, the constant stream of runners, the bands playing along the way, the police and firefighters cheering... I had perma-grin. The golf course had a good hill, I walked 15 seconds or so, trying to save my legs. I expected more killer hills. The view of the Adirondacks was lovely at the top. Then the most amazing downhill going down! Out of the golf course we came upon the zoo, a llama (I was told I couldn't ride him because he was banned from the party due to drinking all the beer some years back), a donkey and an owl. I got a few "Go Canada"'s from the crowd as I was tattooed with a couple of little maple leafs on my arm.
We passed the college, 'Vermont' had told me the college hill was brutal. I had no problem with it! 'Vermont' passed me prior to the hill and said: 'c'mon 'Ottawa', here's the college hill!'. On this hill I was passing people, a lot of them. Before I knew it the mile 9 marker was there, the crowd was thickening (people really get into this!!!) and I was at the finish! I was totally thrilled with my time, especially when I realized that I could have pushed so much harder. Very cool!! I snaked my way to our meeting place as the awards were being given out (of the top twelve men, 11 Kenyans, 1 South African they said) the National Anthem was sung again, the F16's flew by (what a RUSH) and the fireworks were set off. As soon as that was finished the band on stage broke into "Living in America" and the place was hopping.
The race director walked by me (unless he borrowed the shirt!) and he asked me if I was having a good time, to which I responded - you guys sure know how to throw a race!! We all reconnected, had some lunch, some free (sponsored by a brewery you know!) beer (only a few sips, I really don't like beer), and before we knew it it was time to go! I raced over to finally meet/hug Mary D, who said she had a great race, Julie somehow connected with one of the photo guys from the night before (what part of Canada are you from) who also had a great race, and Jim (pace bunny from Ottawa). How the heck can we find people in a crowd of 10,000 runners on top of the volunteers! Amazing!
Julie and I tried to buy some beer for gifts on the way out, but even begging didn't sway the ladies behind the cash to break the NY state law of beer sales before noon on Sundays. But it was 11:42!! We settled for pop made by the brewery.
Got back to the hotel, showered, said our goodbyes and off we went.... Down the wrong highway. Oops!! Once we turned around, got gas, and got on the right road it was smooth sailing. No problem at the border back. The very young border guard asked the pertinent questions (I was much better this time) and Julie confessed to buying "this watch and candy bars". He smiled and let us go.
This was the best race weekend so far. I will definitely be there next year! Thanks so much, again, Shari for taking care of the logistics, and Julie, for footing the bill till your statement comes in!
Una :)
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