UTICA --
Over the past 33 years, the Utica Boilermaker has gone from a small local run to an internationally respected race that has made Utica a name known to runners everywhere. On Friday, organizers were putting the final touches on this years race and preparing for a record crowd.
Participants say the Boilermaker experience is unlike any other race in America.
"You really feel like every step of the way there's music, there's entertainment, people screaming your name - it's a lot of energy you don't get in just any old race," said runner Dawn Spoljaric.
"You just look back and you see a sea of people and it's just very inspiring," said Don Moberg
The sea of people continues to grow larger. Early boilermakers had only 2500 runners and more than 13,000 people registered for this years race. That's both good and bad news for race director Jim Stasaitis.
"We know with 13,000 runners we need to have enough water cups out there, enough water at each water stop, logistically you have to look at those numbers and plan ahead of time," said Stasaitis.
The recent heat wave played a part in how some people prepared for Sunday morning's race. To avoid dehydration, many Boilermaker runners started taking in extra water a week ago.
"I started on Sunday of last weekend just making sure I had three times the amount of what I would normally drink," said Janna Moberg.
Scott Lochorowic knows a little bit about preparing for the Boilermaker. He has run in 25 of the past 32 races. While he loves the weekend party it has become - part of him misses the days when the course wasn't so crowded.
"All the people is nice but the event itself with all the people on the course - it doesn't make it more fun," said Lochorowic.
Runners aren't the only ones taking the hot weather into consideration. Organizers have put extra ice and cups at all 21 water stops along the Boilermaker course.
