After 9.3 Miles, This is What's Left

From elite athletes to first-time runners, everyone crosses the same finish line. And every face tells a different story.

It’s 6 am, and I’m standing in the middle of Court Street in Utica, NY. A news crew has set up a temporary reporting desk with their cameras and lights off to my right. Crowd barriers are lining the street. On the other side of the finish line, temporary spectator seating has been set up. The side of the finish line where I am is the goal. This is where the emotions come out, where the spent runners feel their own personal triumph. It’s July, and this is the finish line for the Boilermaker Race in Utica, NY.

The only people here at this time of morning are the volunteers. There is a lot of activity, with people getting prepared. The finish line crew is getting the timing system up and going. The medical tent is coming alive with EMS personnel. Security is in place. And the news crews, along with photographers covering the race, are getting in place to be ready when the runners arrive.

The first race, the 5K, starts at 7:15. Then the 15k starts, beginning with the wheelchair division, followed soon after by the runners. The elite runners start at the front and lead the rest of the runners around the 15K (or 9.3-mile) race course.

I have now spent over 20 Sundays in this spot, covering the finish line of this annual event. At the finish line, you see every emotion. But the overall experience here is that of people who have looked forward to this day and to testing themselves on the streets of Utica, NY.

The runners begin to cross the finish line. The elite world-class runners, the amateurs hoping to beat their personal best, and the weekend warriors. They arrive hot, tired, and depleted. Some with their hands in the air and smiles on their faces. Some are barely putting one foot in front of the other. They look for their family and friends, with high fives, fist bumps, and hugs. They arrive wearing shorts and running shirts, and they arrive in an array of costumes. They arrive hearing encouragement from the spectators and the finish line announcer. But no matter how they arrive at the finish line, most of them are looking forward to the post-race party.

The atmosphere of the Boilermaker Road Race is something that always energizes me. It’s the reason I return year after year to photograph the event. And nowhere is it more evident than at the post-race party. People of all races, nationalities, and political leanings come together to celebrate their accomplishments. Running is a mostly solitary struggle. The physical exertion of the race is not something that can be easily shared. But after the finish line, there is an understanding because all of the thousands of people there just did the same thing. They all feel the same thing. It’s time for a collective celebration. Awards, music, food, and beer.

✅ Where to Find Me

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🎒 The Gear Bag - Gear and Inspiration

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I highly recommend adding the book The Power of Photography by Peter Fetterman to your collection. Fetterman is not a photographer, he is an art collector. This book is a collection of impactful images, and commentary on them and the photographers that took them.

I’ve got a few tripods, but I think the one that gives me the most stability in a lightweight package would be the Winston 2.0 from 3 Legged Thing. I’ve actually got a couple of their tripods, and they have held up extremely well.

💬 Closing Thoughts

• You can find out more about the Boilermaker on the organization’s website:

  www.boilermaker.com.