Hamilton Community Prepares for Boilermaker

What do a biologist, an orchestra conductor and a swim coach have in common? Come summertime they -- as well as numerous Hamilton colleagues and co-workers -- lace up the running shoes and start training for the Boilermaker, one of the Mohawk Valley's premier summer events. Billed as the biggest 15K (9.3 mile) race in the United States, the 27th annual Boilermaker will take place this year on Sunday, July 11.

Established in 1976, the Boilermaker has been selected by Runners World Magazine and Roadrunners' Clubs of America as one of the top races in the country. The race began with just over 800 runners and a budget of $750. Now, the Boilermaker is the largest 15K in the nation with more than 10,000 runners. Each year, the race attracts top elite runners from throughout the world, Olympians and world-record holders.

Hamilton College boasts numerous employees, students and alumni who participate each year as runners, walkers and volunteers. As this year's race approaches, Around the Hill asked some of the veteran Boilermaker runners what keeps them coming back and talked with novices on why they're taking on the 9+-mile trek.

Will Cardamone, associate dean of admission, will be competing in his fifth Boilermaker this year. He said, "I like to run competitively. It keeps me in healthy, fit and happy. Also, running is a lot less frustrating than golf!" Will said he runs "all year except for December-March when I cross country ski for fitness, so I guess I have been training since mid-March or whenever the weather broke this spring. I ran the National Distance Running Hall of Fame 1/2 marathon in mid-May and the KAC 10 K in early June," he said. "Since then I have just been keeping myself in shape by running about 25-30 miles a week."

Martine Guyot-Bender, associate professor of French, is running in her first Boilermaker this year. She said she's competing for "the challenge, pushing my limits and seeing other friends and colleagues do it and loving it ( including Ruth Lessman and Sally Cockburn). Everyone said the event is really fun. I only started to run three years ago," she said, "and have tried to improve little by little. Also, it is the first time in many years that I will be in the area for it." Martine said she's been training for the race since Ham Trek (the Hamilton community's first triathalon, held in May).

One of Hamilton's veteran runners is Professor of Biology Ernest Williams, who will be competing in his ninth Boilermaker this year. Anyone who walks around the campus during the lunch hour or the field house during the winter has undoubtedly seen the avid runner. "I run anyway to stay healthy; preparing for the Boilermaker makes me stay healthy; and it's actually a lot of fun to participate in the event," said Ernest. "It's a kick! Most people in the race enjoy the whole experience: getting ready physically for the run, the cheering and support from the sidelines, the sense of community among most of the runners, the post-race party..."

He contends that "The Boilermaker is the biggest and the best of all the races I've been in. And there's no comparison in the quality of the experience. The Boilermaker is run superbly despite having so many runners. Everything is well prepared to support and care for the runners. A large number of volunteers make it work so well."

Ernest shared an anecdote that gives a sense of what it's like to be in the race. "A number of bands and radio stations line the route playing music. Several times over the years, I've run by a radio station playing the oldie 'YMCA,' and there, in the middle of the race with hundreds of runners all around me, most of the runners have started waving their arms in keeping with the music.

Another Boilermaker veteran is Director of Personnel Sarah Steele who counts this year's race as her eighth consecutive Boilermaker. She got involved with the race when "Mary Evans ('82, director of principal gifts) shamed me into doing it the first time. I return each year because the combination of the challenge and great sense of community spirit that comes from sharing the experience with thousands (runners and non-runners alike) makes it an event I wouldn't want to miss," Sarah said. She added "I have found that my daily regimen of short, recreational runs is enough to get me comfortably to the finish line." A half-marathon and marathon are on Sarah's future "want to do" list, she said.

Casey Wick, assistant director custodial services, is looking forward to his first Boilermaker. He moved to Clinton just last year but had heard about the Boilermaker back home in Hazelton, Pa. "As a new member of the Hamilton community it seemed like the thing to do," he explained. Casey said he's done marathons, half-marathons, 5K and 10K races but never a 15K. He thinks "running in a crowd that large will be the most difficult part of it." To prepare Casey runs and cycles and is part of the group who runs each day during the lunch hour.

Jenny Irons

Another newcomer to the Boilermaker is Assistant Professor of Sociology Jenny Irons. She said she decided to get involved because "a real estate agent at Clinton Realty raved about the race when I interviewed here--about its energy and crowds and challenging course. Everyone else has echoed this enthusiasm, and so I decided to participate in this exciting community event," she said. Jenny trained for another race earlier this summer, so is hoping that training holds up!

T.J. Davis, head men's and women's swim coach, will be running his fourth Boilermaker this year. "I love the community aspect of the race. I think it's one of the very best events in Central NY -- period," said T.J. "It's a unique experience that has everyone in the community involved: either running it, volunteering their help with it or just cheering on the runners - there's no better community bonding moment in my book. I also collect pint glasses, and the Boilermaker gives out the best commemorative pint glasses!"

T.J. is a regular runner and did the Chicago Marathon last fall. "That took some serious prep," he recalls. "I've done some speed work on the track and some longer runs, but mostly just running at noon with the gang. I like to tackle some hills for confidence and getting ready to run in the heat is always important. I have never done any other 15Ks - I've done a couple of half marathons, a classic 12-mile trail run four times and four marathons," he said.

Heather Buchman

Heather Buchman, assistant professor of music and conductor of the Hamilton College Orchestra, is preparing for her third consecutive Boilermaker. "My previous usual distance was 10Kk (or a short triathlon), but the Boilermaker is clearly the must-do event around here, and the community spirit is wonderful to experience," said Heather. "And where and when else do you ever feel like drinking beer at 10:30 on a Sunday morning? Amazing! Primarily I do it as a fitness challenge, but the community makes it a memorable experience; it's always one of the highlights of summer!"

Heather said training for the Boilermaker is "always in the back of my mind throughout the year. But this year I've been fairly consistent with training since mid-April, so we'll see. I always like to try to improve my times to defy old age and death!"

Tina Hall, assistant professor of English, said "This is my first Boilermaker--I'm usually not here in the summers, so I've missed out in previous years. I've heard so many wonderful things about this run that I convinced my partner to sign up for it and then he guilted me into signing up too," Tina said. "I've been 'training' for it the past three weeks (this is why I'll probably be walk/jogging!) I've never done any other 15K races but I did do a half marathon a couple of years ago (come to think of it, I walk/jogged much of it as well)."

Jim Schreve

Director of Laboratories Jim Schreve will be running his third Boilermaker. "I run it because I want to be part of a great community event that gives Utica something to celebrate," he explained. "I do a number of different sports year round to stay fit, but I started training/running about a month before HamTrek.

Boilermaker novice Mike McCormick, assistant professor of biology, said, "My wife encouraged me to run the KAC Fun Run with her earlier this summer and that got me out of my office and lab. I have run occasionally in the past and found this to be a good excuse to try and get back into some form of 'good health' after pretty much ignoring exercise my first year and a half at Hamilton," Mike said. "I started jogging two-three times a week at the beginning of May but didn't decide to run the Boilermaker until early June."

Matt Malatesta

Matt Malatesta, associate dean of admission/director of admissions information systems, calls the Boilermaker "the best event that this area puts on each year." He and his wife, Maggie, usually plan a big weekend around the race. "Each year, we have friends come in from other states for it. This year there are only five of us running it, but we've had up to eight or nine some years," he said.

Matt claims to have a good excuse for not putting as much time into his Boilermaker training as he has in the past. "I have a 2-month-old at home," he explained, "so long runs have been few and far between. I'm just hoping the crowd can carry me -- literally! Actually, there is a group that runs during lunch everyday, and I have joined them from time to time," Matt said.

Ruth Lessman

Ruth Lessman, academic office assistant for mathematics and philosophy, is another year-round runner. "It started out as a challenge. I started running about six years ago with the Boilermaker as my goal," she said. "I was thrilled to finish. Now I have many friends who run the race and we like to trade race stories afterward."

Ruth shared her most memorable Boilermaker moment. "I was in my first when I decided to sprint about 20 yards from the finish line and fell flat on my face," said Ruth. "I tripped over my own feet. The race helpers were at my side so fast I didn't have time to get up. With a guy in the crowd yelling 'suck it up and run,' I got to my feet, assured the race crew that I was fine and finally finished my first Boilermaker."

Other members of the Hamilton community who are running in the Boilermaker include Pete Alvanos, Elizabeth Debraggio '07, Pat Donovan, Emily Lemanczyk '05, Ruth Leoniuk '05, John Oles, Cindy Reynolds, Margo Rockwell '05, Gabe Tash '06 and Luke Thornblade '07.