Pitarresi: Tough times don't stop runners

 

Bad economy or not, the Utica Boilermaker Road Race is doing rather well.

 

Very well, really, with 11,728 runners registered for the 15-kilometer race as of today. That’s the second-highest total ever.

 

That surprises me a little bit. Just about everyone has had to tighten his or her belt – oh, how I wish that were literally true for me – and I thought at the start of the year that one of the areas people would cut back in would be recreation. Not so, at least when it comes to road races, which according to most organizers are doing better than ever, and especially the Boilermaker.

 

Why is this? You can go out and run any time. You don’t have to pay to do it. However, road races, and especially the Boilermaker, aren’t just about running. Many of us don’t even think about it, but a sense of community, being able to connect with other people, is a big part of any athletic event. Maybe in tough times, people are drawn to that kind of gathering.

 

I know one thing. The F.X. Matt Brewery parking lot is going to be very, very crowded Sunday when that post-race party starts.