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JF
3100 Posts |
 Posted - July 15 2024 : 11:19:27
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The Utica Boilermaker continues to see its overall participation go down. If you recall, there used to be a time where you had to be at your computer in March to enter as the spots--14,000 of them--would fill up in a day.
That is not the case anymore. Yesterday, just 7,967 finished the 15k grind, while another 3,663 completed the "newer" added 5K.
Road races are becoming like TV ratings. There are still plenty of people watching the NBA Finals, but not as many as there used to be. 11,630 is still a healthy number, but are the halcyon days in the rear view mirror?
What are the reasons for this? Is it because fewer people race? A runner who runs 9:30 pace for training and in races, might say why bother? Why should I pay $60 to run the same pace that I would if I just went out on my own?
Are the ever-increasing prices resulting in runners skipping more events because they have to be more selective? Do they budget and decide which races to run and which to skip?
Ten years ago (2014), there were 4,142 5K finishers and 11,891 15k finishers. We have seen a 27.5 percent drop in that span; are Boilermaker officials concerned?
The Boilermaker is more than a race, it is an event. If you've ever run it, you know how great it is. It's always hot and humid, but runners expect that in Utica on the second Sunday in July so that can not be used as a reason for the decrease.
But, be fair, they've lost more than a quarter of their runners in 10 years?
What do you think the reasons are?
John Furgele |
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petesomer
38 Posts |
Posted - July 15 2024 : 14:19:08
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I'm not going to pretend to give you answers, but I do know that the 15K was capped at 8000. Still a good crowd and well worth the drive
Pete |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - July 15 2024 : 22:38:12
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8,000 since when?
John Furgele |
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marty farrell
446 Posts |
Posted - July 16 2024 : 08:39:09
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I would guess the price of these races has a lot to do with it. I used to run 25-30 races a year when the cost was 20-25 dollars but some of the 5ks these days cost over 40 dollars which is ridiculous. I still will do the Turkey, Trot, Shamrock and a few other fun ones and races for good causes but would rather run with friends at Flying Bison, Runners Roost or the Ridge and go for beers or breakfast after.
marty farrell |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - July 16 2024 : 12:02:06
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Pete--I just received an email from the Boilermaker RD---the cap this year was 19,000 for both races. He didn't break that down, but it was always 14,000 and 5,000.
I can share the email if desired. Since you ran, how much was the entry fee?
John Furgele |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - July 16 2024 : 12:18:21
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Marty---the cost of races does have an impact. There is no doubt that the running industry has leveled off. That's not only my opinion, but was referenced by the Boilermaker race director.
You'll still have plenty of races to choose from, just not as many. I see that out here in Saratoga--
Some races will go the way of the typewriter. It still shocks me that Run the Burgh is no longer. That race used to get 1400 finishers and also began the Smith-Furgele Feud, but after cancelling in 2020 and then in 2021, decided to never return.
If a race that popular can't make it back.....
Obviously, there are many reasons why. When you go dark for 2 years, lost can happen--family stuff, kids, and those that volunteered may not have the time to do so anymore. And, we know it's tougher to get volunteers these days.
John Furgele |
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petesomer
38 Posts |
Posted - July 16 2024 : 16:33:18
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Yes John I would like to see that email.
I honestly don’t remember what I paid as I signed up last fall.
Pete |
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petesomer
38 Posts |
Posted - July 16 2024 : 17:10:00
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John I paid $55
Pete |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2024 : 00:36:51
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Thank you for reaching out and concern.
As you might well imagine, we follow the numbers closely on our end for obvious reasons. What we can share is that as a general statement and excluding major marathon events, the running industry had leveled out in terms of the massive growth it had seen in previous decades. However, for an event like the Boilermaker, hitting our race caps year in and year out coupled with really not having space to grow beyond our overall 19,000 cap, we were doing fine.
We would point you to once in a lifetime pandemic of 2020 - 2021 which disrupted the road racing industry and world in major way. We could not hold an event in 2020 so we went from about 18,000 registrants in 2019 to zero in 2020. There were many road races across the US which did not survive the negative effects of the pandemic. The Boilermaker feels incredbly fortunate to not only have survived, but to now be in a solid, incremental year over year growth trend as we work to rebuild.
Here are our post pandemic 15K & 5K combined registration numbers for your reference:
2021 7,159
2022 10,714
2023 12,764
2024 14,461
We are obviously pleased with this positive trend and this years demand, but will continue to follow it closely as we go forward.
Thank you.
Boilermaker Marketing
John Furgele |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2024 : 00:41:46
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As always--and probably correctly--the RD is always going to reference number of registrants and the stats show that registrations are up.
I like to use number of finishers and those numbers are down. We're both spinning it to emphasize our particular viewpoints, but are there really 2,831 people that signed up and didn't finish or even show up?
Much kudos to Jim for responding to me. Like him, I want the best for local running and he appreciated my thoughts and concerns.
John Furgele |
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petesomer
38 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2024 : 06:41:23
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John I don’t disagree with you but he never says registration was still open.
The registration cap for the 15-kilometer race is 10,000 for 2024. That’s up from 8,500 in 2023, an 18% increase. However, it is still below the pre-COVID-19 pandemic cap of over 14,000. There’s hope in future years that the race cap might reach that again.
The 5K returns to its traditional cap of 4,500, up from 3,500 in 2023.
This was from the Rome newspaper. Personally I hope they never go back to 14000.
Pete |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2024 : 09:32:57
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I assume that you think 14,000 is too many? It truly is a great race. I'll assume that the crowds were great and enthusiastic despite the fact that they lie by often saying, "this is the last hill."
The 5K had 3,663, more than the 3,500 cap. Perhaps that's because 15 runners do have a option to "drop down," if they do so by a certain date? If I go back, it would likely be the 5K (I know, sad).
I did a lot of work in Utica from 2001-2009, it's a nice town, a little bit like Buffalo. Outsiders poo-poo it but those that live there, like it and there's more to do than you think. Excellent restaurants, too.
John Furgele |
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JF
3100 Posts |
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TonawandaRunner
55 Posts |
Posted - July 17 2024 : 09:44:00
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Here are the WNY numbers year to date:
2020
Races: 20
Finishers: 6,277
Avg. # of Finishers: 314
2021
Races: 37
Finishers: 5,479
Avg. # of Finishers: 148
2022
Races: 99
Finishers: 23,248
Avg. # of Finishers: 235
2023
Races: 114
Finishers: 26,273
Avg. # of Finishers: 230
2024
Races: 129
Finishers: 29,036
Avg. # of Finishers: 225 |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - July 18 2024 : 09:27:38
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Are you (and I assume you are) including the 2023 Turkey Trot in your figures?
John Furgele |
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TonawandaRunner
55 Posts |
Posted - July 18 2024 : 14:54:40
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| No, these numbers are for each year through July 17. |
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Utica Boilermaker--
