Boilermaker Committee Gearing Up For Health & Fitness Expo

Utica, NY (WIBX) - On the verge of the 34th running of the Boilermaker, organizers are gearing up for the 15th Annual Health & Fitness Expo. The Masonic Care Community is the official host of the Planet Fitness Health & Fitness Expo taking place on Friday from noon to 7:00  and Saturday,  from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30.  Expo Director Crystal Mockey laid out the agenda and what participants should expect. "This year MMA Fighter Matt Hamill will be running the Kids Run on Saturday. Leon Etienne will be doing a magic show in the Administration Building at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. We'll have our Call Mohawk Valley Home tent, which will be featuring The Couch, drawings for door prizes including a registration for the 2012 Boilermaker," she said.

The New York Beef Industry Council will also host the Beef Up Your tent. The group will have two new additions; pride of New York products and the new sub of the run for participants to sample. They will also have push-up and hoola-hoops challenges, and a slew of other health check-ups with dietitians who will be at hand to help with health assessments such as blood glucose, blood pressure, BMI and calorie assessments among a host of other features.

Boilermaker race Director Jim Stasaitis says the packet pick-up booth will have important information about the Boilermaker race. He said, "This year we've combined the 5K and 15K packet pick up, and that's going to be in the gym behind the Templar Building right on Masonic grounds. We want people to get here early to pick up their packet and then partake in the festivities right here on the grounds." Stasaitis says the Boilermaker Runners Easy Pass or the bib numbers are going to contain the antennae for the chip. "And so, we're asking people to not bend, fold or mutilate your bib or else you'll brake the antennae then you won't be registered when you cross that finish line," he said.

Also, organizers say parking may cause some minor delays and are asking everyone to exercise patience. Bleecker street will be closed from Florence Street to Pitcher Street and parking will be available in the OCP Parking Lot of the Masonic Care Community. Tim Reed, Executive Director of the Boilermaker said there will not be a military fly over this year due to military activities in Afghanistan. He also said that due to recent threats to military personell, there will not be a large group of military runners taking part in the road race. However, he added that there will be an airplane flyover but declined to share the details until the day of the event. The 2011 Health & Fitness Expo will feature 70 booth.

WIBX will host a live show from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. from the Health Expo, which can be heard live on-line at, www.wibx950.com or on your radio dial at 950AM.