Health, Fitness and Wellness: The Boilermaker Road Race Weekend 2018

Health, Fitness and Wellness: 

The Boilermaker Road Race Weekend 2018

July 9, 2018

Julie Ann Racino, Author and Editor

Policy, Program Evaluation and Research in Disability

   

      In 2001, I met Bob Ingalls, then race director of the Boilermaker Road Race, "the largest 15K in the Nation" and through his introduction, Ed Bradley who served in 1996 on the formation of the wheelchair division (1980,  Utica Observer-Dispatch, July 10, p.19) and its new mission statement in the integrated road race. To both, I am very thankful for their openness and hospitality to "their lives" and to the continuing role of the Boilermaker in "the life of the local community". 

     As part of community integration studies (See, wikipedia, 2012) in the US, the Boilermaker Road Race served as "an introduction" to the world of running and racing, "wheelchair sports" to Paralympics worldwide, "disability and non-disability elites", business sponsorships and charity fundraising, and the worlds of local "newsmedia " affiliates. It was the year that Catherine "the great" Ndereba set a world record in the Chicago Marathon, John Korir of Kenya won the Boilermaker Race, Paralympian Jessica Galli won the Women's Wheelchair Division of the Boilermaker, and Saul Mendoza won the New York City Marathon (wheelchair division). 

     The report titled, Boilermaker Road Race: Celebrating its 25th Anniversary: An Examination of Road Racing and Wheelchair Racing in the US (Racino, March 2002) is available via Square Market/Community and Policy Studies. Within are records of the historic National Distance Running Hall of Fame, the Youth Run, News Channel 2, "Graphtex as an Affirmative Business", and the Health and Fitness EXPO (held this weekend 2018), among others. Of course, the history of wheelchair sports as activists and as sports medicine can be found on the web and is current in 2018!

Health and Fitness EXPO 2018

     On Saturday, I stopped by the Health and Fitness EXPO which now is held on the grounds of Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica Campus. Documents related to the Oneida County contributions to the community college, also part of a nationwide system of "education in mental health, alcohol and substance abuse", were reviewed during the regular budget process  in 2018 (Racino, slides-city of Rome, County of Oneida, state of New York, federal "legislative" budget, 2018). 

     In 2018, the presenting sponsors were listed as Excellus Blue Cross-Blue Shield (traditional health care leader) and the Fitness Mill (visibly a business system of nautilus, nutrition, and "endurance")  both of which had booths at the Exhibit Hall.  I briefly talked with both "about one of their regional VPs from my neighborhood" and estimating "gummy bears" for a raffle (Excellus, exiting the exhibit hall), and Planet Fitness in Rome, New York and adapted, approved physical routines (for example, with back or neck injuries). 

     Most people do know that our health care system was in crisis (e.g., closing of hospitals, and "opening of urgent care"), that preconditions were excluded, that New York State has offerred new health care plans through exchanges, and the individual mandate for health care versus civil liberties was at the crux of the Repeal and Replace Obamacare at federal administration changes (e.g., Democratic President Obama, 8 years to the Republican President Trump Administration, 2nd year of first term).

 Exhibit Booths: 100 Displays Open for the Public

     AARP (American Association for Retired Persons), as always, received a vote from me on its 2018 flyer on Social Security and the Elections. However, it does indicate that "according to projections by the nonpartisan  Congressional Budget Office, that legislation-tax cut legislation, December 2017- will add more than $1.8 trillion to the federal deficit  by 2028".

     The "Boilermaker" was highlighted in a Magazine A'CCENT, "People and Places of the Mohawk Valley" with the cover photo the Genesis Group's ("under 30 age" professionals) Executive Director  and within SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimphler (July 2018). The Boilermaker sections is on pp. 28-39 of the Magazine, features volunteer Diane Waskiewicz, keeping safe, preventing running injuries, runners' perks, and mental prep for the race, and "suddenly" perennial playlists-e.g., Deputy Police Chief with "Lose Yourself" by Enimem, and Mayor Chief of Staff, "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder, among five others.

    The Utica Academy of Science, a name traditionally reserved for the Hall of Fame Academies, was seeking applications for the 2018-2019 "school year" as a charter science school in Utica, New York. "The lottery date was April 2018" (it's never too early for next year!) in Frankfort, New York, and the Middle School Campus is at 1214 Lincoln Avenue in Utica, New York and the Senior High Campus in Frankfort, New York.  Drones and their use (e.g., suas.modelaircraft.org) were on display separately from this booth on the other side of the Athletic Center. 

     Utica Roadrunners announced their next running events, with development runs (described in the original research report, with Roman Runners- part of national network called Roadrunners of America) on the Parkway Recreation Center every Wednesday from July 11, 2018 to September 19, 2018.  Falling Leaves Race will be held on September 23, and Skeleton Run on October 14, 2018 in Utica, New York. More information is available at http://www.uticaroadrunners. org

     New health booths included information on Hepatitis C and the newest treatment options (e.g., Harvoni as medications option, Hep C conversation guide, sexual transmission risk, and antiviral drugs pegylated interferon and ribavirin). As everyone recalls, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for testing the drugs before "marketing", and the new federal HHSA (Health and Human Services Administration) Appointee in Washington comes from the pharmaceutical industry. The front page has "self care strategies" and begins that there are 3.2 million Americans with 3/4ths not aware of an infection which can slowly damage the liver (likely cause of physician visit).

      Mohawk Valley Community College, at the entry to the exhibits, had admission applications available, and MVCC science personnel (e.g., physics, biology) served as a planning committee for the Regional Science Congress held in 2018. The NYS Excelsior Scholarships are also online at http://www.mvcc.edu to make the experience tuition-free. MVCC offers programs from human services, psychology, education, liberal arts/general studies, digital animation, graphic design, criminal justice, computer science, art, engineering, business administration, and STEM programs, among others. 

     Traditional health ranged from the American Heart Association (AHA) with its Go Red for Women campaign, to Mohawk Valley Health System's outpatient rehabilitation programs. As many of your know, Syracuse University was a leader in "facilitated communication" (See, Doug Biklen's wikipedia, 2012, recently retired) which still is represented in the national and worldwide "rehabilitation sciences" (e.g., Racino & Lakin, 1990) booklet as "speech-language pathology" (e.g., Gebbie Speech Clinic, 1978), and the traditional "OT/PT" (occupational and physical therapy). "Both AHA and MVHS" are two separate organizations with the former part of "our traditional national voluntary" (e.g., United Way) networks.

     MVHS is involved in building a new hospital in downtown Utica which "requires eminent domain" evictions of small businesses (current, 2018). The "national owner" of MVHS (approved by Andrew Cuomo and Anthony Picente for a showpiece "hospital system", with Zucker newly named at NYS Health Department) was already known in Rome, New York. Concern was expressed in 2010 at "blocking other healthcare providers and educators" (via "urgent care" news magazine, and "health care personnel" announcements, now to Arc in 2017). "The health care group is involved with behavioral health care, and involuntary care" (not on the table, confirmed in 2017). "At the Arc of Oneida-Lewis Co, the Long Term Services and Supports-LTSS of the Mohawk Valley".

     The "goodie bag" I had was from RunOttawa.CA  advertising with Scotia Bank's Ottawa Marathon and other groups from Timex, Marriott Ottawa, OASIS, Saucony, The Ottawa Hospitals, Kronobar, Ontario, Aquahaulics, TSN1200 Ottawa, Ottawa Lions Track and Field, and Nuun, HTG 5K Sports, Zizu Optics, among others. Appreciated a discussion on Judith Snow of Canada and her leadership in making home and community-based services a reality in our Canadian, North American partner. 

     Other 2018 Exhibitors ranged from :

* Compassion Coalition ("not hospice care?"; also "Mid-York Library System"), 

* Community Wellness Partners (new health care groups with public television ads and health care record access), 

* Sparkly Soul, "Fleece, Stitch & Glitz", and Go Girl Headbands (e.g., young, woman "black" entrepreneurs, and other sales for large companies, dual displays online), 

* Racedots (with a special Boilermaker magnet), 

* The Root Farm (e.g., adaptive fishing, specialized chairs), 

* T-Mobile (with its hot pink marketing), 

* Boilermaker Unity Mile (bands and music), 

* Abraham House (who will receive proceeds from the Utica Monopoly Board), 

* DICK's Sporting Goods (sneakers on display, and yes, gun sales), 

* Cape Cod Marathon, 

* Plexus Worldwide, and other "clinical health groups" or nutrient sales groups (popular probiotics, for "gut health"), 

* NY State Troopers (Would you like a career in law enforcement? woman uniformed trooper), 

* SUEZ (wastewater treatment, Mohawk Valley), 

* Canada Army Run (23 September 2018, Ottawa, Canada)

* Pink Zebra (Executive Consultant) and A&P Master Images (screen printing; NYS women owned business), 

*  Kelleigh's Cause, Chocolate Challenge, Le Moyne College Athletic Center, July 28, 5K and 10K 

* Eveyln's House (i.e., transitional housing for young mothers and babies), 

* Good News Center, Flags for Heroes, November 2-11, 2018, Utica Memorial Parkway

* Johnson Park Center, Utica, NY (e.g., kids camp, food giveaway, youth center), 

* Utica Coffee Roast (enjoyed the pistachio iced coffee, outside vendors), 

* It's a Utica Thing (for Utica greens), 

* Utica, PJ Green Printing, 

* Utica Public Library (audio books, DVD videos, musical cds, urban fiction, new books, "graphic novels", available onsite) at www.uticapubliclibrary.org,

* Utica Children's Museum (museum memberships available), 

* OnPoint for College Utica in the Plymouth Bethesda/Cornerstone Church Building (college applications), 

* Center for Donation and Transplant-NY (application available online), 

* Boilermaker Urban Initiative (featured in the news for its children, and worms display-"soil aeration"; garden plants, e.g., tomatoes), 

* NYS Fairgrounds (Aug 22-Sept 3, 2018),

* Author Table (e.g., Katherine Switzer, and Bill Rodgers); Joe Kelly was also visiting and Julie Ann Racino said hello ("Katherine had a 6 foot high photo, last media"), 

* Boilermaker Store (e.g., Boilermaker "commemorative" brick sales, 2018 Boilermaker logo on glass, running attire),  to

* Oneida County Tourism (Utica, Rome, Verona and Sylvan Beach), and more!

      The Exhibitor Hall was open for two days on Friday and Saturday, and a climbing wall (e.g., now inside the MOST-Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse, New York) was outside for view by Go Army.  Exhibitor Guidelines are available from the Boilermaker Road Race which has a facebook, twitter, and online site for your convenience. 

Health, Fitness and Wellness in the Age of Public Health

     Health and Human Services Administration (HHSA) and its reorganization from the federal Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) was discussed by Julie Ann Racino as part of a panel at the Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NeCopa) in Fall 2017.  The new administration is proposing another reorganization (e.g., Education and Workforces) which is expected to result in cutbacks in the size of the "federal bureaucracy" which also provides federal to state Medicaid and social services funding, direct federal outsourcing, civil service divisions, and contracting-procurement.  

      Sports medicine, and health and fitness represented a "period in America" which is influencing our classification systems, government programs, businesses and health care industries, university research, and payment or reimbursement schemes for different health care schemes. Wellness, with roots in community mental health, represented a different approach to mind-body-spirit (e.g., native healing, "the humors", acupuncture and alternative medicines) as the "person" in relationship to the "environment" within this context, the management also shifted towards traditional health departments (e.g., responsible for "disease management" and "epidemics"). 

       In New York State,  and through home and community-based services nationwide, the roots of the community United Way and voluntary sectors in conjunction with governments,  "weaves its way through the changing face of health care in America". Community-based services as is Medicaid and Medicare, are still young in America, and business entrepre-neurships have risen in the governmental sectors. Health care financing as community financing is on the rise in America (Racino, 2015) as are the development of NGO services (ethnic, women, disability) and NGO governance worldwide. 

       Health promotion and mental health awareness were popular initiatives in the US which remain represented today, having achieved payment status, the latter often termed "mental health and substance abuse parity". As an example, the concern may be equality in "hospitalization coverage", "home care services", "assessments of need", and "rehabilitation" benefits; specialized plans may be offerred at health care exchanges, similar to a "cancer treatment packages". However, many of the community services continue to have roots in the community support, nationally tested models and evidence-based practices, supported by "practice groups" in the US. 

      The shift in "managed care" providers was viewed skeptically in the 1980s (since a management structure already existed in the US), and even more so today (Racino, 2015). In part, this is due to the widening gap between "what the public is told about health care", what occurs in health care and is funded as health care, and what the public is told are options for health care. In 2018, a primary concern was a "complete takeover of mental health administration" to a MD "non-approved" behavioral sector without any "public warning" of the changes (Racino, 2000). 

     The public has supported its community development, as opposed to "unaware of medical homes", though it has been moved increasingly to specialized service groups. The public finally had in the "intent" (2016; Racino in Smith, 1990) to "give bonuses" to cut parties off health care as opposed to offer health care to those with "preconditions" (current, 2016). And the public health-"environmental justice" groups at ASPA in 2018 were featured in the "worse case scenario" reports on the case of Flint, Michigan water (See, this blogspot, ASPA, Denver). In part, healthcare and human services (e.g., inclusive of "justice services") has reflected the economic security of America and remains tied to its jobs and contracts, business and health care infrastructures, and the future of its children, families and communities. 

Boilermaker Road Race in a Mid-Size, Central New York Community

       We thank the Boilermaker Road Race and the city of Utica for its multi-decade efforts to offer a business and tourism event, in the world of health and fitness tourism. The Road (and Wheelchair) Race is part of an extensive network which parallels other networks such as "arts and crafts businesses",  ecotourism on the environment,  sports tourism,  music businesses and alliances, motorsports networks, "science networks", "disability industries", the "elite museums" and "zoos and aquariums", "engineering and computer sciences", and even academic lectures and tours (e.g., Cornell University Alumni on the Danube River, Europe). 

       Thank you to the sponsors and exhibitors for the 2018 Health and Fitness EXPO, and we hope all the guests in the city of Utica enjoyed their weekend this year. Friday's Utica Observer-Dispatch had the entries lists for the 15K and Youth Run, and Monday is the traditional race results report for the event.  Amanda McGrory, whom I met a few years ago briefly, won the women's wheelchair division yesterday morning, and Saul Mendoza's course record was passed for the first time in 2018 for the men's wheelchair division (courtesy Jason Powless, News Channel 2). More to come!

Author's Publications

Racino, J. (1990). Quotation: Why Supportive Living? Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Integration. In: Smith, G. (1990). Supportive Living: New Directions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Mental Retardation Program Directors. 

Racino, J. & Lakin, K.C. (1990). The Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers on Families and Community Living. Syracuse, NY and Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: Syracuse University and University of Minnesota. 

Racino, J. (1999). Policy, Program Evaluation and Research in Disability: Community Support for All. Binghamton, NY, London, and NY, NY: Haworth Press. 

Racino, J. (2000). Personnel Preparation in Community and Disability: Toward Universal Approaches to Support. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publishers. 

Racino, J. (2002, March). The Boilermaker Road Race: Celebrating its 25th Anniversary: An Examination of Road Racing and Wheelchair Racing in the United States.  Rome, NY: Community and Policy Studies.   Square Market/Community and Policy Studies

Racino, J. (2015, March). The Rise in Health Care Financing in the Community. Local Governance Panel (Rivenbark & Racino) Denver, CO: American Society for Public Administration. 

Racino, J. (2017, November).  The State of the Sciences of Deinstitutionalization in the 21st Century. Panel Moderator: Robert Bartlett, University of Vermont.  Burlington, VT: NeCopa. 

Wikipedia, Community integration. (2012). En.wikipedia.org/wiki/community_integration

Supporting Documents

Health and Fitness EXPO, brochures and documents, Saturday, July 7, 2018

News Channel 2, Live Televised Coverage, Sunday, July 8, 2018

Social Media Sites, July 6, 2018, Amanda McGrory (2016 visit, participant 2018), Saul Mendoza (2002 study), Herman Garic (2002 study, participant, 2018), Krige Shabort (Paralympics, participant, 2018) from Kurt Fearnley (2002 study)

Updates: Ed Bradley (passed, 2002 study, New Hartford, NY), Craig Post (retired from racing, post-college and marriage, 2002 study, Rome, NY) 

Utica Observer Dispatch, Special Issue, Friday, July 6, 2018

Report Sales

Square Market/Community and Policy Studies or direct to Community and Policy Studies, 208 Henry Street, Rome, NY 13440-6506 USA.

Courtesy, of Julie Ann Racino, American Society for Public Administration, Section on Health and Human Services Administration, 2018-2019