Hermin Garic has raced in the Boilermaker several times over the years.
“Since 2005, so it’s going on 16 years now,” he said.
Garic and his family immigrated to the U.S. from Bosnia in 2000. He says he was playing wheelchair basketball at Sitrin when their adaptive sports coordinator told him to try racing in the Boilermaker, noting the possibility of winning a racing chair.
What You Need To Know
- Hermin Garic is an elite wheelchair racer from Utica
- He’ll be competing in his 16th Boilermaker this year
- Garic is one of six people competing in the Wheelchair Race this year
“I was a bit shy at the time, but he kept being pushy and saying, ‘You’ll be great at it, and you’ll do good.’ Sure enough, a year later I was out there, and I did the Boilermaker in my everyday chair and won a racing chair,” he said.
Garic has been hooked ever since, and is now an elite racer. He competes in races on the East Coast, training six times a week, twice a day.
“One day will fluctuate where I’m training super hard, and I’m out there doing maybe 18-20 miles. Another day might be an easy day, a recovery, things like that.”
This year the Boston Marathon, which Garic plans on going to, is the day after the Boilermaker. He’s focusing hard on Boston and is looking at the Boilermaker as a warmup.
“I’m not taking out the possibility of winning, but anything could happen. I’m just gonna pace myself and take my time, so whatever happens, happens,” he said.
Garic says the energy and encouragement along the course is what he loves about the Boilermaker. Also, it’s his hometown race.
“It’s a big deal for the city and for the community. Everybody comes out. You’ve got 40,000 people at the finish line partying afterwards. It’s just a great time,” Garic said.
Garic hasn’t won the Boilermaker yet, but has come close. This could be his year.
While there is no prize money this year, the Sitrin Wheelchair Challenge program is still taking place. It provides an opportunity for a participant to win a racing chair.
You can learn more about the program here.
