June 9, 2025
Before Chad Williams tackles this year’s Boilermaker 15K Road Race, he recalled the moment several years ago when he stood at the starting line of his very first road race.
He had a lot of self-doubt. He didn’t know how he’d feel or if the other racers would notice his different running stride.
“I wasn’t sure how it would go,” he recalled.
Challenges most runners never have to face
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just two years old, Chad has spent his life overcoming obstacles that most runners never have to face. The condition, which affects movement, muscle tone, and posture, has meant years of physical therapy, a surgical procedure in his youth, and daily perseverance just to manage routine tasks.
In 2022, Chad decided to challenge himself in a new way—through running. He began with a 5K that included 20 obstacles along the course. He started that race unsure how it would go, but soon learned that he was just as capable as every other runner.
“Once I got running, my first race halfway through, I realized that I was in the middle of the pack,” he said. “The community was supportive, all the other runners were great, it really changed things for me. I felt like after that race that I did belong, and that really propelled me for that year to continue running and I ran a race every month that year.”
Driven by determination, destined for the Boilermaker Road Race
After successfully completing that and several other 5Ks, he realized he was capable of even more. That drive led him to the Boilermaker – a race that seemed out of reach for much of his life.
That same determination has defined every part of his life including a career as a pharmacy operations coordinator at a company he’s proudly worked at for nearly 20 years - Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, which is also a longtime presenting sponsor of the Boilermaker.
Although that connection, Chad says, makes every step more meaningful, the upcoming Boilermaker will be his most meaningful race yet.
Step for step, side by side: A finish line years in the making
Chad won’t be running the Boilermaker alone—his 17-year-old son Chad Michael will be by his side for the very first time.
“He started running with me shortly after I began my own running journey,” Chad said. “It’s going to be special to share that moment with him this year.”
For Chad, crossing the finish line with his son adds a new layer of pride—one that celebrates not just how far he’s come, but the legacy of strength and determination he’s passing on.
“The Boilermaker isn’t just a race—it’s a milestone,” Chad explains. “Standing at the start line has represented decades of hard work and proof that I belonged out there just like everyone else.”
Every step Chad will take at the 48th Annual 15k Boilermaker Road Race presented by Excellus BCBS is a victory over a diagnosis that told him what he couldn’t do.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Chad,” said Excellus BCBS Utica Regional President Tony Vitagliano. “His friends and colleagues at Excellus BCBS will be at the finish line, ready to cheer him on every step of the way!”
To hear more of Chad’s story, please visit Journey to the Boilermaker 15K Road Race - YouTube.
Contact:
Scott Gwilt
Scott.Gwilt@excellus.com
3157310076
