Hard to ignore……….but it IS getting cooler out there. The summer weather is finally fading and the fall running season is in full swing. That’s NOT necessarily a bad thing and we hope most runners are enjoying the recent cool invigorating weather. In-person races are back on the calendar for the fall, and you should put them on your personal race “dockets” as well. Three traditional RROY races are back in person. The Scare Brain Cancer away 5K in East Rochester will take place 10/23/23. The East Side Grocery Run will be 11/6/21. The Race with Grace will be thanksgiving morning 11/25/21. Signup links are below. Please plan to run and support these traditional RROY races now coming back “on line”. Though we have not had enough races this year to formally score a RROY series, we are looking forward to a return of the overall series for 2022. Stay tuned. And of course, continue to check our website and the websites/face book pages of the local running stores for their new and returning event offerings.
https://www.trisignup.com/Race/NY/EastRochester/ScareBrainCancerAway
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/EastAvenueGroceryRun
http://www.rwg10k.com/race-details.html
GRTC’s own offerings are still there for you too. Just around the corner are our 2 remaining GRTC ultra-race options for 2021. This month brings the “jewel in the crown” of the GRTC Ultra Distance Series. On 10/9 is CanLake50, a beautiful course around stunning Canandaigua Lake that offers options of 25K/50K/50Miles to fit all ultra-runners. If you have always wondered if you could do this, now may be the time. Sign up today: https://canlake50.com/ And if you would just like to come out and enjoy the day with us, and check out the event for the future, come out that day as a volunteer. We still need people for aid stations, registration and general support along the course. It’s a great way to enjoy the event and give back to fellow runners and the running community. Plus, this year we will be giving a one year membership credit to all volunteers who donate 4 hours of their time to support the race. What do you have to lose? Contact Gil Robs if you can help: CanLake50@gmail.com.
And to finish our ultra-race 2021 series the 3rd annual GRTC Bound for the Hounds 6-hour Ultra will be on 11/20/21 at Budd Park in Shortsville. In the model of Candlelight12 and Mind the Ducks, participants will run as many 2.3 mile loops on the Manchester Gateway Trail (surface comparable to the canal path) as you can in 6 hours. Organized by Martha Doody with proceeds supporting the Shortsville dog park, this beautiful course in rural Shortsville is a great way to finish up your ultra-race season. Sign up today https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Shortsville/3rdAnnualBoundfortheHounds6HourUltra..
With the “cooler season” just ahead (we don’t want to use the “W” word yet!) and COVID successfully behind, we are also excited to welcome back the 2021-2022 GRTC Freezeroo series. Let’s all celebrate the return of in-person running with this favorite winter series. The Freezeroo series has signup discounts which remain one of the long-established values of GRTC membership. The series continues to be a favorite of individuals and the running community. It is definitely an important way to keep us all running together and connected through the long upstate New York winter. Be sure to save (ALL) the dates for this year’s races now. Using the same sites as before COVID, there are a variety of locations, distances and terrains (something for everyone). If you would like to come and enjoy the Freezeroo fun, but are not up to the run for any reason, let us know. We are always looking for volunteers for all the races. Being there is more than half the fun! (volunteers: Djones6703@aol.com).
12/11/21. Don Curran Memorial 5K race at North Star Christian Academy in Gates
1/1/22. New Year’s Resolution 7.5 mile race at Mendon Ponds Park
1/8/22. Pineway Ponds 5 mile race from Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport
1/22/22. Hearnish 5 mile race from Victor Municipal Park
2/5/22. Valentines 8 mile race from Braddock Bay Park
2/19/22. White House 4.4 mile race from Webster Park
One unfortunate casualty however of COVID this year seems to be the boilermaker bus. The race itself now requires vaccination of all participants, their signup numbers are down, and a lot of people have concern about traveling and the bus “situation” re COVID. We were unable to identify enough people interested to make this worthwhile this year. As in so many areas, we look forward to being truly done with the effects of this pandemic in the future.
Finally, as always, if you want to continue to have opportunities for running in the Rochester region, come join (or renew your membership in) GRTC. We have a place for you. A modest $20 yearly membership goes a long way to keeping our sport vibrant and maintaining running events and opportunities for all. See you out on the road.
Renew GRTC Membership: https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub
Doug Jones (President GRTC)