GRTC PRESIDENT’S LETTER 5.1.23
GRTC RUNNING OPTIONS FOR 2023: GRTC (soon GRRC-Greater Rochester Running Club) has a great slate of running options for everyone going forward this year (SEE INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS BELOW FOR DETAILS). First, it’s not too late to join in on our 7 week “traditional” running clinic at Nazareth College track which just started last Wednesday 4/26. The clinic remains one of the best values of GRTC membership and the best way to improve your running skills and knowledge. See the signup link below. Our Ultra series also kicks off with the Mind the Ducks 12 hour ultra in Webster on 5/20/23. And the Rochester Runner of the Year series continues with the Lilac 10K on 5/21. Further into the season, we will again have a bus to the Utica Boilermaker race on 7/9/23. We will also have our third annual summer picnic in Durand Eastman Park on 7/29/23. And a new 7 week “westside” running clinic will start Monday 8/21/23 on the track at Roberts Wesleyan College in North Chili. GRTC truly has a great lineup of running activities for 2023 to fit our club mission of supporting running throughout the Rochester area. Take advantage yourself of all these opportunities.
LILAC 10K RACE ON 5/21/23: The next RROY race is the Lilac 10K. As a part of Rochester’s Lilac Festival, this race has long been a favorite of area runners. It’s a great way to support the city of Rochester and one of Rochester’s most established local festivals. It also comes with a 5K and a “donut dash”. This event promises to be a good day for all runners, their friends and their families. Come run the race then stay to see the lilacs and enjoy the festival. Sign up today and pencil in your calendar the rest of this year’s RROY series below too.
Lilac 10K: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/LilacRun
ROCHESTER RUNNER OF THE YEAR SERIES: GRTC works with individual race directors to promote the RROY series and provides the awards for series winners. GRTC members also get a signup discount for all the RROY races. We therefore encourage all GRTC members to take full advantage of their membership value and participate in as many of these races as possible, to support the individual races, the series and running in our region. As in the past one needs to run only 4 races over the year to be eligible for RROY awards, and 6 races gives you a consistent participant award at our Banquet. As a GRTC member, consider these YOUR races throughout the year.
RROY races for 2023:
3/11/23-Running of the Green 5 mile5/21/23-Lilac 10K
6/9/23 – McMullan Mile
6/17/23 – Stache Dash 5K
6/18/23 – June Jaunt 5K
7/16/23 – Jungle Jog 5K
8/27/23 – Black Diamond ½ marathon
9/3/23 – Oak Tree ½ marathon
9/9/23 – Heritage Hero 10K
9/10/23 – The Potato Run 10K
10/21/23 – Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K
11/4/23 – East Avenue Grocery Run 5K
11/23/23 – The Feast Thanksgiving 5 mile
RROY series: https://rochesterrunneroftheyear.org
MIND THE DUCKS IN WEBSTER ON 5/20: And don’t forget to sign up for GRTC’s long distance ultra-events too. The ever popular Mind the Ducks will start us off on 5/20 in North Ponds Park in Webster. This longstanding event gives one the option to run as many one mile loops as possible in 12 hours. You can do it at your own pace, you will never be alone, and there is a fully stocked aid station every mile, guaranteed! Is a great event for runners of all paces. Don’t miss out.
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Webster/MTD12
GRTC ULTRA RACE SERIES: And with additions to our ultra series this year, we have a broad race selection for everyone’s enjoyment, including a 24 hour option at the Candlelight event. With tremendous course support for all, join in on the fun. If you’ve never given an ultra a try, this should be your year.
5/20/23 Mind the ducks 12 hour daytime ultra. North Ponds Park in Webster
6/10/23 9 hours for 9 lives ultra. Shortsville
7/15/23 Candlelight 12/24hr ultras. Rotary Sunshine Camp in Rush
10/7/23 CanLakeUltras 25K/50K/50mile. Canandaigua Lake
11/23/23 Bound for the Hounds 6 hour ultra. Shortsville
GRTC SPRING RUNNING CLINIC NOW! And it is not too late to still join in with our annual GRTC Spring Running Clinic. Started just last week, this 7-week course on the track at Nazareth college and culminating in the McMullan mile race on 6/9/23 (included in registration) will again be coached by Mike Reif and Carolyn Smith-Hanna, both GRTC Hall of Fame members. Each two hour session starting at 6:00 pm includes a didactic talk about running issues, group warmup exercises, individually tailored workouts for runners of any pace and level, then group cool down. This program emphasizes training approaches for improving running speed/efficiency and teaches how to build speed for competition. GRTC members get a $20 discount. Come join us to “tune up” your running for the 2023 season.
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClubSpringClinicsandTrackWorkouts
GRTC SUMMER RUNNING CLINIC: A similar format to the spring track clinic, but with more of an emphasis on running in the heat, this 7-week program will run Mondays 6:00 to 7:30 pm on the track at Roberts Wesleyan College. Coaching will be by Vickey Beaver with speakers and topics to be announced. Each session will have a didactic topic, group warmups, workouts and cool down exercises. It will conclude with a 1mile race on 10/6/23. Stay tuned for signup to go live in future.
BOILERMAKER BUS TRIP 7/9/23. As in the past, we will again have a bus to the boilermaker race for participant convenience. If you are signed up for this great run, travel to Utica in style with a contingent of fun and enthusiastic Rochester runners on the GRTC bus. Plans are to leave at 3:45 AM from St John Fisher College and return back by 3:00 PM. Participants DO need to sign up for the race themselves. This has been a well received and fun trip for many years. Organized again by Wilt Alston, registration will go live on runsignup in the near future. Stay tuned.
GRTC SUMMER PICNIC 7/29: This third annual GRTC summer picnic is a great time for fun, fellowship and food. It will again take place at the Acorn Shelter of Durand Eastman Park. There will be a fun run in the morning followed by games, fun activities and good food (with options for all dietary needs). Stay tuned for full details and signup.
2023 GRTC OPTIONS/VALUE: Once again for 2023 make a point to take the time to rediscover the true joy of running (and the running community) in our area. GRTC has lots to offer over the whole year. And take advantage of the multiple GRTC membership discounts we offer. Get out and do all the RROY series races (a $65 discount value for those doing all). Sign up for our ultra races this year (discounts for members). Sign up for our spring and/or summer running clinics ($20 off for members). Take advantage of the boilermaker bus on 7/9/23. And come out on 7/29 for our annual summer picnic. 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/opportunities for all. See you out on the road.
Join: https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub
Doug Jones (President GRTC)