GRTC PRESIDENTS LETTER 5.1.22
Spring is now definitely here and we have a full May schedule of GRTC activities. Check out the list of offerings below and get your running season started “full tilt”.
MIND THE DUCKS ULTRA 5/7/22: If you have never done an ultra, Mind the Ducks at North Ponds Park in Webster on 5/7 is the way to start. Over 12 hours you get to run as many 1-mile loops as you can, at whatever pace is comfortable. You will always be with other runners and there is a fully stocked aid station with bathrooms every mile. Guaranteed! A safe non-threatening way to try out ultra distances, and always a great time. There are just a few signup slots left. Signup today: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
GRTC BANQUET SUNDAY 5/15: A long time coming, because of the COVID epidemic, we will have our newly reimagined banquet on Sunday afternoon 5/15 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Murphy’s Law on East Avenue in Rochester. Activities will include awarding of mileage patches for 2021, presentation of the 2022 GRTC Hall of Fame awards to Tim Chichester and Sharon Moore, presentations about the RROY series and GRTC activities and good food, good drink and good fellowship. There will be a cap on numbers so signup today on Runsignup for $30. https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
LILAC 10K 5/22/22: The second race in the Rochester Runner of the Year series, the Lilac 10K, is just ahead on 5/22/22. Back this year on the highland avenue course (along with a 5K and a “donut dash”) it is a premier Rochester event not to be missed. GRTC works with individual race directors to promote the RROY series and provides the awards for winners. GRTC members also get a signup discount for this and the other RROY races. We encourage all GRTC members therefore to take advantage of their membership value and participate in as many of these races as possible, to support both the individual races and the series. 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. As a GRTC member, consider these YOUR races and a great way to support running in our area. See full list of RROY race below. Lilac 10K signup: https://www.rochesterevents.
LILAC VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: And if you are not actually running the lilac race this year, we still need your help. This year GRTC is suppling both road marshals and registration staff for the Lilac event. Volunteering is a great and fun way to fulfill GRTC’s stated mission of supporting running in the Rochester area. We will definitely need more people this year. If you can help, contact Wilt Alston: rock.marathoner@gmail.com.
SPRING TRACK CLINIC IS BACK ON THE TRACK AT NAZARETH COLLEGE! The spring running clinic kicked off this past Wednesday with 40 participants, but it’s still not too late to join us. If you are interested in improving your running skills this year, this 7-week course under coaching of Mike Reif and Carolyn Smith Hanna remains one of the “gems” of GRTC membership. Over the 7 weeks, all aspects of training and the principles necessary to improve your running are covered. As importantly, it is also an immense amount of fun and provides great running comradery. The discounted cost remains a modest $50 for GRTC members (discount given at signup). AND signup covers your entry into the McMullen Mile GRTC RROY race 6/10/22 at St. John Fisher College! Non GRTC members are $70, but that includes the $20 for one year of GRTC membership with its own multiple race discounts. Spring Track Clinic:
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
BOILERMAKER BUS: And back by popular demand, GRTC will again host a bus to the boilermaker race in Utica on Sunday 7/10/22. This iconic race, which is a favorite of many, can be even more fun it you don’t have to drive! We are getting all the details ready but if you are interested in signing up contact Wilt Alston: rock.marathoner@gmail.com.
Once again, rediscover this year the true joy of running in the upstate New York, and take advantage of the multiple GRTC membership discounts we offer. Get out and do all the RROY series races, come out for our spring running clinic, come to our banquet and signup for the bus option for the Boilermaker race. 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. GRTC Membership: https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/
Rochester Runner of the Year Series (RROY)
3/12 Running of the Green 5 mile
5/22 Highland Hospital Lilac 10K
6/10-11 Charlie McMullen Mile
6/18 Stache Dash 5K
TBA Medved 5K to cure ALS
8/28 Black Diamond Express 5K
9/4 Oaktree half marathon
9/10 Heritage Hero 10K
10/22 Scare Brain Cancer Away 5k
11/5/22 East Ave Grocery Run 5K
11/24 The Feast Thanksgiving day
Doug Jones (President GRTC)