GRTC PRESIDENT’S LETTER 10.1.22

Well, there is NO question that Fall is upon us now, but fall is ALSO great running weather. And we don’t have the weather problems of Florida! Once again there are still great running opportunities ahead in Rochester. The RROY series continues with the Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K on 10/22 followed in November by the East Avenue Grocery Run on 11/5 and the Thanksgiving Day Feast Race on 11/24. Our Ultra race series also goes forward as below with the CanLake50 10/8/22 and the Bound for the Hounds ultra 11/19/22. And the Freezeroo race series is now open for sign up with full details and schedule as below. Altogether, there is a distance and terrain option for everyone, so come out and enjoy. 

GRTC CANLAKE ULTRAS 10/8/22: This group of races around beautiful Canandaigua Lake is just over the horizon next weekend. Once again you have a choice of the full 50mile, 50K or 25K. If you are new to ultra-running, the shorter distances are a great way to try this out. What do you have to lose? Always a great event for your long-distance enjoyment. It is not too late to sign up for this fall classic. https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Canandaigua/CanLake50

AND if you are NOT ready to run it yourself this year you can still participate. Volunteers are still needed. Come out as a volunteer, enjoy the event and see what this is all about. AND earn volunteer points toward your GRTC membership fee. 4 hours of volunteering here pays your yearly fee. Volunteers can contact Gil Robs directly at canlake50@gmail.com.  

GRTC BOUND FOR THE HOUNDS ULTRA: 11/19/22 And to finish our ultra-race 2022 series, the 4th annual GRTC Bound for the Hounds 6-hour Ultra will be on 11/19/22 at Budd Park in Shortsville. In the model of Candlelight12 and Mind the Ducks, participants will run as many 2.3mile loops on the Manchester Gateway Trail (surface comparable to the canal path) as one can do in 6 hours. Organized by Martha Doody. Proceeds support Gordy and Friends (http://www.gordyandfriends.org/), a group of volunteers who go directly into the community and help chained and penned dogs suffering from isolation, poor shelter, and lack of food and other necessities. 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

RROY RACES STILL AHEAD: Though fall is upon us, there are still 3 races ahead to round out your RROY “portfolio”. On 10/22 is the Scare Brain Cancer away 5K in East Rochester, in support of Shelley Whyte and others who have been diagnosed with brain tumors. Come out and support this worthy cause. On 11/5/22 is the East Avenue Grocery Run 5K. Proceeds there go the support Rochester area food pantries to supply food for those in need.  And on Thanksgiving Day,11/24, is The Feast Thanksgiving Day race. Running a race thanksgiving morning is a time-honored tradition for many, and this race series will not disappoint. Both 5 mile and 2mile family friendly options (and virtual) are available. Come out with everyone and burn off some of those holiday calories.

Scare Brain Cancer 5K: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/EastRochester/ScareBrainCancerAway
East Avenue Grocery Run:  https://www.groceryrun.org
The Feast Thanksgiving Race:  https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/FeastofBurden5Miler

RROY SERIES FORMAT: 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 all the 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 races for 2022 below. Put the last three races for 2022 on your calendar today.

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
6/19 June Jaunt 5K
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

RROY website: https://rochesterrunneroftheyear.org.

FREEZEROO 2022-2023: REGISTRATION ACTIVE The Freezeroo series continues to be a favorite of individuals and the running community. The series and individual races have signup discounts which remain one of the long-established values of GRTC membership.  The Freezeroo is definitely an important way to keep us all running together and connected through the long upstate New York winter. Be sure to sign up for all this season’s races now. Using the same venues as in the past, there are a variety of locations, distances and terrains (something for everyone).

12/10/22   Don Curran Memorial 5K race at North Star Christian Academy in Gates
1/1/23       New Year’s Resolution 7.5mile race at Mendon Ponds Park
1/7/23       Pineway Ponds 5mile race from Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport
1/21/23     Hernish 5mile race from Victor Municipal Park
2/4/23       Valentines 8mile race from Braddock Bay Park (9:00 am start)
2/18/22     White House 4.4mile race from Webster Park

Signup:  https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/FreezerooSeriesIndividualRace

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 the RROY series races (a $50 discount value for those doing all). Sign up for an ultra. Put the Freezeroo series dates on your calendar now. And 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/GreaterRochesterTrackClub

Doug Jones (President GRTC)