FREEZEROO 2022-2023: 2023 is pushing ahead now and the Freezeroo series is going well. The New Year’s Resolution race saw 222 finishers enjoying a mild winter morning, and the Pine Way Ponds 5 mile had 138 finishers on a cooler but still relatively clear day. We just finished the Hearnish 5 mile race in Victor and once again had a good turnout of 147 runners on a classic winter day. With two more races to go, the Valentines Day 8 mile race on 2/4/23 and the White House race in Webster on 2/18, it’s not too late for you to log some good performances. Series awards will be given out over pizza at the White House event. And it’s not too late to run the last two, even if you have not been in the full series.
2/4/23 Valentines 8mile race from Braddock Bay Park (9:00 AM START; 8:30 Early Start)
2/18/23 White House 4.4mile race from Webster Park with food/awards to follow (10 a.m.; no Early Start )
Signup: https://runsignup.com/…/FreezerooSeriesIndividualRace
GRTC AWARDS BANQUET: Speaking of awards, our annual awards banquet is also back this month on 2/25/23. Put it on your calendar and sign up today. Returning to its past banquet hall format it will this year be at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Chef’s Event Center and Party House, 1875 N Union St, Spencerport, NY 14559. Pricing is $40/person and includes a complete dinner, including appetizers and dessert. A cash bar will be available throughout the event. (real cash, no credit cards.) In addition to dinner and social time, we will be giving out awards for the 2022 RROY series, consistent participants, and awarding milage patches. We will welcome in new board members AND be inducting two new members into our GRTC Hall of Fame, Therese Christo and Mike Niles, both familiar faces to those in our running community. Come out to have fun and bring your friends too. You DO NOT have to be a GRTC member to come and enjoy the evening.
https://runsignup.com/…/Spencer…/GRTCAnnualAwardsBanquet
RROY SERIES: With the RROY 2022 series completed, we hope you have all checked your own standings (https://rochesterrunneroftheyear.org). Awards for 2022 will again be given out at our annual awards banquet, but the NEW 2023 RROY series is starting again just around the corner with the running of the green race on March 11th. Sign up now and get a start on this year’s series. 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 full 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 at our Banquet. 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 2023 below.
RROY races for 2023:
3/11/23 – Running of the Green 5 Mile
5/21/23 – Lilac 10K
6/9/23 – McMullen Mile
6/17/23 – Stache Dash 5K
6/18/23 – June Jaunt 5K
7/16/23 – Jungle Jog 5K
8/28/2 – Black Diamond Express Half Marathon
9/3/23 – Oak Tree Half 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 – Grocery Run 5K
11/23/23 – The Feast Thanksgiving 5 Mile
GRTC ULTRA RACE SCHEDULE: And with the new year, don’t forget to sign up for some of GRTC’s long distance ultra event’s too. The ever popular Mind the Ducks will start us off on 5/20 in North Ponds Park in Webster. And with additions, this year we have a broad race selection for everyone’s enjoyment, including a 24 hour option as an addition to the Candlelight event. With tremendous course support for all, 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 Bound for the Hounds 6 hour ultra. Shortsville
GRTC SPRING RUNNING CLINIC: And back again this year starting Wednesday April 26th, will be the annual GRTC Spring Running Clinic. This 7-week course on the track at Nazareth college and culminating in the McMullen mile race on 6/9/23 (included in registration) will again be coached by Mike Reif and Carolyn Smith-Hanna. 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
RIT TRACK AND FITNESS CENTER: A reminder for those who have struggled with outdoor training on these cold and dark days, is that GRTC has arranged for our members to be able to purchase a membership in and access to the RIT fitness center and RIT’s Gordon field house indoor track. Each individual must set up and pay for their own membership, but RIT has an ongoing list of current dues paid GRTC members. This is a great addition to the value of your GRTC membership. RIT membership durations are 3 months ($110), 6 months ($220), 9 months ($330) and 12 months ($396) and must be purchased at the RIT Student Life Center main office, open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 pm. (Tuesdays and Wednesdays till 6:30 PM). Office address: Hale-Andrews Student Life Center 1218, 113 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester NY 14623 (585-475-2620). Full details about all the facilities, hours available, parking and RIT COVID protocols for use can be found at www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/criw/. You MUST show proof of COVID vaccination when signing up. Masks are optional. Check it out.
2023 RUNNERS RESOLUTION: Once again, as your 2023 New Year’s resolution, make a point to take the time and rediscover the true joy of running (and the running community) in our area. GRTC has lots to offer. Put the remaining Freezeroo series dates on your calendar now, and going forward into 2023 take advantage of the multiple other GRTC membership discounts we offer. Get out and do all the RROY series races (a $50 discount value for those doing all). Sign up for some of our ultra races this year (discounts for members). Sign up for our spring running clinic ($20 off for members). And come out on 2/25 for our annual banquet. 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)