Note: While dates 1/1/2023, this letter is being released early at Pres. Doug Jones’ request.

GRTC PRESIDENT’S LETTER 1.1.23
 
Welcome to REAL winter. Hope everyone had great holidays and survived the big storm. I am always a “glass half full” guy……..but Christmas weekend was frankly NOT a good one to run outdoors. But GRTC started celebrating the holiday early. Our Don Curran Memorial Freezeroo in Gates was fun and well attended with 138 runners completing the 5K course.  Our first Holiday Lights and Cookies run on 12/17 at “My Wine and Cheese Bar Too” in Fairport was also a great event, evening and way to finish off 2022. A good time was had by all. Now it is time to come out and ring in the New Year with us in runner style with the New Year’s Resolution Race in Mendon Ponds 1/1/23.  And going forward, 2023 starts out with several great events already planned.
 
FREEZEROO 2022-2023: The second Freezeroo, our New Year’s Resolution Race, is just ahead on 1/1/23. Our “flagship” Freezeroo race (which attracts more than 300 runners yearly) is a New Year’s tradition for many. Come out that morning and help us kick off 2023 in running style. The series and individual races have member signup discounts which remain one of the long-established values of GRTC membership. And if you are not up for the run, but would like to enjoy the fun, we DO still need a few road marshals and volunteers for this and for all the subsequent Freezeroo races. Please let us know right away if you can help out with any of our future races (Djones6703@aol.com) Volunteer support of GRTC events is always crucial to making them successful and available to everyone
 
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)
2/18/23     White House 4.4mile race from Webster Park
 
 
RROY SERIES: With the RROY 2022 series completed, we hope you checked your own standing on the RROY website: https://rochesterrunneroftheyear.org. Awards for 2022 will be given out at our annual awards banquet 2/25/23. But do not slack off for the winter. The 2023 RROY series will starts again in 3 months with the running of the green race on March 11th! And GRTC is here to help. To maintain your training, sign up today for the remaining GRTC Freezeroo series. And check out below our GRTC option for use of the RIT indoor track and fitness center.
 
 
GRTC AWARDS BANQUET: Our annual awards banquet is also back in February this year. Put it on your calendar today for 2/25/23. 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. Registration will open in January. Pricing is $40/person and includes a complete dinner, including appetizers and dessert. A cash bar will be available throughout the event. (No credit cards.) The menu will be online when registration goes live. 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 also be inducting two new members into our GRTC Hall of Fame.
 
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 only from 9:00 AM to 4:00 pm. (starting January 17th 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 ($20 series discount for members) 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 our ultra races next year (discounts for members). Sign up for our spring running clinic ($20 off for members). 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)