Dear Members and GRRC Followers:
Summer is here! This letter recaps August club activity, highlights upcoming GRRC-related races, events, and volunteer opportunities, and provides new information. NEW: When a local race offers our members discounts, I’ll include it in this letter as often as possible. You can see them at any time by going to the club’s RunSignup page listed below.
August Club Recap
- The GRRC Summer Picnic and Membership Meeting was an intimate gathering with a lot of fun! Multiple board members were there as well as a few members and some guests. We kicked off with an information session on the state of the club and a recap of recent changes to the bylaws. Besides that, we went on a trail adventure (some opted for roads) before enjoying a variety of fire-roasted meats, fruit, and veggies alongside several items contributed by attendees. Afterwards, we played Kubb – thanks to Tina Ruhland and her family, giant Jenga, and trivia. In the spirit of a good group event, many people pitched in to make it happen from start to finish, including impromptu clean-up volunteers.
- Since the last meeting, the three directors whose terms are ending at the end of January have made the personal decision to leave their seats for new directors. Generally, folks leave because their availability has shifted or, as is the case for two of our outgoing directors, they have retired and want to extend that to their volunteer activities, too.
Please contact me if you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else for candidacy. I’m glad to explain what work the board does, the commitment required, and answer any questions. For those who have and haven’t heard back from me, I’ll be following up with you in the next few days (after the weekend). The current Executive Committee needs to do some shifting, so we are also in need of a secretary, which is a great way to be really involved and could be appointed earlier than the next election.
- The special one-day Summer Clinic comprised a small but enthusiastic group. The two-hour event covered everything from a Handling the Heat Cheat Sheet with Q&A to a warm-up to drills to a one-mile base line effort to a cool-down complete with Fla-Vor-Ice.
Coming Events (See Club RSU page for any unlinked events)
August
23 – ROC Triathlon: Providing a 15% discount to GRRC members; register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/RochTri.
24 – Black Diamond Half Marathon: This is a Rochester Runner of the Year race! The course is relatively flat and not technical, despite a few rocks and roots here and there. There’s a 5K, too, but it is not a RROY race. Register at https://mendonfoundation.org/black-diamond-express-races/.
30 – Crosswinds Run Series: Offering various discounts to GRRC members; register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Canandaigua/Crosswinds5K.
31 – Oak Tree 5K: This is another Rochester Runner of the Year race! A fundraiser for the Genesee Valley Conservancy, they say the paved course “highlights the National Historic Landmark District of the Village of Geneseo, traveling through the business district before touring several historic residential streets.” Get registration details at https://oaktreerace.org/.
31 – The Potato Run: Not a GRRC event (full disclosure: this is by my company, Obatron Productions); 10K starting in the beautiful Greece Canal Park, traversing the nearby rolling hills of Ridgeway among lovely homes and water features, carrying on to the flat, well-packed path of the Erie Canal with a downhill finish into the park and across the finish line. Limited spots remaining! Youth pricing in effect. Volunteers also needed! Both racers and volunteers can register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/WestoftheRiverSeries.
September
19-21 – Sleigh Me: Directed by our own Martha Doody, this is not a GRRC race. However, GRRC members get $5 offer. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Shortsville/SleighMe48HourUltra. Taking place on the woods-filled property of Shortsville Reindeer Farm, this variable option race from 24 hour to 48 or a flat 100-mile (new this year) offers a chance to bask in the ambiance and joy that is unique to real reindeer.
27 – Heritage Hero: This is a Rochester Runner of the Year race! To get the discount, you need to go to your email where Jennifer Gaudino sent out a members only message with that discount. See https://p2p.onecause.com/heritagehero for more information about the race.
October
11 – CanLake Ultras: No longer a GRRC event, the new folks have kept an offer on the books for our members, taken off at checkout automatically at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Canandaigua/CanLake50. With variations from when it was from us, the atmosphere remains unchanged: scenic views, supportive environment, and challenging hills you can brag about conquering.
18-19 – Nocturnal 12: Not a GRRC event (full disclosure: this is by my company, Obatron Productions). Race up to the whole 12 hours on the 2.06-mile round trip out-and-back paved path between a wildlife preserve and Lake Ontario State Parkway. Earn a wooden medallion for doing one lap and keep the tokens of achievement accumulating as your mileage does, too. Special prize for true night owls. GRRC membership discount deducted automatically for members at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/Nocturnal12.
25 – Scare Brain Cancer Away: Offering a 5K and a 1.5-Mile Walk, this is not a RROY race this year having traded spots with Karknocker, but it does still offer GRRC members a discount automatically at check-out. See more at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/EastRochester/ScareBrainCancerAway.
MILEStone Patch Challenge
Where We Stand!
Jennifer Toti reins again with more than 1,000 miles. Three people besides her have topped 200 racing miles already: William (Bill) Murphy with Allan Kaplan chasing right behind him and Tom Butler not incredibly far behind. A bunch of us are on the board but clearly behind in logging. A handful have signed up but haven’t updated their mileage, yet.
Register now at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterRunningClubMILEStonePatchChallenge to start tracking your mileage. Even if you’re not sure how to do the data entry, if you want to be in the MILEStone Challenge, free registration is required. If needed, we’ll help you out with the data entry. Questions? Just email us at milestone@grtconline.org.
Folks who didn’t pick up their 2024 patches at the March banquet: the coordinator has asked me in late June to take over that portion for her and I still haven’t gotten to it just yet. I haven’t forgotten. I will get there, but I’m a volunteer, too, and sometimes stuff takes longer than I hope. Thank you for your patience.
Discounts
See member discounts at https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub. They are updated as race directors extend the discount to our members.
Volunteerism
GRRC – Want to help and don’t know how? Contact me at president@grtconline.org and let’s talk!
Thank you for being a member or being interested enough to follow us in email and social media. Members can renew before their membership lapses and followers can become members by registering at https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub.
See you out there!
Vickey Beaver