GRRC January 2025 President’s Letter in PDF
Dear Members and GRRC Followers:
Happy New Year! This letter recaps January club activity, highlights upcoming GRRC-related races, events, and volunteer opportunities, and provides a couple of reminders.
January Club Recap
- The annual GRRC Board of Directors election concluded yesterday, January 15. Sitting directors Alex Croll (Member-at-Large), Jennifer Gaudino (Secretary), and Gil Robs (Member-at-Large) were re-elected to three-year terms. Stephen Scherer was elected to the seat that will be vacated by Jim Moragne (Member-at-Large) at the end of his term, January 31, 2025.
- Rachael Della Pietra is taking over many membership tasks that Jim has been handling, Tina Ruhland is our new MILEStone Challenge Coordinator, and Alex Croll is partnering with me to plot club events.
- The board approved the transfer of ownership of CanLake Ultras to Teague Ruder of FarFetched Enterprises. Long-time race director and GRRC board member Gil Robs continues to work with the new owners to ensure a seamless transition. The new outfit kept the established link for the race, which is currently open for registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Canandaigua/CanLake50. Thanks to Gil for his incredible work and dedication to the race and its continuation.
- The board voted to sponsor RIT’s Try-a-Tri for a second year. Registration for that is also open: https://campusgroups.rit.edu/rmc/rsvp_boot?id=2284177.
- The board voted to continue volunteering at our regular location at Lilac 10K with Tina Ruhland as our Water Stop Captain.
- The Holiday Lights Walk/Run/Gathering was a success with more cookies than we could possibly eat and a great night of reasonable footing along well-lighted sidewalks in the equally well-decorated neighborhood. Bill Gray’s was an excellent host for the event.
- The RROY Series is being finalized by RROY Chair Jennifer Gaudino over the next couple of weeks. Our traditional kickoff race, Runnin’ of the Green, has confirmed its continued placement in RROY and GRRC members get a discount: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/RunninoftheGreenpresentedbytheYMCA.
- Freezeroo continued with its second race, which saw mixed weather and a slightly smaller crowd than in the past. Thanks to all who put that together and volunteered!
Coming Events (January, February & Banquet)
January (Freezeroo Link: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/FreezerooSeriesIndividualRace.)
1/18 – Pineway Ponds, Freezeroo #3, 5-mile race from Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport
1/25 – Hearnish, Freezeroo #4, 5-mile race from Victor Municipal Park
February
2/8 – Valentine’s Run in Memory of Tom Brannon, Freezeroo #5, 8-mile race from Braddock Bay Park; Note: This one starts at 9 a.m. for regular start and 8:30 a.m. for those doing a 12-minute mile or slower pace; Also, volunteers are actively being sought for this one. See “Volunteerism” for more info below.
2/22 – White House Challenge, Freezeroo #6 (FINAL RACE!), 4.4-mile race near the White House Shelter at Webster Park; This is the final race of the 2024-2025 series and where any series prizes will be awarded. Come if you can and plan to stick around longer than normal to celebrate those who have placed in the top three overall and AG slots. The person you applaud may be yourself!
Banquet
The annual GRRC banquet is set for Saturday, March 1st, 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The banquet is open to members and non-members, but all must register in advance via RunSignup https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Scottsville/GRTCAnnualAwardsBanquet. The earlier you register, the more free raffle tickets you get. We even have our first donor: InMotion Physical Therapy, which has donated a free evaluation.
The banquet is a great time to enjoy socializing in a non-competitive, non-training environment as well as collect your MILEStone patch, hear any news, meet the board, and honor those getting awards for the MILEStone Challenge, Rochester Runner of the Year Series, and being inducted into the GRRC Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame
Past President Wilt Alston and well-known chiropractor Mike Reinhardt are being inducted at this year’s banquet. Congratulations to them both!
Reminders
MILEStone Patch Challenge EXTENSTION
If you signed up for the patch challenge, but you forgot to log all your miles, it’s not too late. Same if you didn’t sign up at all, but you still want a patch. Reminder: Only registered club members can get a patch.
This year’s pilot program went great with 59 people signing up, the majority logging in their miles, and only a few needing to send messages after the fact. However, as it is a pilot program, we’ve had some folks who need a little extra help and a little extra time. We are extending the due date to Sunday, January 19th. Please, if you can, use the spreadsheet file on our website at https://grtconline.org/spreadsheet-file-info-for-2024-milestone-patch-results/ (or in the Files section of our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/greaterrochesterrunningclub/files/files), and send it to milestone@grtconline.org. If you find that too difficult, this year, you can send a list in email, if needed, that shows: race date, race name, race distance.
Discounts
See member discounts at https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub.
Volunteerism
Freezeroo Races – With six different races, we’re bound to need help! Please contact our Series Director, Doug Jones, Djones6703@aol.com. The team handling 2/8’s race is actively in search of volunteers right now.
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