June 2026 President’s Letter in PDF
Dear Members and GRRC Supporters:
Welcome new members. This letter contains the June club recap, upcoming events, and some club highlights.
June Club Recap
- We’ve come up with a preliminary template for our conflict-of-interest policy. It will be voted on at the July meeting, and we’ll determine what the next steps are in terms of legal review.
- The GRRC Summer Track Clinic concluded with lower numbers, more like what we’ve had in year’s past. Board members who took the clinic reported good progress personally and a view that those who participated got a lot out of it.
- The Summer Speed Festival by On Track Physical Therapy and Performance, which we sponsored and paid to have a team registration option, grew over its debut year. Sixteen GRRC members registered for individual events. Some may have done only the relay and not been counted due to the way the race director processed the event. Multiple board members represented the club and other organizations they’re part of at the same time.
- The GRRC Summer Picnic & Membership Meeting registration saw its first sign-ups! It’s free. We ask folks to bring something to contribute, if possible. The club provides the main course, lodge, and organization. Join us on August 9th! This year it’s at Mendon Ponds Park and we have options for walking/running that include a visit to Wild Wings Center. https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Henrietta/GRTCSummerPicnic
- Matt Sitler is now the Membership Chair! Two other members are in the wings ready to round out the committee.
- MILEStone Recap: The top three remain the same, but with higher mileage. Bill Murphy is approaching Platinum status right behind them!
- Jennifer Toti, 136:18:14 covering 570.34 miles
- Bruce Carter, 93:40:26 covering 501.046 miles
- Jill Carter, 95:22:12 covering 482.846 miles
Coming Events (See Club RSU page for additional events/dates)
July
18-19 – Candlelight 12/24-Hour, this overnight endurance challenge is on asphalt and hard-packed trail with largely foot-friendly footing on a 1-mile looped course; this is a GRRC race where you can challenge yourself for as many laps as you’d like for up to 24 hours, https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rush/CandleLight12HourOvernightUltra
19 – Jungle Jog, 5K (RROY Race), a perennial favorite starting and ending in the zoo, https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/SenecaParkZooJungleJog
24 – Karknocker 5K, a former RROY race, this Friday night race gives you the perfect evening chance to test yourself in East Rochester, https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/EastRochester/Karknocker
August
1 – Lima Bean 5K (not GRRC), offers a $5 GRRC discount, https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Lima/LimaBean5K
6 – IEXC Race 1 5K is a Rochester Runner of the Year Race, https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/InnovativeEdgeSummer5K
9 – GRRC Summer Picnic & Membership Meeting, this is a free event where we ask only that members bring something to share, if they are able. This will be held at the Hopkins Point Lodge at Mendon Ponds Park. Open to members, members’ guests, and potential members. This does include a short membership meeting, which might be unappealing to children. There are no children’s amenities at or near the lodge. Registration is required for planning purposes at https://runsignup.com/grrcsummerpicnicmembershipmeeting
21-22 – The ROC Triathlon, includes a 5K only option (not a GRRC race), https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/RochTri
23 – Black Diamond Express 5K and Half Marathon, the half is a Rochester Runner of the Year race; relatively flat on mostly packed earth and only a couple of road crossings, https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Mendon/BlackDiamondExpress
MILEStone Patch Challenge
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. Patches from 2025 were mailed out within the last two weeks.
Rochester Runner of the Year Series
See the complete list of RROY races with links and additional information at https://rochesterrunneroftheyear.org/. RROY races offer discounts to GRRC members.
Discounts
See member discounts at https://runsignup.com/GreaterRochesterRunningClub. Only races within our service area, plus those by Greater Buffalo Track Club, are highlighted in the president’s letter or social media, if they are providing a club discount. However, races outside our area often extend discounts to us through RunSignup’s options and are visible at the bottom of the club’s RSU page.
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/GreaterRochesterRunningClub.
See you out there!
Vickey Beaver