October 2024 President’s Letter

October 2024 President’s Letter in PDF

 

Greater Rochester Running Club President’s Letter

October 18, 2024

Dear Members and GRRC Followers:

This letter recaps October club activity, highlights upcoming GRRC-related races, events, and volunteer opportunities, and provides a couple of reminders.

October Club Recap

• The board is entertaining ideas of how to expand GRRC’s reach, better support the running community, address work distribution, and ensure our fiscal solvency. We are in good shape financially, but with many costs increasing over the last decade, we haven’t consistently adjusted to keep pace. We’ve already rebalanced our workload for some things and will continue to do so for the next few months. We’re considering how to work with other organizations with established programs and determining what criteria makes sense for donations like for Try-a-Tri.
• Gil Robs has announced he is stepping down as the race director for the Can Lake races. He is interested in seeking a replacement. Two board members expressed provisional interest in taking over and keeping the race within the GRRC family. No decisions regarding a transition have been made.
• Can Lake went off as planned and had a fantastic run under Gil Robs’ direction for his last stand at the helm. We lucked out with the weather and saw some inspiring efforts for the three different distances. See https://canlake50.com/ and visit its Facebook group for information about the race and pictures from race day. Thanks to all the volunteers and to Gil for making it happen. He has done a tremendous job for years pulling off a complicated race, in terms of direction.

  The next day from Can Lake, we had our first (at least in several years) potluck. It was a small endeavor, but fun. With road and trail options on a chilly, rainy day, everyone who ventured some miles chose asphalt at Ellison Park. Aside from getting some miles, we enjoyed a variety of food, trivia, an indoor min-golf/croquet crossover, and other games.

• MILEStone Patch Challenge Recap: It’s only been a couple of weeks since the last recap and I know not everyone has updated, yet, but we do have movement. We’ve still got 41 registered, 33 of which have input something to be on the board.
  
  

  Vickey Beaver and Jennifer Gaudino out for some miles at the potluck.

  
  
  Top three: Jennifer Toti (1,371), Gary Thompson (831), and Theresa Puckett (494).
  On the Board, but No Patch, Yet: 9
  Bronze (50-99): 9
  Silver (100-199): 8
  Gold (200-299): 3
  Platinum (300 and More): 4

Coming Events (Rest of October, November, and December)

October

10/18 – Sunshine Camp Trail Mix 5K and Beer Fest benefits Rotary Sunshine Camp, where Candlelight 12 & 24-Hour is held. While not a GRRC race, GRRC members get a discount. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rush/SunshineCampTrailRun by 4:30 p.m. on 10/18.

10/19 – RROY Race #10 is Scare Brain Cancer Away, directed by Jonathan Griffiths. A perennial favorite with more details at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/EastRochester/ScareBrainCancerAway.

10/19 & 20 – Nocturnal 12, directed by Vickey Beaver, is an overnight endurance challenge allowing racers to give it what they’ve got from 5 p.m. on Saturday to 5 a.m. on Sunday. This is not a GRRC race, but GRRC members get a discount. Registration is still open at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/Nocturnal12. 

November

11/2 – RROY Race #11 is the East Avenue Grocery Run 10K, a new distance for RROY, directed by Ellen Rye. Known for a great post-race array of food options, this is a fundraiser for food providers in our area. UPDATED: The time limit has been extended so racers have 90 minutes to complete the 10K! Other race distances do not count for RROY standings. Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/EastAvenueGroceryRun.

11/3 – Barbecue Bash Quarters in Spencerport, directed by Vickey Beaver, is the only road race in Monroe County offering a certified marathon course at this time. This is not a club race, but GRRC members get a discount. Racers have an option at registration to choose how many quarter marathon laps they will do to get 6.55, 13.1, 19.65, or 26.2 miles done with a simultaneous start and a generous 7-hour cutoff. Register to race or volunteer at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/WestoftheRiverSeries.

11/16 – Bound for the Hounds, directed by Martha Doody, is a 6-hour race benefiting the Shortsville Dog Park. While not a GRRC race, members get a discount. This lovely event offers a long out-and-back on pavement with one road crossing, a peaceful creek, plenty of trees, and frequent canine visitors. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Shortsville/5thAnnualBoundfortheHounds6HourUltra.

11/28 – RROY Race #12 is Race with Grace 10K directed by Cathy Mucha. There is also a 5K, but that does not count for RROY standings. Proceeds after expenses support C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/RacewithGrace10K.

11/28 – The Feast is put on by Medved also occurs on Thanksgiving Day. Not a GRRC race, it does offer members a discount. The multi-distance event goes through Rochester. More information is at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/FeastofBurden5Miler.

December

12/14 – Don Curran Memorial 5K kicks off our Freezeroo Series! Register just for it or for the whole series at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/FreezerooSeriesIndividualRace. Race at least four to be in the series standings. One of the Freezeroo Race Series incentives is a drawing November 1st from the names of everyone registered for the Series by midnight, October 31, 2024. The winner will have their entire series fee refunded. Plus, the first 200 registrants will receive the Freezeroo 2024-25 tote bag as our gift.

Reminders

Rochester Runner of the Year (RROY) Participation

Don’t forget: RROY races are discounted for GRRC members and members need six to be a Frequent Participant! See the full list at https://rochesterrunneroftheyear.org/. There are THREE left.

MILEStone Patch Challenge

Don’t forget to log your in-person race miles this month. Put the name of your race in the log comments and have fun! The sooner you sign up, the less backlog you’ll have. Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterRunningClubMILEStonePatchChallenge.

Volunteerism

RROY Races – Check with races directly; they nearly all need help! https://rochesterrunneroftheyear.org

 

GRRC – Want to be part of what keeps bringing people back to our events and attracting new members to our club? Let me know at president@grtconline.org. Expressing interest doesn’t oblige you, but it does give us a chance to share what’s involved. You do not have to be a board member to help with or do the following:

• Freezeroo Helpers
• Marketing
• Website
• Social Media
• Special Events (Banquet, Picnic, etc.)
• Outreach
• Volunteer at Large

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. To see the latest discounts, scroll to bottom of the club page, https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub. Be sure to click through whatever interests you as the system doesn’t always display the actual race dates when there are multiple dates or activities offered.

See you out there!

Vickey Beaver