GRTC PRESIDENT’S LETTER 10.1.23
Fall is officially upon us now and frighteningly some leaves are starting to change. It is still great running weather though. The new GRTC summer running clinic has now been going full blast Monday nights at the Roberts Wesleyan College track. Everyone is having a good time with the “final exam” one mile run 10/6. Regarding the RROY series, the Oak Tree ½ marathon, the Heritage Hero 10K, and the Potato Run 10K are now behind us. But there are still 3 RROY races yet to finish out 2023. The Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K (10/21/23), The East Avenue Grocery Run 5K (11/23/23), and finally The Feast Thanksgiving 5 mile (11/23/23). Signup for all, enjoy them, and get yourself on the podium at our annual awards banquet this winter. And our “flagship ultra” the CanLake50 is just around the corner on 10/7/23 as well as our Bound for the Hounds 6 hour ultra on 11/23/23 in Shortsville. The Freezeroo is also back now as always, with the dates and details below. Dive into the fall season running season with these multiple GRTC options as below.
Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K 10/21/23: This longstanding race in East Rochester for support of brain cancer will this year benefit Abby McCarthy, helping with her medical costs. Come out to enjoy a great fall race and support a great cause.
https://runsignup.com/Race/
East Avenue Grocery Run 5K 11/4/23 This longstanding favorite race through downtown Rochester raises money for Rochester area food pantries. This year they have added a 10K to their traditional 5K and 1-mile offerings. Another great race for a great cause. https://www.groceryrun.org
The Feast Thanksgiving 5 mile 11/23/23 Running one of the area races on thanksgiving morning is an enduring tradition for many. Exercise off your calories in downtown Rochester with either the 5 mile or 2 mile options of the Feast Thanksgiving race. A great start for the holiday.
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
CanLakeUltras 25K/50K/50mile 10/7/23: It’s not too late to signup for this fall classic. This group of races around beautiful Canandaigua Lake is just over the horizon in October. Once again you have a choice of the full 50mile, 50K or 25K. If you are new to ultra running, the shorter distances are a great way to try this out. Always a great event. https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
BOUND FOR THE HOUNDS ULTRA: 11/23/23. And to finish our ultra-race 2023 series, the 5th annual GRTC Bound for the Hounds 6-hour Ultra will be on 11/23/23 at Budd Park in Shortsville. In the model of Candlelight12 and Mind the Ducks, participants will run as many 2.3 mile loops on the Manchester Gateway Trail (surface comparable to the canal path) one can do in 6 hours. Proceeds support Gordy and Friends (http://www.gordyandfriends.
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
FREEZEROO SERIES 2023-24 The iconic Freezeroo series is ready to go for this season. The Freezeroo has signup discounts which remain one of the long-established values of GRTC membership. It is definitely an important way to keep us all running together and connected through the long upstate New York winter. Be sure to save the dates for all this season’s races now. Using the same venues as in the past, there are a variety of locations, distances and terrains (something for everyone). Format and awards structure are as before and awards will be given out at the White House race. This year we have also added an early start to Webster race. Early starts are now with all races except the Don Curran 5K.
12/9/23 Don Curran Memorial 5K race at North Star Christian academy Gates (no early start option)
1/1/24 New Years Resolution 7.5-mile race at Mendon Ponds Park
1/13/24 Pineway Ponds 5-mile race from Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport
1/20/24 Hearnish 5-mile race from Victor Municipal Park
2/3/24 Valentines 8-mile race from Braddock Bay Park (9:00 AM START).
2/17/24 White House Challenge 4.4-mile race from Webster Park (optional early start new for this year)
Signup will go live at 12:01 AM, Sunday October 1st!
Everyone who signs up for the full series that day will get a further $5 discount.
We will also pull one random name from those who sign up for the full series before November 1st
and refund their entry fee.
A series gift (TBA) will also be given to the first 150 series registrants.
More on the details of the gift will be forthcoming.
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/
ROCHESTER RUNNER OF THE YEAR SERIES: GRTC works with individual race directors to promote the RROY series and provides the awards for series winners. GRTC members also get a signup discount for all the RROY races. We therefore encourage all GRTC members to take full advantage of their membership value and participate in as many of these races as possible, to support the individual races, the series and running in our region. As in the past one needs to run only 4 races over the year to be eligible for RROY awards, and 6 races gives you a consistent participant award at our Banquet. As a GRTC member, consider these YOUR races throughout the year.
RROY races for 2023:
3/11/23-Running of the Green 5 mile
5/21/23-Lilac 10K
6/9/23 – McMullan Mile
6/17/23 – Stache Dash 5K
6/18/23 – June Jaunt 5K
7/16/23 – Jungle Jog 5K
8/27/23 – Black Diamond ½ marathon
9/3/23 – Oak Tree ½ marathon
9/9/23 – Heritage Hero 10K
9/10/23 – The Potato Run 10K
10/21/23 – Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K
11/4/23 – East Avenue Grocery Run 5K
11/23/23 – The Feast Thanksgiving 5 mile
RROY series: https://
2023 GRTC OPTIONS/VALUE: GRTC truly has a great lineup of running activities for 2023 to fit our club mission of supporting running throughout the Rochester area. Take advantage yourself of all these opportunities and discounts. Get out and do all the RROY series races (a $65 discount value for those doing all). Sign up for our ultra races (discounts for members). Sign up for our spring and/or summer running clinics ($20 off for members). Take advantage of the boilermaker bus and our annual summer picnic. 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 pays for itself and goes a long way to keeping our sport vibrant and maintaining running events/opportunities for all. What can you lose? See you out on the road.
Join: https://runsignup.com/Club/
Doug Jones (President GRTC)