GRTC President’s Letter 9.6.21
Can summer really be winding down? We HAVE had some great club activities the past few months. Our (not in the spring this year because of COVID) track clinic ended in July with a good time for all. The focus there as in the past was on improving running speed, efficiency and skills. We are now 2/3 through with our new complementary fall running clinic. Focused on exploring all aspects of and types of running, this format has been fun and well received. We are looking forward to a two season mix of these programs next year. These coached training programs remain one of the best values of GRTC membership. Start now with planning to attend these next year to enhance your running knowledge, skills and enjoyment.
Several significant races also took place in the last few weeks of summer. Our GRTC Mind The Ducks 12 hour event, the second in our 4 race ultra series, was this past weekend on 9/4. Under great weather conditions, 82 runners finished the 12 hours. Winners were John Kohl (43) of Camillus, NY, with 64.77 miles, and Allison Matusick (39) of Corning, NY with 62.74 miles. Once again, a truly good time was had by all, both runners and volunteers. The numerous runners who have now made this a personal yearly tradition, are already looking forward to this event for next year. And several former RROY series races have reappeared as in person events as well. The black diamond ½ marathon and 5K took place 8/29 in Mendon with 177 finishers in the ½ marathon and 52 in the 5K. The Oak Tree half marathon and 5K in Geneseo went forward 9/5 with 141 finishers in the 1/2 marathon and 212 in the 5K. For many these were a great way to end the summer running season.
And if you missed the Candlelight12 and Mind the Ducks events, don’t despair. Just around the corner are our 2 remaining GRTC ultra-race offering for 2021. On 10/9 is CanLake50, the jewel of the crown for our Ultra Series. This beautiful course around stunning Canandaigua Lake offers options of 25K/50K/50Miles to fit all ultra-runners. If you have always wondered if you could do this, now may be the time. Sign up today: https://canlake50.com/ And if you’d like to just come out and enjoy the day with us and check out the event for the future, come out that day as a volunteer. We need people for aid stations, registration and general support along the course. It’s a great way to enjoy the event and give back to fellow runners and the running community. Plus, this year we will give a one year membership credit to all volunteers who donate 4 hours of their time to support the race. What do you have to lose? Contact Gil Robs if you can help: CanLake50@gmail.com.
And to finish our ultra-race 2021 series the 3rd annual GRTC Bound for the Hounds 6-hour Ultra will be on 11/20/21 at Budd Park in Shortsville. In the model of Candlelight12 and Mind the Ducks, one will run as many 2.3 mile loops on the Manchester Gateway Trail (surface comparable to the canal path) as you can in 6 hours. Organized by Martha Doody with proceeds supporting the Shortsville dog park, this beautiful course in rural Shortsville is a great way to finish up your ultra-race season. Sign up today https://runsignup.com/…/3rdAnnualBoundfortheHounds6Hour….
In general, in-person racing is clearly “booting up” again in our region after a year’s hiatus. Check the face book pages and webpages of the major running stores and related organizations for the new options which are popping up daily. Three of the traditional RROY races are back on the calendar for the fall, and you should put them on your personal race “dockets” as well. The Scare Brain Cancer away 5K in East Rochester will take place 10/23/23. The East Side Grocery Run will be 11/6/21. The Race with Grace will be thanksgiving morning 11/25/21. Signup links are below. Please plan to run and support these races coming back “on line”. Though we have not had enough races this year to formally score a RROY series, we are looking forward to a return of the overall series for 2022. Stay tuned. We are also planning a full return of the GRTC Freezeroo series this year with the same 6 sites and formats that you know and enjoy. Plan to be there with us this year again for the return of this great GRTC wintertime series. Dates and final details soon.
Again, with Labor Day now behind us, the fall running season is just getting started. Sign up today for CanLake50 and the Bound for the Hounds 6 hour Ultra. If you are not up to running either, come out and volunteer with us at one of our events. Check out also the many other in-person running events now popping up again from many of the running stores and organizations. Stay tuned for dates and details on the return of our 2021-2022 Freezeroo series. Whatever pace and distance you are running, get out and enjoy the many running options Rochester’s fantastic running community gives us. And as always, see you out on the road.
Doug Jones (President GRTC)
GRTC Membership: https://runsignup.com/…/Roche…/GreaterRochesterTrackClub
GRTC purchases: https://grtc.threadless.com