Current President's Message

Does GRTC Need a FAQ? - By Wilt Alston "FAQ or Frequently Asked Questions: Listed questions and answers, commonly asked in some context and pertaining to a particular topic." ~ Wikipedia   It will probably come as a surprise to no one that as GRTC President I get a fair amount of e-mail. The subjects of the notes vary, but more often than not, they can be grouped into two primary categories, which are: People with Something to Sell (PSS) and People Looking for Running Information (PLRI). My approach to the PSS folks is pretty standard. I forward the note to the rest of the GRTC Board of Directors with words to the effect, "Here's a sales promo I got. What do y'all think?" My approach to the RLRI folks-how we answer those queries-is what this column is about. The Mission Statement of the Greater Rochester Track Club is: To Make Rochester the best place for runners of all ages and skill levels to live by providing information and opportunities to participate in sporting and/or social events. When people inquire, it presents a chance-and I'd argue a vital one-to bring that mission to life. How best to do it? That's where you, dear reader, come in. It seems to me that many if not most of the notes from PLRI contain largely the same questions over and over. That's not a bad thing, but maybe it is an indication that we need to do our jobs better. To that end, maybe we need to create and manage a GRTC FAQ, to be displayed on our website, printed in our (electronic) newsletter, and made available as a reference document to anyone who requests it. What are some examples of the types of questions it will answer? To wit: Q:        I just heard about your organization and wondered what you do. Can you help? A:        The Greater Rochester Track Club (GRTC) traces its origins back to July 1, 1958. As one of the largest, organized, competitive running clubs in Upstate New York, the GRTC offers something for runners of all levels. Our goal is to offer our members the camaraderie of running with others, to help each member become more fit, learn more about themselves, find time to exercise, and help prevent common running injuries. Q:        I'm a runner interested in maintaining or improving my running. Can you help? A:        GRTC organizes many events for the running community, including: Freezeroo Winter Race Series; Spring Track Clinic and Workout Series; Annual Utica Boilermaker 15K Bus Trip; the Rochester Runner of the Year Series. Of those activities, only the Spring Track Clinics-which are coached by world-class running minds-provide the opportunity to meet together for workouts aimed specifically at improving one's running. We also plan to offer additional opportunities of this type beginning in 2012. Q:        I'm interested in a group that meets to train together. Can you help? A:        GRTC does not actively oversee any running groups. We are fortunate enough to have a plethora of running groups, some organic, some formal, that meet all over the area, at various times, in various places, composed of various types of runners. These groups will absolutely welcome you with open arms! There are several options-some that require membership fees and some which are free-should you wish to join a group. In the category of formal running groups we have: ·       The Genesee Valley Harriers (www.gvh.net ) competitive running club which provides coached workout sessions, as well as team competition in post-collegiate cross-country meets. ·       Fleet Feet Sports ( www.fleetfeetrochester.com ) and Medved Running and Walking Outfitters ( www.medvedrunwalk.com ), both of which are athletic retailers, also provide opportunities for group workouts and training in a variety of settings. In the category of informal running groups we have, just as an example: ·       Bagel Bunch, which meets, oddly enough, at a bagel shop in Greece; ·       Gold Rush Runners, who meet in Irondequoit; ·       Oven Door Runners, who meet in Bushnell's Basin. Further information about these, and other informal local groups, can be found on our website under the heading Runners Resources - Informal Running Groups. Q:        I just moved to town and I'd like to enter some races. Can you help? A:        We maintain the area's most comprehensive race calendar on our website-www.GRTConline.org-along with up-to-date results from area races. Q:        I just bought a 1967 Malibu Hardtop Coupe that I'm planning to restore. Can you help? A:        GRTC maintains the largest Malibu parts database in the...  Wait.  Sorry.  No, we can't help, but good luck with that. So that's what I'm thinking for a start. What do y'all think? What types of questions should we answer in our FAQ? Submit your questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll collate them. Later, we'll publish them!