November-December 2006

President’s Column – November-December 2006 On the road to becoming a great club… To Review and perhaps Amend the Bylaws.   Apologies in advance for this boring, bureaucratic topic but it’s necessary.  The Board approved a major update of the Bylaws that govern your club at the October board meeting.  Under the current Bylaws, the members may amend the new Bylaws at the Annual Membership Meeting (the January Awards Banquet).  Please review the amended Bylaws (printed in this newsletter and available on the club web site).  If you wish to propose an amendment, send the proposed text to any board member no later than January 1st. 2006 Runner of the Year Series.  As I write this, nine of ten 2006 races have been completed.  The Open Men & Women and many Age Group categories won’t be determined until we have the results from the Race with Grace 10K on Thanksgiving Day.  Awards will be presented to the top runners in every category at the GRTC Annual Banquet in January.  Please don’t forget the generous sponsors who make those awards possible:  Westside Tax Service and Innovative Edge Sports.  Contributions from the participating races and from the GRTC will also fund the many age group certificates, the masters’ awards and the consistent participant awards. 2007 Runner of the Year Plans.  The GRTC is stepping up its commitment to the Rochester Runner of the Year Series in 2007.  An expanded committee of both GRTC and non-GRTC members has formed to coordinate the series for 2007.  The 2007 Committee is on track to announce the 2007 Series races at the Annual Awards Banquet in January. Hall of Fame Inductees.  The Hall of Fame Committee, made up of four current members of the Hall of Fame plus a chairman from the Board of Directors, is evaluating nominations and will recommend up to two candidates for induction into the Hall at the Annual Awards Banquet. GRTC Annual Awards Banquet.  We can’t promise to top the magic of last year’s celebration… after all; it is not every year that we have a National Championship team (the Hilton Girls Cross Country Team) as honored guests.  Still, the Banquet is the social event of the year for the Rochester Running Community.  Don’t wait to pay “at the door.”  Send in your reservation as soon as possible.  You will save $5 and we will be able to plan for the correct number of meals. Freezeroo Series.   The Freezeroo is one of the true gems of Rochester running.  The races are an ideal mix of winter fun and serious racing; just right for keeping us connected with our running friends and motivated to train through another Rochester winter.  Sign up for the series now. GRTC Teams.  Your club had two strong teams in the September 17th Rochester Marathon.  The GRTC Mixed Masters (Marlene DiSano, Roger Howe, Eileen Weinpress and Patty Pirnie) won the Mixed Masters category with a new record and finished 4th overall.  The GRTC Masters (Lou Katz, Steve Rivers, Robert Yax and Mike Weinpress) finished 2nd in Masters Men and 3rd overall.  Team member Patty Pirnie also finished the October 21st Hawaii Ironman in 11:46:58. Ted Thull assembled another strong GRTC Masters team (Ted plus Tim Dwyer, Frank Goetz, John Grabski and Dick Moriarity) for the October 7th Fleet Feet Sports Relay… ten legs totaling 50 miles around Canandaigua Lake.  The GRTC team set a new Masters record, tied the prior Open record and finished 2nd overall behind a team of the same former SUNY Oswego runners who ran away with the Rochester Marathon Relay.  Of additional note, Tim Dwyer and Frank Goetz finished the October 22nd Chicago Marathon in 3:02:08 and 3:09:18 respectively. If you are interested in joining in the fun of being part of the GRTC team in 2007, contact me or any other GRTC board member.  You don’t have to match the performances of the runners named here.  There’s a place on the Competitive Team for runners of all ages and abilities.  The only expectation is that you strive to run each team race to be best of your ability. Thanks and good running to you, Tom Perry November 2006