President's Column - Deb Wyspianski - December '08 - January '09

With winter starting to settle in some of us are starting to feel a bit of the winter blues.
The craziness of the holidays can leave us tired and stressed. The shorter daylight hours
can make us feel as if we are trapped in the house, but don’t hang up your running shoes
just yet. GRTC offers an outlet for your winter doldrums. We are having our 30th
anniversary Freezeroo Series starting on December 13th in Pineway Ponds Park in Ogden.
This is the start of a six race series that will run until the end of February. There is chip
timing, plenty of food, and prizes for the series runners. To qualify for the series you
must sign up for the series at YOUR FIRST race. You must also run at least 4 of the six
races. If you run more, your best 4 are scored.

The series is a great way to keep yourself motivated through the winter months and to
help keep off the extra holiday pounds, or an excuse to eat more. It is a great way to stay
in touch with all your running friends as well. The series offers both competition and
festivities. If you are making it a family event, maybe those not running can help by
volunteering. If you think you can help out, please email or call Diane Jozefski at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 585-467-9255.

We will be having our annual GRTC banquet on January 24, 2009. At the banquet we
will be celebrating New Year of running and the accomplishments of 2008.There will be
mileage patches given out to those who submit their race miles run in 2008. We have
them for 50,100 and 200miles. We will be giving out the awards for the Rochester
Runner of the Year Series (RROY) and we will be honoring the 2 new GRTC Hall of
Fame inductees. There will be time to eat and socialize, so if you are interested, please
make your reservations now before they are sold out. If there are spaces left, tickets will
be sold at the door at an increased price. Please see or web site for further details on all of
these events.

Another item we do at the banquet each year is vote on the GRTC board member
elections. We gave a rotating 3 year plan that allows the members to rotate in or out if
they wish. We are in real need of new members to the boars and are interested in anyone
out there who feels that they can contribute. You do not have to have any special talents
or be a fast runner. All you need is the willingness and the desire to make a difference in
the running community. Special skills are just a bonus.

I started on the board a few years ago with the encouragement of the Freezeroo race
directors. They did not know me but saw that I was there taking pictures of my friends at
each of the races. I had started running the series but became injured. My reply was that I
didn’t have any “board member” skills. I did have the time though and I wanted to feel a
part of something so I tentatively agreed to attend some of the meetings. I am very glad
that I did. Besides taking pictures for the web site, I mainly volunteered to do the hands
on preparations for our various events. It is funny to me that I somehow ended up as
president in 2008. It’s funny because I still remember at how I squirmed at the invitation
to be on the board. I had been a swim instructor/lifeguard, a waitress, and a dishwasher.
How did unloading tractor trailers or working in a factory qualify me for the board of
anything? I wasn’t even a really serious or fast runner.. I found out that I didn’t need to
be. All I had to do was say I was willing to help in whatever way I could. There is always
a lot more work behind the scenes than most people realize and a great need for those to
do it.

We also have a need for someone who is willing to take over the GRTC calendar for
2009. The majority of the work will be between now and March but will continue with
updates throughout the year. This calendar is created for our web site and has been in
conjunction with Fleet Feet for a printed version. If you feel that this is an area in which
you can help us out. Please contact any of us on the board and we will be happy to work
with you.

I hope to see all of you at our upcoming events. Make the most of your winter.

Deb