FLRC Footnotes for July 2021

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Greetings, runners! Racing almost feels like it’s back to normal, and we have results to share from the Finger Lakes 50s, the Fillmore 5K, and our July track meet. Upcoming races include Forest Frolic, Forge the Gorgeous, the August track meet, and the Ithaca 5&10—and don’t miss the FLRC Annual Picnic!  But first, here’s what’s happening with the club.

CLUB NEWS

FLRC launches community-driven photo library for club events

As the saying goes, “pics or it didn’t happen.” Whether it’s documenting the amount of mud or blood you accumulated during a race, getting shots of your kid’s first track meet, or just participating in a club group run with friends, photos bring all the memories back. (And believe us, the nostalgia only increases with time.) To aid in that effort, FLRC has created a centralized library for photos of our events. The twist is that since we’re all taking pictures with our phones now, we can all upload our photos to the appropriate album to share with everyone else. No account is necessary, and you can upload directly from your phone. Check it out!

Join us at FLRC’s Annual Picnic on August 26th

No running is involved with this event—just food, friends, and fun at Upper Buttermilk State Park on Thursday, August 26th starting at 5 PM. That’s right, FLRC’s Annual Picnic is back, with food from Fitnell Farms Catering, the same people who provision Finger Lake 50s and the Monster Marathon, and beer from Liquid State Brewing, along with non-alcoholic beverages for those who prefer them. We’ll have thank-you gifts for our volunteers and awards to present to FLRC 100K Ultra Challenge finishers Jesse Canfield and Pete Kresock, and it’s always a good time. The event is entirely free, but please RSVP on Webscorer so we know how many people to order food for. As with our races, everyone is welcome, but we ask that those who aren’t fully vaccinated wear masks to protect our community.

High school runners Elinor Kops and Nickolas Talijan win FLRC scholarships

Congratulations to Elinor Kops of Ithaca High School and Nickolas Talijan of South Seneca High School, who received $1000 FLRC scholarships based on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and demonstrated passion for running. Elinor Kops plans to continue her education and running career at Vassar College, where she hopes to run on their track and field team as a multi-event athlete, while Nickolas Talijan will be attending Paul Smith College for psychology. See FLRC scholarship coordinator Lorrie Tily’s full write-up on the forum.

FLRC board member and local standout Jullien Flynn departing for MIT

We bid a fond farewell to Jullien Flynn, who has been a valuable member of the FLRC Board of Directors for several years now, most recently heading up the club’s Diversity Committee. She has been a key volunteer at all of FLRC’s track meets and also served as president of the Ithaca Triathlon Club for the past few years. Having completed her PhD at Cornell, Jullien is moving on to a postdoc at MIT. She leaves Ithaca firmly in the lead for Most Points in the FLRC Challenge, and she has also notched first-place finishes in this year’s Fillmore 5K and Tortoise & Hare races, along with a second at Thom B.

Group runs continue to explore FLRC Challenge courses

FLRC group runs are going strong! Heather Cobb has been leading FLRC group runs, with as many as 18 runners gathering for companionable morning runs. The group runs help introduce runners to the FLRC Challenge courses and some of the area’s most gorgeous trails. Heather’s next group run is scheduled for Saturday, August 8th, and will feature post-run bagels and cream cheese! Check the Group Runs & Workouts forum for details!

We need your help—can you volunteer at an FLRC race?

After a year away from racing due to the pandemic, we need to rebuild our volunteer database to help race directors find the volunteers who make it possible to put on races. FLRC is an all-volunteer club, and volunteering is a great way to give back, have fun with friends, and meet other runners. (Seriously, we wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t a good time.) Can you volunteer at a race this year? To indicate that you can help, please fill out the FLRC Volunteer Signup form. To learn about what’s involved with race volunteer tasks and how other skills would be useful, check out the FLRC Volunteer Tasks and Attributes working document.

RACE RESULTS

Finger Lakes 50s sees 195 finishers despite deep mud

Kudos to race directors Pete Dady and Mike Stone, who stepped up late in the game to direct FLRC’s national-class ultramarathon, the Finger Lakes 50s. It’s a colossal coordination job, and they pulled it off with aplomb. In the 25K (long!), Trumansburg’s Dan Timmerman won the race in 1:54:39, with Donna Langerfeld from Port Byron, NY, finishing second overall and first for women in 2:20:19. In the 50K (longer!), Sarah Briggs came up from Montrose, PA, to post an overall win in 4:34:59, with Tim Phelps third overall and first for the men in 4:51:46. (That’s right, the first two finishers were women!) In the 50-mile race (longest!), Etan Levavi from Cold Spring, NY, won in 7:40:20, followed by Riley Brady of New Hope, PA in 7:40:59. Full results here, and don’t miss the mudfest videos!

Husband and wife Mohamad Alsabbagh and Jullien Flynn win Fillmore 5K

Thanks to race directors Lorrie Tily and Chris Irving, the Fillmore 5K went swimmingly this year, aided by torrential rain that blew through shortly after the start. Triathlete Mohamad Alsabbagh, who was the alternate for Syria in the Tokyo Olympics, took the overall win in 16:46 for the men, while his wife, Jullien Flynn, was fourth overall and first for the women in 19:20. Columbia Warren (19:28) and Katie Durrant (22:14) topped the masters category. Full results here.

Local runners return to the track in FLRC’s July track meet

With meet director Adam Engst coordinating FLRC’s experienced and capable track volunteers in the club’s first meet since February 2020, runners returned to Lansing High School’s track to compete in four events. In the 100m, which also featured a three-generation heat that included a 1-year-old, her mother, and her 73-year-old grandfather, 14-year-old James Saunders (12.35) and 56-year-old Stephanie Mulinos (19.00) recorded the top times. Mulinos doubled in the 400m, winning in 1:31, and Colin Johnston ran 51-second time to place first for the men. In the 800m, Alexander Simpson (2:00) and Liz Hartman (2:48) took the wins. Finally, in a large heat of the mile that we combined to finish the meet before the rain hit, Adam Pacheck (4:35) and Michelle Woods (7:04) broke the tapes for the wins. Full results and photos here.

Twenty-five runners have completed the FLRC Challenge!

The FLRC Challenge now has 178 participants, with 25 people having run all ten courses at least once and more lining up to reserve their medals every week. After 23 weeks, we’ve run over 10,600 miles total! Check out the improved FLRC Challenge leaderboard to see how each day’s results change the standings for individuals and the 10-year age-group teams. Note that the leaderboard now offers group pages and helps participants find compatible running partners.

In Most Points, Adam Pacheck has 969 points out of 1000 currently to lead the men by a long shot, whereas Jullien Flynn’s 973 points put her 28 points ahead of Gabrielle Woo in the women’s standings. Most Miles keeps seeing lead changes, with Bob Walters (482.4 miles) sneaking past Mickie Sanders-Jauquet (482.3 miles), who had held the top spot for the past few weeks. In the Age Grade competition, 55-year-old Caitlin Loehr continues to hold on to first, with 54-year-old Jean-Luc Jannink moving into second ahead of 29-year-old Adam Pacheck in third.

UPCOMING RACES

Download FLRC’s race schedule, and please post a copy on bulletin boards you see regularly!

Forest Frolic fast approaching on July 31st

The word from our group run on July 24th was that the Forest Frolic course out in Virgil’s Kennedy State Forest is surprisingly dry and in good shape despite the storms that dropped a few dozen now-cleared trees on it earlier this summer. Register by 6 PM on July 30th (there is no day-of-race registration) for either the 7K or the 15K, put on by the race director team of Pete Dady and Mike Stone. Note that the 15K follows the same route as the FLRC Challenge Forest Frolic course, so you’ll be able to submit your race time in the Challenge as well.

Forge the Gorgeous returns to Thursday evening slot on August 12th

After a 2019 experiment with a morning start, race directors Lorrie Tily and Chris Irving have returned Forge the Gorgeous to its traditional Thursday evening time at Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia, where it will kick off the Fillmore Days Festival. You can choose from two partially overlapping loops for a 7-mile race or cut it short after one for a 3.5-mile distance. Be sure to register by 6 PM on August 11th—there is no day-of-race registration.

One more chance to test your speed on the track on August 17th

Couldn’t make the July track meet? You have another chance to see what you can do on the track on August 17th, when meet director Adam Engst’s second meet of the summer will feature four events: the 100m, 400m, 800m, and 1 mile. Online registration via DirectAthletics is required, but to thank the community for its patience with our canceled meets in 2020 and 2021, FLRC is waiving all fees. Join us on the track for low-key, kid-friendly meets!

Save the date—August 22nd—for the Ithaca 5&10

The venerable Ithaca 5&10 race, headed up by Gary McCheyne, is moving earlier in the calendar this year and will take place on August 22nd. The distances will once again be 5K and 10K, and we’ll be opening registration once we get a few more details sorted.

Until next time, see you on the roads, trails, and tracks of the Finger Lakes!

—Adam Engst, FLRC President and VP of Track

Elinor Kops, Nickolas Talijan Receive $1000 FLRC Scholarships for 2021

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The Finger Lakes Running Club has awarded $1000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors Elinor Kops of Ithaca High School and Nickolas Talijan of South Seneca High School. FLRC scholarships are awarded based on applicants’ academics, extracurricular activities, and demonstrated passion for running.

Ithaca High’s Elinor Kops takes pride in pushing herself intellectually and genuinely wants to learn. She is active in her community, volunteering at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Second Wind Cottages, Habitat for Humanity, and the Ithaca Advocacy Center, where she focuses on athletic consent and sexual assault awareness on sports teams. In her application, she wrote, “I am very passionate about volunteering, and my love for sports and the track community absolutely shows in the projects that I take on.” She has participated in track and cross country since 7th grade, joining the varsity track team as an 8th grader. In track, she was a multi-event athlete, and from cross country, she learned “that failure is an opportunity for improvement.” She wrote of the difficulty of friendships and bonds formed with older teammates and how she became a mentor to the modified girls track team. Elinor plans to attend Vassar College, where she hopes to run on their track and field team as a multi-event athlete. She “plans to leave a legacy of a fearless woman.”

In his application, Nickolas Talijan of South Seneca High School wrote of being raised by a single mother, the strong ties he has to his uncle and grandfather, how he never thought college was “in my cards” until he had a conversation with his mom about his plans to go into the nursing program in the military. She told him he could be anything he wanted to be and asked him to look at some schools to see if he would change his mind. He did, and he will be attending Paul Smith College for psychology. Academically, Nickolas struggled throughout school but credits his mother for believing in him and working two jobs to provide him the support he needed to be successful. In track, Nickolas started with discus throwing because it was a small group and quickly achieved success, becoming the top thrower in New York State with a throw of 105.5 feet as a freshman. That success fed his confidence, and his coaches urged him to try running events as well. “At 6’ 3″ and 185 pounds with legs like telephone poles,” he did not have faith he could be a runner. With encouragement from his mother, Nickolas decided to step up to the challenge. With training, he became the anchor on his school’s relay team because he has the speed to make up any lost ground from earlier legs. Nickolas plans on running for the rest of his life. “Running has given me an opportunity that I did not think I ever had making me step out of who I was. I know I have used the words confidence a few times but really, I did not have any before track. It changed my life and who I am today and, most importantly, the person I want to become.”

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FLRC Footnotes for June 2021

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Remember, fully vaccinated people can now go maskless at all FLRC events, so keep getting those shots!

  • Results are in from the Tortoise & Hare, which almost saw a new course record.
  • Get ready for the Finger Lakes 50s, Fillmore 5K, Forest Frolic, and July track meet.
  • Help us rebuild our volunteer database by filling out the Volunteer Signup form.
  • It’s never too late to join the FLRC Challenge or FLRC Kids Challenge!
  • Run with us on our Saturday group runs on FLRC Challenge courses.

On to the details!

Tortoise & Hare won by Adam Pacheck in near course-record time

Kudos to race director Mickie Sanders-Jauquet for a successful Tortoise & Hare trail race at Buttermilk State Park. Adam Pacheck notched his third FLRC Trail Circuit win (with Thom B. and Ian Golden’s Lucifer’s Crossing race) for the men in 41:09, just off Nate Lockett’s 40:58 on a slightly different course in 2008. Jullien Flynn took the crown for the women in 52:29. Dan Timmerman (40) and Nancy Kleinrock (61!) topped the masters category. Full results here.

Special thanks to the volunteers who made it all possible, including course marshalls Mark Jauquet, Heather Cobb, Brigid Ship, Karlene Smith, Steve Ryan, Bill Watson, and Dylan Hess. Bryce Jauquet, Zofia Franck, and Shelly Marino helped with setup, water stops, and food, and Kelly Makosch and Rachel C. were sweepers. The finish line was managed by Bob Talda, Aeron Jauquet, Jesse Koenecke, and Adam Engst. Sign up to be an FLRC volunteer!

Upcoming races brought to you by the letter F: FL50s, Fillmore 5K, and Forest Frolic

Check the FLRC website for our upcoming races. Next up on July 3rd is FLRC’s marquee ultra, the Finger Lakes 50s, now headed by Pete Dady and Mike Stone. The race is full, but it’s worth getting on the waitlist if a spot opens up. On July 17th, we have the Fillmore 5K, a lovely small-town 5K that runs through the streets of Moravia, put on by Lorrie Tily and Chris Irving. Then Pete and Mike will be back at it on July 31st with the Forest Frolic 7K and 15K trail races in Kennedy State Forest in Virgil. The 15K is the same as the FLRC Challenge Forest Frolic course, so anyone running the Challenge can submit the race result as a Challenge effort too.

If you’d like a printed calendar of the rest of FLRC’s race schedule, you can now download a PDF version. And if you could post a copy on any bulletin boards you see regularly, we’d appreciate it!

FLRC summer track meets are back at Lansing in July and August

Although the Lansing track wasn’t available for us in June, we have two all-comers meets scheduled for this summer on July 20th and August 17th. Both will feature four events: the 100m, 400m, 800m, and 1 mile—we won’t be having relays this year. Online registration is required via DirectAthletics, but to thank the community for its patience with our canceled meets in 2020 and 2021, FLRC is waiving all fees for both meets. Come join us on the track for low-key, kid-friendly meets!

We need your help—can you volunteer at an FLRC race?

After a year away from racing due to the pandemic, we need to rebuild our volunteer database to help race directors find the volunteers who make it possible to put on races. FLRC is an all-volunteer club, and volunteering is a great way to give back, have fun with friends, and meet other runners. (Seriously, we wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t a good time.) Can you volunteer at a race this year? To indicate that you can help, please fill out the FLRC Volunteer Signup form. To learn about what’s involved with race volunteer tasks and how other skills would be useful, check out the FLRC Volunteer Tasks and Attributes working document.

FLRC Challenge going strong, with 21 runners having completed all ten courses!

The FLRC Challenge now has 170 participants, with 21 people having run all ten courses at least once and more lining up to reserve their medals every week. After just 17 weeks, we’ve run over 8600 miles total! Check out the improved FLRC Challenge leaderboard to see how each day’s results change the standings for individuals and the 10-year age-group teams.

In Most Points, Adam Pacheck has 972 points out of 1000 currently to lead the men by a long shot, whereas Jullien Flynn is 18 points ahead of Gabrielle Woo in the women’s standings. Most Miles may be our most competitive event, with Heather Cobb (376 miles) and Pete Kresock (374 miles) trading the lead while Mickie Sanders-Jauquet creeps up in third (355 miles), with four more runners over 300 miles. In the Age Grade competition, 55-year-old Caitlin Loehr is holding on to first, with 29-year-old Adam Pacheck in second and 54-year-old Jean-Luc Jannink in third.

Pete Kresock also became the second person to complete the FLRC 100K Ultra Challenge, finishing all ten courses in a single day on June 21st. Pete’s accomplishment was impressive on both an athletic level and because he did it on a day that combined heat and severe thunderstorms. Don’t miss the community back-and-forth during Pete’s run and his race report.

FLRC Kids Challenge continues to encourage family and youth running

FLRC’s partnership with the Ithaca Youth Bureau on the free, age-appropriate, and non-competitive FLRC Kids Challenge has resulted in 49 kids running over 600 miles so far. Aidan L. has now joined Toby K. at the 50-mile mark, and seven more kids have received their virtual race bibs for joining the 25-Mile Club: Arya B., Felix T., Hannah S., Lea T., Maren G., Phoebe S., and Rasa W. Check out the FLRC Kids Challenge Dashboard to follow their achievements!

Group runs focus on exploring FLRC Challenge courses

Happy (Satur)days—group runs are going strong! Heather Cobb has been leading frequent FLRC group runs, with as many as 18 runners gathering for companionable morning runs. The group runs help introduce runners to the FLRC Challenge courses and some of the area’s most gorgeous trails. Heather’s next group run is scheduled for Saturday, June 26th at 8:00 or 8:30 AM at the start of the South Hill Rec Way course on Juniper Drive and will feature post-run bagels and cream cheese! Check the Group Runs & Workouts forum for future locations, and join us!

Until next time, see you on the roads, trails, and tracks of the Finger Lakes!

—Adam Engst, FLRC President and VP of Track

FLRC Footnotes for May 2021

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Keep getting those jabs—fully vaccinated people can now go maskless at all FLRC events! Speaking of which, things are getting back to normal.

  • Results are in from the Women’s Distance Festival 5K and Thom B Trail Runs.
  • Our next races are Tortoise & Hare on 6/6 and the Finger Lakes 50s on 7/3.
  • It’s never too late to join the FLRC Challenge or FLRC Kids Challenge!
  • Will you do us a favor and host an FLRC Challenge lawn sign in your yard?
  • Run with us on our first and third Saturday group runs on FLRC Challenge courses!

On to the details!

Women’s Distance Festival kicks off FLRC’s spring racing season

Thanks to race directors Lorrie Tily and Chris Irving for our first spring race of the year, the Women’s Distance Festival 5K on May 9th. 73 runners returned to Dryden Lake Park (plus two who ran the race virtually from Germany) to run a new out-and-back course on the Jim Schug Trail. Margaret Geary won in 20:29, Murphee Hayes topped the masters category, and Michelle Dardia took home the 60+ title. Full results here.

Thanks to the volunteers who ensured a smooth race, with Joe Reynolds
, Tamara Loos
, and Dave Vernon
 acting as course marshalls and Francine Barchett, Adam Engst
, Bob Talda
, and Bill Watson managing timing and the finish line.

Thom B. Trail Runs send 82 runners looping around Hammond Hill

Race directors Gary McCheyne and Joel Cisne had to adjust the course for the Thom B. Trail Runs to start and finish by the Hammond Hill parking lot, but that didn’t stop runners from laying down some fast times on May 22nd. Adam Pacheck dominated the field in the 8.5-mile race with a 51:26 time that outpaced 14-year-old Nathan Triner by 10 minutes. Ellie Pell took first for the women (and fourth overall) with 1:03:29, ahead of Jullien Flynn. In the two-loop 17-mile race, Rich Heffron’s 2:05:39 was even more dominant, outpacing Mike Stewart in second by over 25 minutes. Capri May and Tanya Kelly-Hadley were one-two for the women, with Capri’s 2:48:01 also putting her fifth overall. Finally, in the marathon, Scotie Jacobs ran an impressive 3:50:45 for the win. 28 minutes later, Jamal Diboun (the brother of Yassine Diboun, a nationally recognized ultra runner and friend of FLRC) outkicked Heather Horth for second overall by less than 10 seconds, but Heather still took the women’s title with 4:19:01. Full results here.

Special thanks to Dave Kania and Eric Sambolec, who marked the course (and whose course markings remain if you want to run the course on your own or as part of the FLRC Challenge). Jessica Kerns baked the prize pies and Pete Kresock helped design the new marathon baby loop. Other volunteers who spent their entire morning making the race possible included aid station helpers Michelle Dardia, Sarah Dellet, Diana Hackett, and Stephanie Mulinos, along with the timing team of Heather Cobb, Adam Engst, Mickie Sanders-Jauquet, and Bob Talda.

Upcoming Races: Tortoise & Hare and FL50s

Check the FLRC website for our racing calendar—with the exception of the Twilight 5K and our June track meet, we hope to be holding the rest of our races this year. Next up is Mickie Sanders-Jauquet’s Tortoise & Hare, which will return to its traditional course at Buttermilk State Park on June 6th. Following that on July 3rd is the FLRC’s marquee ultra, the Finger Lakes 50s, now headed by Pete Dady and Mike Stone. There are still a few slots open in the 50K and 50-mile races, and it’s worth getting on the waiting list if you want to run the 25K, since a few spots usually open up.

If you’d like a printed calendar of the rest of FLRC’s race schedule, you can now download a PDF version. And if you could post a copy on any bulletin boards you see regularly, we’d appreciate it!

FLRC Challenge sees the first FLRC 100K Ultra Challenge finisher!

Nearly 160 runners are now participating in the FLRC Challenge as a way to get motivated to run in 2021. So far, 17 runners have completed all ten courses, with more lining up to receive their medal every week. After just 14 weeks, we’ve run over 7000 miles total!

Kudos to Jesse Canfield, who was the first to complete the FLRC 100K Ultra Challenge, running all ten courses in a single day. It took him 13:27, and he shared some notes on the FLRC Forum about what it was like to run through the night and into the heat of the day.

Tune into the improved FLRC Challenge leaderboard to see how each day’s results change the standings for individuals and the 10-year age-group teams. Overall, Adam Pacheck has eight top rankings with two courses left to go for the men, whereas Gabrielle Woo is sitting pretty atop the women’s standings after completing all ten of her courses. Aaron King remains the Most Miles leader, though Heather Cobb has vowed to give him a run for his money after she runs a 50K in Wisconsin. The Age Grade competition is heating up, with Caitlin Loehr in first, but Jean-Luc Jannink and Klaas Van Wijk close behind in second and third.

Can you help promote FLRC and the FLRC Challenge?

A lot of people in the greater Ithaca area run without ever knowing about FLRC. In an effort to promote the club and the FLRC Challenge, we’ve designed 18-by-24-inch lawn signs. Will you host a sign for us on your lawn? It’s a great way to show that you’re a runner and encourage those who run or drive by your house to check out FLRC and the Challenge. It’s totally free, and we’ll even install the sign for you if you want. Sign up here!

FLRC Challenge Lawn Sign

FLRC Kids Challenge continues to encourage family and youth running

FLRC’s partnership with the Ithaca Youth Bureau on the free, age-appropriate, and non-competitive FLRC Kids Challenge has resulted in 49 kids running over 500 miles so far. Toby K. was the first to reach the 50-mile mark and get a social media shout-out from IYB and FLRC, and five more kids have received their virtual race bibs for joining the 25-Mile Club: Aidan L., Arya B., Felix T., Hannah S., and Lea T. Check out the FLRC Kids Challenge Dashboard to follow their achievements!

Bi-weekly group runs focus on exploring FLRC Challenge courses

Happy (Satur)days—group runs are going strong! On the first and third Saturdays of each month, Heather Cobb has been leading group runs, with attendance growing from 5 to 18 runners over the last few runs. The group runs help introduce runners to the FLRC Challenge courses and some of the area’s most gorgeous trails. The next group run is scheduled for Saturday, June 5th at 8:30 AM at the start of the Tortoise & Hare course, and Mickie Sanders-Jauquet is organizing a special nod to the Twilight 5K with a group run on Wednesday, June 16th at 7 PM on the FLRC Challenge Waterfront Trail course. Check the Group Runs & Workouts forum for future locations and join us!

Until next time, keep getting those vaccinations and join us for a run!

—Adam Engst, FLRC President and VP of Track

FLRC Footnotes for April 2021

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With an ever-increasing number of people vaccinated and COVID-19 infection rates low in the community, we’re moving toward running together more:

  • Spring races are here—hit the trails with WDF, Thom B., and Tortoise & Hare!
  • FLRC’s marquee ultra, the Finger Lakes 50s, will take place on July 3rd, 2021.
  • The FLRC Challenge is going strong! Can you complete all ten courses in 2021?
  • Looking for low-key group runs? Our first and third Saturday group runs are back!
  • FLRC offers a free year of club membership for those hurt by the pandemic.

On to the particulars!

Spring FLRC Races: WDF 5K, Thom B. Trail Runs, and Tortoise & Hare

We’re pleased to announce that FLRC has racing opportunities for you soon, with the Women’s Distance Festival 5K and the Thom B. Trail Runs in May, and the Tortoise & Hare Trail Run in June! New race directors Lorrie Tily and Chris Irving have moved WDF to a new date and location: Sunday, May 9th at Dryden Lake, with an out-and-back course on the Jim Schug Trail. As always, WDF is open only to women; men are welcome to volunteer or cheer. Race director Gary McCheyne says that Thom B. will take place on Saturday, May 22nd, with a new staging area in the field next to the Hammond Hill-ton warming hut, right near the parking lot. And Mickie Sanders-Jauquet’s Tortoise & Hare will return to its traditional course at Buttermilk State Park on June 6th. All three will adhere to the FLRC COVID-19 Race Safety Precautions. Sign up today!

Finger Lakes 50s scheduled for July 3rd, with registration opening soon

It takes time to train and plan for an ultra, so it’s not surprising that we’ve fielded more questions about the Finger Lakes 50s than any other FLRC race this year. Thanks to the efforts of new race directors Pete Dady and Mike Stone, and the help of past race director Alex Kleinerman, we’re ecstatic to say that the race is a go! Registration will open soon and usually fills up very quickly, so pay attention to the FLRC Forum for details.

FLRC Challenge in full swing—it’s never too late to sign up!

With over 140 local runners signed up and all courses open, the FLRC Challenge has become a popular way to get motivated to run in 2021. It’s a series of ten open-course races you can run as many times as you want. Run, hike, or walk all ten to win the coveted FLRC Challenge medal. Congratulations to those who have already completed the FLRC Challenge: Jamie Loehr, Caitlin Loehr, Gabrielle Woo, Bob Walters, Pete Kresock, Karen Ingall, and Liz Hartman! Overall, we’ve run nearly 4500 miles so far.

We’ve also seen a bunch of informal challenges completed, such as the Pseudo Skunk Cabbage Double Half Marathon and the Black Diamond Trail 30 Miler (Pete Kresock), the Triple Course Run (Bob Swizdor and Sam Lagasse), the Quad Course Run (Heather Cobb), and the FLRC Challenge Insanity Week (Gabrielle Woo). What’s next? The official FLRC 100K Ultra Challenge, in which ultrarunners will attempt to run all ten courses in a single day. Mike Stewart called it “such a phenomenally bad idea that it makes me tear up with pride.”

Don’t miss checking the FLRC Challenge leaderboard to see how each day’s results change the standings and statistics. Will PGXC champion Adam Pacheck sweep the fastest times on all ten courses? Can Heather Cobb catch up with Pete Kresock in the Most Miles competition? What course will Olympic Trials marathoner Chelsea Benson crush next? Can anyone compete with Caitlin Loehr’s stellar age-graded performance across all ten courses? Join the fun!

FLRC Kids Challenge encourages family and youth running

Most of the FLRC Challenge course distances are too long for younger kids, so FLRC has partnered with the Ithaca Youth Bureau on the free, age-appropriate, and non-competitive FLRC Kids Challenge. Families run together through October 31st, logging miles on the FLRC Kids Challenge Dashboard, with cumulative kid targets of 25, 50, 75, and 100 miles. Congrats to Toby K. and Phoebe S. for joining the 25-Mile Club! They’ve received personalized virtual race bibs, and we expect to be sending out more of those this week.

Bi-weekly group runs focus on exploring FLRC Challenge courses

Happy (Satur)days—group runs are back! On the first and third Saturdays of each month, Heather Cobb and Mickie Sanders-Jauquet have been leading group runs. Rather than just running up and down the Black Diamond Trail each time, the group runs are moving around as a way of introducing runners to the FLRC Challenge courses and some of the area’s most gorgeous trails. The next group run is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st at 8:30 AM at the start of the Danby Down & Dirty course. Check the Group Runs & Workouts forum for future locations.

FLRC offers a free year of club membership to those hurt by the pandemic

To support local runners who have suffered from reduced income, lost jobs, and other financial repercussions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FLRC would like to offer a free year of club membership to anyone who could use a little extra help, no questions asked. When you join FLRC or renew an FLRC membership—individual ($20) or family ($35)—at any time in the next year, use coupon code 2021FORFREE to waive the fees (online signups only, please). Along with a sense of belonging to the running community, FLRC membership brings with it discounts on the FLRC Challenge and most of our races, free entry to our track meets and Winter Chill 5K Series, and participation in workout groups and the FLRC Family Running Program.

Until next time, stay fit, stay healthy, and we look forward to running with you again!

—Adam Engst, FLRC President and VP of Track

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Registration Open for the Women’s Distance Festival 5K

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We are thrilled to announce the 2021 Women’s Distance Festival registration is open! Held in memory of race co-founder Diane Sherrer, this event celebrates women’s running with a female-only 5k road race and walk. New for 2021, the race will be held on Mother’s Day—Sunday, May 9th. Women and girls of all ages run together along the flat and scenic Dryden Rail Trail.

Please visit our race Web page for registration and further details.

We hope you will consider joining as we move the race back to its original venue in Dryden and on what we consider the ideal day—Mother’s Day! We are looking forward to celebrating women and the return of in-person races to the Finger Lakes.

Lorrie Tily and Chris Irving
Race Directors

Per FLRC policy, all runners must abide by these COVID-19 safety precautions:

  • Online pre-registration is required (there is no day of race registration!), and you must be able to respond affirmatively to the safety questions asked during registration.
  • If you feel in the slightest bit ill or are running a temperature, stay home!
  • Make sure to bring a mask or buff.
  • Bring your own hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes.
  • Bathrooms may not be available, and we’re not allowed to have a porta-potty.
  • Please do not carpool to the race with people who are not part of your household.
  • Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the race; bib pickup may be slower than normal.
  • At all times before the race, you must wear a mask and maintain a minimum of 6 feet from other participants. Stay warm in your car or by jogging.
  • Wear your mask at the starting line and, once the race begins, until you have established some distance from others around you. At that point, you may remove your mask but must keep it available for quick re-application as needed.
  • There will be no aid stations. Bring your own food and liquids.

Finally, please note that if a runner doesn’t comply with FLRC’s COVID-19 Race Safety Precautions as outlined above, the race director should be notified and will reiterate the guidelines to the person in question. If that person fails to comply, they will be asked to leave. If they continue to defy the race director’s request, they will be disqualified from the race and reported to the FLRC board for possible banning from future club events.

FLRC Footnotes for March 2021

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As the weather finally warms up, an ever-increasing amount is going on:

  • Interested in an elite ultrarunner’s stories? Come listen to Katie Arnold on March 25th.
  • The FLRC Challenge is in full swing! Can you complete all ten courses in 2021?
  • FLRC offers a free year of club membership for those hurt by the pandemic.
  • Like running at Hammond Hill? Support the Friends of Hammond Hill fundraiser!
  • Want to get more involved with FLRC? We need a new Volunteer Coordinator.
  • Know a high school runner who should apply for the FLRC Scholarship?
  • We anticipate most races happening this year, but we’ve canceled the Twilight 5K.

On to the particulars!

FLRC Presents: Conversations with ultrarunner Katie Arnold on 3/25 at 8 PM

In our ongoing FLRC Presents series, ultrarunner and Leadville 100 Champion Katie Arnold will discuss her new memoir Running Home and answer your questions about competing, raising adventurous children, and more! Tune in online on March 25th at 8 PM at either the Trails Collective’s YouTube channel or Facebook page. Katie is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine, where she worked on staff for 12 years. Her Raising Rippers column about bringing up adventurous, outdoor children appears monthly on Outside Online. She has written for The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Sunset, Runner’s World, ESPN: The Magazine, Elle, and many others, and her narrative nonfiction has been recognized by Best American Sportswriting. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband and two daughters.

Local runners flock to the FLRC Challenge

Over 115 local runners have already signed up for the FLRC Challenge, our series of ten open-course races that you can run anytime you want, as many times as you want, throughout the rest of 2021. Half the courses are road, half are trail, and they range from 1 mile to the half marathon. Run, hike, or walk them all to win the coveted FLRC Challenge medal! All profits from the FLRC Challenge will support local running programs like Girls on the Run and the GIAC Navigators. Six courses are open now—the East Hill Rec Way downhill mile, the Cornell Botanic Gardens, the Waterfront Trail 5K, the South Hill Rec Way, the Black Diamond Trail, and the Pseudo Skunk Cabbage half marathon—and more will be opening soon.

The FLRC Challenge leaderboard has become a daily must-check for many of us, as we see how each day’s results change the standings and statistics. Will Rich Heffron or Jullien Flynn lay down a new fastest time on one of the courses? Did Pete Kresock really run the Pseudo Skunk Cabbage half marathon twice in one day? Will anyone be able to compete with Bill Watson’s blistering 4:58 average time on the East Hill Rec Way downhill mile? How many couples are running the courses together?

The team competition is heating up as well, though we anticipate lots of shifts. Right now, the tiny but talented Terrific 20s team has just pulled ahead of the massive Thundering 30s team in the first two places, with the well-rounded Fabulous 50s sitting patiently in third, followed by the Fantastic 40s and Super 60s. We anticipate those teams moving up as more of the people who are registered start running more regularly (and if not enough 70+ folks join Deb Bliss and Joe Reynolds on the Splendid 70s team, we’ll merge it down into the Super 60s).

Will you play with us today? Keep an eye on the FLRC Challenge forum for group runs on the various FLRC Challenge courses.

FLRC offers free year of club membership to those hurt by the pandemic

To support local runners who have suffered from reduced income, lost jobs, and other financial repercussions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FLRC would like to offer a free year of club membership to anyone who could use a little extra help, no questions asked. When you join FLRC or renew an FLRC membership—individual ($20) or family ($35)—at any time in the next year, use coupon code 2021FORFREE to waive the fees (online signups only, please). Along with a sense of belonging to the running community, FLRC membership brings with it discounts on the FLRC Challenge and most of our races, free entry to our track meets and Winter Chill 5K Series, and participation in workout groups and the FLRC Family Running Program.

Please support the Friends of Hammond Hill in their trail repair fundraiser!

FLRC is happy to support the Friends of Hammond Hill in their efforts to raise money to repair damaged trails at Hammond Hill State Forest. We rely on those trails for our Super Frosty Loomis snowshoe race, the Thom B. Trail Runs, and one of the FLRC Challenge courses. Plus, for many of us, they’re a year-round destination for running, skiing, and snowshoeing. Can you kick in a few bucks for gravel and trail fabric and to pay a trail professional to do the necessary mechanical work? Thanks to the Friends of Hammond Hill for all they do to keep the trails runnable and Ithaca’s GiveGab for their financial and technical support in this fundraiser.

Wanted: Energetic volunteer coordinator

As you know, FLRC is an all-volunteer organization, and after the retirement of a long-time member, we’re looking for a new volunteer coordinator. This position spent last year in limbo along with our pandemic-hampered race schedule, so it’s ripe for reinvention in 2021. You’d be perfect for the role of volunteer coordinator if you’re outgoing, organized, and enthused about FLRC. Core tasks involve collaborating with race directors to line up volunteers, recruiting new volunteers, and helping to build ways to track volunteers and their efforts so we can acknowledge and reward them at the Annual Picnic. For those early in their careers (hint, hint), this position will be great for community networking, will enhance your resumé, and could be a source of recommendations. Contact Adam Engst if you’re interested.

FLRC accepting $1000 scholarship applications through May 1st

FLRC’s Scholarship Committee is once again accepting applications from high school seniors who have participated in their school’s cross country or track & field teams for a pair of $1000 unrestricted scholarships. FLRC membership is not required, but applicants must reside in Tompkins County or a surrounding county. Application letters, with letters of recommendation from a teacher and a coach, are due May 1st. For details, see the full announcement.

Twilight 5K Canceled for 2021

After the success of our Super Frosty Loomis snowshoe race, the increase in vaccinations, and the generally improving situation with regard to COVID-19 infections locally, we’ve decided that we will try to hold most of our races in 2021 in accordance with our COVID-19 Race Safety Precautions. That’s a plan, not a promise, and we’ll either open registration for a given race at least one month before the race date if it’s happening or announce a cancellation if need be. Unfortunately, the FLRC board has decided to cancel the Twilight 5K due to the significant logistics and volunteer needs of a downtown race. Sorry!

FLRC weekly workouts continue apace

As the weather improves, workouts become more appealing for helping us get back in shape and do something more than the same old runs we always do. So if you’re looking for some structure for your training, check out our weekly workouts for middle (5K to 15K) and long (half marathon and marathon) distance runners on the FLRC Forum, with a focus on FLRC Challenge courses so you can double-dip on your goals. If you run with a friend or find yourself in the presence of walkers or runners, please follow FLRC’s recommendations for safe running!

Until next time, stay fit, stay healthy, and we look forward to running with you again!

—Adam Engst, FLRC President and VP of Track

FLRC Presents: A Conversation with Ultrarunner Katie Arnold on 3/25 at 8 PM

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In our ongoing FLRC Presents series, ultrarunner and Leadville 100 Champion Katie Arnold will discuss her memoir Running Home and answer your questions about competing, raising adventurous children, and more! This is a joint presentation with the Trails Collective.

Katie Arnold is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine, where she worked on staff for twelve years. Her Raising Rippers column about bringing up adventurous, outdoor children appears monthly on Outside Online. She has written for The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Sunset, Runner’s World, ESPN: The Magazine, Elle, and many others, and her narrative nonfiction has been recognized by Best American Sportswriting. Arnold is the Leadville Trail 100 Run women’s champion. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband and two daughters.

In this free Zoom conversation between Katie, the Trails Collective’s Grayce Langheine, and FLRC member Nichole Cappadora, listeners will have a chance to ask Katie for her advice and tips! Join us on Thursday, March 25th at 8 PM at either the Trails Collective’s YouTube channel or Facebook page, and bring your questions for Katie. No registration is necessary.

We’ll post a recording of the talk the next day for those who have schedule conflicts with the live presentation.

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FLRC Offers Free Year of Club Membership to Those Hurt by the Pandemic

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To support local runners who have suffered from reduced income, lost jobs, and other financial repercussions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FLRC would like to offer a free year of club membership to anyone who could use a little extra help, no questions asked.

When you join FLRC or renew an FLRC membership—individual ($20) or family ($35)—at any time in the next year, use coupon code 2021FORFREE to waive the fees. Online signups only, please.

Along with a sense of belonging to the running community, FLRC membership brings with it discounts on the FLRC Challenge and most of our races, free entry to our track meets and Winter Chill 5K Series, and participation in workout groups and the FLRC Family Running Program.

Wanted: Energetic Volunteer Coordinator

Posted by

As you know, FLRC is an all-volunteer organization, and after the retirement of a long-time member, we’re looking for a new volunteer coordinator. This position spent last year in limbo along with our pandemic-hampered race schedule, so it’s ripe for reinvention in 2021. You’d be perfect for the role of volunteer coordinator if you’re outgoing, organized, and enthused about FLRC. Core tasks involve collaborating with race directors to line up volunteers, recruiting new volunteers, and helping to build ways to track volunteers and their efforts so we can acknowledge and reward them at the Annual Picnic. For those early in their careers (hint, hint), this position will be great for community networking, will enhance your resumé, and could be a source of recommendations. Contact Adam Engst (ace@tidbits.com) if you’re interested.