First off, thanks to our supporting and sponsoring organizations: Finger Lakes Running & Triathlon Co., Stonewall Wine & Spirits, Hopshire Brewery, Old Goat Gear Exchange, Friends of Hammond Hill, and of course the Dryden Hotel for their fabulous hospitality. Thanks to Ann & Charlie Leonard for allowing us to use the Hammond Hill-Ton and their land, on which about 1/4 mile of the course passes — including the start and finish. Thanks to Adam Engst, Tonya Engst, and Carrie Sipe who facilitated timing and registration. Thanks to Joel Cisne, Gretchen Gilbert, Eric Jon Maki, Gary McCheyne, and Bob Talda, who helped with various duties on the course, at the Hill-Ton, or with equipment and supplies. Thanks to Melissa Gustafson Schmidt for the fabulous veggie soup! Thanks to Matt Westerlund who provided the loaner snowshoes from Bob Dion’s wonderful snowshoe company. Thanks to Gracie Pajonk for taking and sharing some awesome pics from the race! A special thanks to Will F. and I believe Michael A. & Eric P., who helped get an injured runner back to the finish. The report is that she is okay, but very sore today. Lastly, a huge thank you goes out to fellow race directors Boris Dzikovski and Dave Kania. If I missed anyone, please let me know and I apologize.
Highlights from the race include Jamie Woolsey’s women’s 10K course record by nearly eight minutes, and Sarah Ridenour’s fourth consecutive win in the Mini-Loomis 5K. We also saw a new course record by Tom Olson in the men’s Mini-Loomis 5K, and a tight three-way battle in the men’s 10K between myself (Eric), Jeremy Drowne, and Mikhail Kern. It left us separated by less than four seconds at the finish line and left me very sore today! Big thanks to everyone who came out yesterday — this was our biggest Loomis so far. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and we hope this will encourage more people to get out on the trails all year round!
– Eric Sambolec, Race Director
Race start. PC: Gracie Pajonk
Huge thanks to Gracie Pajonk, who came with her husband Eric Pajonk to the race and took a slew of pictures at the start and finish. You can view her gallery here. You may view, download, and share the full-resolution photos for free and in any way you like. Gracie just asks that you credit her as the photographer when sharing in public. You can tag her on Facebook using her profile “Gracie Pajonk” or on Instagram as @minimalgrace. We realize there aren’t that many people in these photos, but let us know if you’d like to see this sort of photography at other FLRC races.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to tag FLRC on Facebook as @FingerLakesRunnersClub, and on Instagram and Twitter as @FLRCithaca.