Onteora Runners Club Grand Prix goes back-to-back

With just four races remaining on the Onteora Runners Club Grand Prix Series, an interesting twist is scheduled for the next two races in the series.

It’s happened before and in 2016, it will happen again as the club selected races on consecutive days.

Since most club members are serious runners, the back to back 5k runs should not be an issue, especially with so many important points on the line.

First up is the Jason Jones-Kent Reeves Memorial 5k, set for Sept. 10 at Davis Park in West Shokan.

The race starts at 10 a.m. and is part of the annual Olive Day celebration.

Longtime cross country coach Patrick Burkhardt has a challenging course charted out for the run and you will find members of the Onteora High cross country team volunteering at the event.

The entry fee is only $15 and you can register on race day beginning at 9 a.m.

If you need more details, email Burkhardt at coachburkhardt2001@yahoo.com.

The day after, Sept. 11, the series heads to Greenport in Columbia County for the annual Barry Hopkins Run at Olana Historic Site.

Keeping alive the memory of Hopkins, one of the club’s co-founders, adds extra distinction to the race, as well as having runners travel over the carriage roads at Olana, the former estate of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church.

This 3.8-mile run will test each runner’s stamina with equally breathtaking views of the river valley and the Olana property.

The race starts promptly at 9:30 a.m. and entry fee is $15, with a $5 discount to Olana Partnership members.

Race-day registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and there is a free kids race at 9 a.m.

More details can be obtained by calling (518) 7317697 or (518) 828-0135.

BELLEAYRE TO HOST SUMMIT ENDURANCE CHALLENGE 10K

If you want to try a longer and hillier race on Sept. 10, then head to Belleayre Mountain for the Summit Endurance 10k Challenge.

The race starts at Discovery Lodge at 10 a.m. and goes vertical up the mountain and back down again with a more than 1,400-foot climb to the summit. Entry fee is $75 and increases to $85 on race day. In addition to swag bags, participation medals and t-shirts to the first 75 entrants, organizers are giving a special award to the first male and female that makes it to the top of the mountain.

After the run, enjoy a barbecue lunch.

Registration information and more details are available online at www. belleayre.com.

WHEELER, REICHLER LOGGING MILES AT DISTANCE RACES

Sheryl Wheeler and Jamie Reichler continue to reel off the miles at out of town races, Wheeler recently completing the Eastern States 100-mile Trail Run in Pennsylvania and Reichler taking part in the Sri Chinmoy Marathon.

Wheeler finished the Eastern States run on Aug. 13, which has an elevation gain of 20,000 feet, in 29 hours and 41 minutes, good enough to place second overall among female runners and just 15 minutes behind the winner.

Reichler, meanwhile, took to Rockland Lake Park for the Sri Chinmoy Marathon on Thursday and finished in a very respectable time of three hours and 32 minutes.

Please send all race results and information to 79 Hurley Ave., Kingston, N.Y., 12401; fax to (845) 331-3557; or email to runerichrun@gmail.com. Follow Eric Houghtaling on Twitter at http:// twitter.com/runerichrun