A look At the 2 area summer cross country series
There are times when circumstances force people to make choices they are not comfortable with, but the outcomes are a bonus for everyone.
This is true for the “summer series.” We now have two summer run series that compliment each other. Every week nearly 400 adults and children get to participate.
In the early 1970’s, Joe Keller was coaching at Coleman Catholic High School. Joe was a retired firefighter who had moved up from Staten Island. After being in the Peace Corp from 1971-1973, Keller and his wife Dot settled in New Paltz.
Keller was passionate about running, his coaching and his runners. He saw that there was no developmental program for area high school runners. Keller knew summer running was one of the keys to a successful fall cross country season. To meet this need, he created the first New Paltz Summer X-C Series in 1974.
The series was held on the campus of SUNY New Paltz and then expanded to include courses at the Mohonk Mountain House and Williams Lake.
One year, in the early 1980’s, the sometimes gruff Keller had a difference of opinion with someone and the series was canceled. The fledgling Shawangunk Runners Club decided to put on the series.
The following year, Joe restarted and moved his races to Williams Lake and Kingston.
There were now two cross-country series. For several years, the two series were held on the same Wednesday nights. This unfortunately created a “rivalry” between the two groups.
One year, the Shawangunk Runners had a race at Spring Farm in High Falls and the Kingston Series had one at Williams Lake in Rosendale. A person could easily run from High Falls to Rosendale.
I never liked the “tension” created by the series competing with each other. It seemed foolish to have two nearly identical series on the same night in basically the same area. I pushed the Shawangunk Runners to move to another night.
At first they tried Friday evenings and the New Paltz series floundered. The series then was moved to Monday evenings and flourished.
Now there are two robust summer cross-country series in the area. Logistically, none of the eight locations and courses used could handle the parking needed for 400 runners. Many of the courses used would become “clogged” with that volume of runners.
The two series serve runners who come from Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Dutchess, Orange and Sullivan Counties. The Kingston series has evolved into being much easier for people coming from the north and west to get to the races on a weeknight.
The New Paltz series is more convenient for runners coming from the south and east. For people living more centrally, they get to pick and choose sometimes running in both series. This arrangement now affords runners of all abilities 10 great nights of running and socializing.
These two series are a good way to stay motivated and get through the “dog days of summer.”
Keller’s vision of having a developmental series for teens has been realized and expanded to include runners of all ages. Both series have ½ mile and one mile races for children under 13. This mixture of runners at varying stages of their running is one of the invigorating features of the summer runs.
Watching the little kids run their hearts out gets everyone excited. Watching the teens glide along, we “old codgers” get to appreciate their talent and youth. The younger runners get to see that running is a life long sport and pleasure. Joe left us in 2009, but his foresight and passion for running is a “gift” that keeps on giving. Thank you Mr. Keller. This year the New Paltz series begins on Monday, July 9 and concludes on August 6. The Kingston series begins on Wednesday, July 11 and runs until August 8. The New Paltz series is run mainly on carriage trails with some spectacular views while the Kingston courses are more wooded and in some ways are “truer” crosscountry runs.
For more detailed information on the Kingston series go to icchv.org and for the New Paltz races use shawangunkrunners.com.
Night of Miles
On June 15, 105 adults and kids participated in the Bernie Stahl/ORC Night of Miles. This was a record turnout for the event. 8 heats of the mile were conducted and two short dashes for the youngest children.
The top 3 men were Andrew Meci (4:46.3), Adam Beach (4:46.7) and Logan Linares (4:50). The leading ladies were Marissa Sutera Strange (5:37.3), Isabelle Serrano (5:55) and Elizabeth Aldous (6:15). One performance of note was Strange broke the existing American record for women 55- 59 which was 5:38.
Since the meet is not a “sanctioned” race run under very specific regulations, her time can not be submitted for record consideration, but we all saw her do it! I’m sure Marissa will officially break the record at a more high-profile event soon.
The two youngest runners in the mile were 7 year-old Aurelia Comer (9:06) and Jackson Tran (10:27). The oldest participants wereBob Ricketson age 72 and Kathleen Balthazar age 76. The family team competition was won by Team Serrano (17:38) followed by Team Sullivan/Horizny (19:40) and Team Schindler (21:38).
Father’s Day Half Marathon
Last Sunday was the New Paltz Father’s Day Half Marathon and 5k Challenge. More than 700 people participated in the two races. Inthe half-marathon, Spencer Johnson sped to a very fast 1:09:10 followed by Jon Lindenauer (1:13:04) and New Paltz’s Alfredo Mazzuca (1:14:18).
The top 3 women in the half were Highland’s Rachel Darling (1:25:19), Bailey Ness (1:27:38) and Abigail Wright (1:28:46). The 5k winners were Lorenzo Mazzuca (17:33), Ethan Husted (17:45) and John Amenta (19:19) while the leading three women were Kate Comisso (21:16), Zoe Gaston (21:38) and Raven Stanet (21:56).
Marbletown Road Race
Don’t forget that the 48th Annual Marbletown Road Race will be on July 4 in Stone Ridge. This is the oldest road race in Ulster County.
It is a point to point 2.3 mile run from the firehouse to the school. The jog down to the start is a perfect warm-up. This race is in many ways done exactly as it was in 1971. It has retained its grassroots community feel and charm.
It is short enough and early enough for you to come run or walk and still have time for all your other 4th of July festivities. For more information check the race calendar.
Calendar, results
Race directors, please submit information for the race calendar to sports@ freemanonline.com. Information should be in the form of a concise email with important details highlighted and included in the body of the email. No race flyer PDFs.
Race results should be submitted directly to me at ssrun54@aol.com.
Steve Schallenkamp has been active in area running circles since 1966 as runner, race director, volunteer and coach. He is a member of the Onteora Runners Club and president of the Shawangunk Runners Club.