Running during the winter can set you up for a great year
In December, I wrote about the physical and psychological benefits of running outdoors in the winter months. It is the best time of the year to establish a consistent mileage base. In addition, running in the winter can boost your spirits and set you up to have a great year. Unfortunately, the cold, wind, ice, snow, and especially the darkness can be significant obstacles to being a “winter warrior.”
Fortunately for area runners, there are many group runs, workouts and race series to help you keep moving. The Onteora Runners Club (ORC) has two great series during the winter months. Every Saturday at 9:30 a.m., the ORC Winter Breakfast Runs take off from various locations from January to early March. The Breakfast Runs are group runs of approximately 6 miles. ORC board member Phil Canion dutifully marks all the courses so all can follow. The participants run at a pace they desire. It is possible to make the runs longer or shorter. Pre-pandemic, we would share breakfast at a nearby eatery. This year, the breakfast is “tailgate-style.” Participants should feel free to bring a snack item to share. There is no fee for these runs, and all are welcome. It’s an excellent way to meet other local runners. The remaining six weeks of the series are:
• Jan. 29: River Road Run. Meet at the Ulster BOCES,
Route 9W, Port Ewen. • Feb. 5: Tour of Kingston. Meet at Dietz Memorial Stadium. • Feb.
12: Walkway over the Hudson. Meet at the parking lot for the Walkway in Highland. • Feb. 19: Ashokan Reservoir Run. Meet at the Ben Nesin Laboratory parking lot on BSW Road in Olivebridge, N.Y. • Feb. 26: Saugerties Lighthouse Run. Meet at the Kiwanis Ice Arena in Saugerties. • March 5: Tour of Rondout. Meet at municipal parking on East Strand, opposite Ole Savannah Restaurant in Kingston, N.Y.
Last year, the ORC had its first Winter Survivors Series of hybrid races. Max Gruner of the ORC board designed fiverace routes in the city of Kingston. The five races take participants to every part of Kingston. The series has two ways to participate. Participants have an eight-day window to complete
each race and then report their times. On the second Sunday of each window, there will be a group start time for people wanting to run with others. To register for this series, visit zippyreg.com. The schedule for the
five weeks is:
Jan. 30-Feb. 6: Stockade Sprint, 1.75 miles. Feb. 6-13: Midtown Meander 5K. Feb. 13-20 Manor Madness 5K. Feb. 20-27 Downtown Up 10K. Feb. 27 — March 6: One Hour Run.
The eight-day window was designed so that it would be possible to do two races on one weekend in case someone had to miss a week. Every week, registrants will receive a detailed informa