It’s the season for two great cross country series
Last year, I wrote extensively about the origins of the two great summer cross country series. I wrote how Joe Keller, in 1974, started the original series and how they splintered into two series a decade later.
For a time, they were on the same night, at the same time. This situation created a rivalry that, in my opinion, had a bad vibe. I suggested to the Shawangunk Runners to move their series to a different night. We now have two series that offer area runners and children 10 summer nights of racing.
The New Paltz series begins on Monday, July 8, with the Undercliff/Overcliff Run (4.75 miles) at the Mohonk Preserve. The Kingston series begins on Wednesday, July 10, at Twin Lakes (3.0 miles) in Hurley. Interestingly, for the first time in many years, both series have had to alter their lineup of races. Minnewaska State Park is undergoing infrastructure work that temporarily reduces parking. For that reason, the New Paltz series had to find two new race venues.
Race number 2, on July 15, will be at the Open Space Institute’s new River 2 Ridge Trail in New Paltz. This three-mile run affords great views of the Shawangunk Ridge and the iconic Smiley Tower. The third race will be at Williams Lake in Rosendale on July 22 and is planned to be in the four-mile range. The fourth race (July 29) will be the traditional Lou’s Run (4.25 miles) at the beautiful Spring Farm Trail of the Mohonk Preserve. The series concludes with a fun run and awards hosted by Garvan’s Gastropub in New Paltz on Aug. 5.
The Kingston series, which is jointly organized by the Irish Cultural Center of the Hudson Valley and the CYO of Ulster County, will use Williams Lake for its second night on July 17. Williams Lake is also the site for night No. 4 on July 31. Williams Lake is a great site for racing. It has a “cave,” tunnel, ravine, views of the Binnewater Lakes, single track, double track and rail trail surfaces to run on and through. Sandwiched between the two Williams Lake races is race No. 3 (July 24) at John A. Coleman Catholic High School. The Kingston series concludes with another run and awards at Twin Lakes on Aug. 7.
Special kudos should be given to the Open Space Institute and the Williams Lake Project for stepping up and helping out the local running community. Both series have children’s halfmile and one-mile races every week. For information on both series, see the Daily Freeman’s Calendar of Running Events.
Previews
The 49th running of the Marbletown Road Race is on the Fourth of July in Stone Ridge. This 2.3-mile run is the oldest race in Ulster County. This gem of a race has retained its small, hometown feel and spirit. The race runs from the Kripplebush Firehouse to the Marbletown Elementary School on Pine Bush Road. Registration and check-in is at the elementary school starting at 8 a.m. The race goes off promptly from the firehouse at 9 a.m. This year, the race serves as the sixth race in the Onteora Runners Club Grand Prix. Information can be found on onteorarunners.org/race-info and the Freeman’s calendar of running events.
This year’s Mid Hudson Road Runners track series will be held at FDR High School in Hyde Park. Distances range from 25 meters to 2 miles. This series is highly suitable for children and adults. The series is every Friday night in July. For more information, see mhrrc.org.
On Monday, July 1, from 7-9 p.m, area runners will be treated to a special opportunity to meet two of running’s “royalty.” Katherine Switzer of Boston Marathon fame and her husband, Roger Robinson, an accomplished runner and prolific writer, will give a talk and book signing for Switzer’s “Marathon Woman” and Robinson’s “When Running Made History.” The event will take place at Rough Draft Bar and Books in uptown Kingston on a firstcome basis. You can guarantee admission by pre-ordering one or both books. I think this could be a great social mixer for the running community.
Trail running aficionados may want to check out the Red Wing Trail Challenge 10k and 10 miler on July 7. This event, at the Red Wing Recreation Area in LaGrangeville, is just east of Poughkeepsie. For information or to register, use ultrasignup.com and look for 7/7/19.
Recaps
There was a lot of recent racing activity. June 12 at Dietz Stadium was the ORC/Bernie Stahl Night of Miles. This event, started in the 1980s by Dan Bigelow as the Bailey Dare Mile, evolved into the Onteora Mile. In 2013, it was renamed the Bernie Stahl Mile to honor Bernie’s lifetime of service. The 2019 race had a record turnout of 100 participants and 15 children in the two dashes. The race featured the closest finish in the history of the event. Adam Beach (4:45) was declared the winner over Alex Lopez (4:45). Coming in third, and the first Master’s finisher, was 51-year-old Jeff Conston in 5:03. The women’s winner was Marissa Strange, who eclipsed the existing American record for the 55-59 year old age group with a stellar 5:34. Second through fourth place was a teenage battle as Grace Beach (5:55), Isabel Serrano (5:56) and Elizabeth Aldous (5:59) all ran excellent races. The youngest finisher was 6-year-old Anthony Gruner (13:00), and the senior-most competitor was 77 year-old Kathleen Balthazar (13:52).
A few days later, on June 15, was Roger’s Run 4AMC 5k in Red Hook. This event brings awareness to individuals dealing with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and has raised more than $70,000. This race has a special energy to it. The love and support the Red Hook community shows to Roger and the Loughran family exemplifies all that is good in America. The race had 126 runners and nearly as many walkers. The top 3 men were Ryan Carney (16:58), John Nolis (19:35) and Michael Jankowiak (19:52). The fastest women were 14-year-old Elizabeth Aldous (22:31), Mia Michaelides (22:39) and Maureen Carney (23:16). Participants were treated to music, refreshments, a children’s mile race and short dashes. Put this race on your calendar for 2020.
June 19, on a steamy, humid night, was the 15k Solstice Run. This year’s race was held at the Trapps Bridge part of the Mohonk Preserve. The Mountain Laurel was in full bloom and the runners were treated to an undulating course that featured spectacular views of the Shawangunk Ridge. A total of 221 runners navigated the course that kept you working right to the end. The fastest men were Elijah Isaenko (60:05), James McGowan (60:54) and Ben Heller (62:03). The top 3 women were Karen Bertasso, fourth overall, in (62:09), Michelle Merlis (66:55) and Gabriela Olivera (67:30). Bertasso is a 2020 USA Olympic trials marathon qualifier having run 2:43:46 for the marathon. Fifty-year-old Felix Meier continued his excellent 2019 running by coming in eighth overall in 67:27. The Shawangunk Runners want to thank the 30 volunteers who made this race possible.
Have fun running and hope to see many of you at the summer series races.
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.