January 14, 2008
Happy New Year fellow runners.
This is my first e-mail as editor of the Not-so-Sweaty Gazette. First, I want to thank Todd Jennings and the ORC Board for asking me to take on this responsibility. I am not sure who is more crazy -- them, for entrusting me with the Not-so-Sweaty Gazette, or me, for accepting. But here we are, a New Year, full of promise with a new ORC Board, new personal running goals, a new Hudson Valley Grand Prix season. I would like to add one more item to this list; a new and fresh perspective on the Not-so-Sweaty Gazette.
As anyone who knows me is aware, one of the greatest benefits I have received from my running is the community it has introduced to me. In fact, that is also one of the greatest benefits I derive from my ORC Membership. By getting to know so many of you, I have been able to Achieve my Goals, Expand my Horizons, and have a Whole lot of Fun.
But we're all pretty busy people. Between work, family, and our running of course, it's hard to get to know or stay in touch with other ORC members. The meetings are monthly. And races aren't on all of our calendars. But everyone receives the Not so Sweaty. So I would like to think that this communication can help some of us overcome some of the challenges of staying in touch, thereby maximizing our ORC membership. So here is what I propose. We're going to publish twice a month; hopefully the first and third Sunday nights, and bucket our content under three categories:
Achieve your Goals
Local race listings Training strategies
Not-so-local race listings Training partners
Have Fun
Local running groups (like the Cornwall-area runners or the 7:19 Club)
Mixers, holiday parties and other informal get-togethers (Captain's Table on a summer Sunday evening anyone?)
People news (births, PRs, weddings, etc.)
Expand your Horizons
Cool new runs you've found (there are so many great places in the Hudson Valley , share yours)
Got a question you'd like to ask your peers? (What does hyponatremia feel like?)
Read a new book that might inspire or educate others?
The NSSG is not meant to replace the Sweat Gazette. We'll never want to publish that much in an e-mail. So think about contributing. Think about what you're trying to achieve this year (it doesn't have to be grand) and fill us in. Maybe you will find someone else interested in helping you get there. Let us know about weekly runs with friends who have room for one more. We'll all be the better for it.
With that, here is the first edition of the 2008 NSSG.
Achieve your Goals
1) Results of the First Winter Series:
Congratulations to everyone who turned out for the first of the four ORC Winter Series runs, a 5K Sunday, January 13. Results can be reviewed at Coolrunning.com . The second Winter Series run is January 27 at the Community Campus of the Middletown Psych Center . Send ORC President Todd Jennings an e-mail @ and he will fill you in.
2) Vermont City Marathon :
Calling all ORC members interested in training for and competing in the Vermont City ( Burlington , VT ), Memorial Day Weekend. A group of us are already registered and planning to head up together. The more the merrier, so contact me @ richdad3@optonline.net , if you are interested. I will fill you in on all of the particulars.
Expand your Horizons
Kathleen Rifkin, editor of the ORC Newsletter, the Sweat Gazette, is looking for content for the first edition of 2008. The deadline is February 1. Have an essay you have been dying to write about running, about competing, about life as a runner? Have you captured some great photos of a race, a runner, a training run course? Send a note to Kathleen @ krifkin@citlink.net . We highly recommend it.
Having Fun
What better way to kick off the 2008 running season than to join your Sullivan Striders and ORC friends at the Gilded Otter, New Paltz, N.Y., February 22 nd , starting at 6 p.m. I have frequented the Otter on many occasion, and if you're looking for a good time, you've found it. For only $5 you get three appetizers and the pleasant company of the friendliest people in the Hudson Valley, not to mention some very fine beers brewed right there on the premises. You can't beat it.