Not So Sweaty Gazette

The summer race season is in full swing. If you look at the June Calendar, there is a distance and location for just about everyone's interest. It's glorious, absolutely glorious.

If you haven't already, now is a great time to set some goals for yourself. Maybe it's shaving a minute off your 10K time. How about running your first ever team relay? Or perhaps it's something simple, like reconnecting with the broader Hudson Valley running community.

With ample sunlight, great temps and the spirit of summer on tap, it's time to get up and get going, and the ORC has so much to offer runners and walkers of all speeds, shapes and spirit.

Maybe some Wednesday night speed work might fit into your weekly plan. Or how about finding some buddies to put together a team for the Catskill Mountain Road Relay in August? And who could blame you for taking advantage of all those hard miles by pouring a few cold, tasty beers with friends.

The June race calendar is certainly appetizing enough. The Ruthie Dino 5K is one of the toughest little races you'll find anywhere, Looking to stretch yourself a little? Check out the Classic 10K.

Road races can help you test your ability. They provide runners with a goal to bring all of that hard training into greater focus. And what about fun? Runners are the best kind of people to hang out with. We hope to see you at the starting stripe early and often this summer.

But for us here at the NSSG, the key is ensuring that we take time out to have fun. I recently returned from the Vermont City Marathon, with ORC members Margie McGoldrick, John Finnigan, Brian Rivenburgh, Todd Jennings, Rich Robillard, Myriam Loor and Gary Arne. We all trained long and hard for Burlington's version of the 26.2 odyssey, and while the run was a challenge for some of us lesser mortals, we all had fun.

Rene Loor and Peter Briggs joined us for pre-race drinks and conversation the night before the race. What a great time, there at an open-air cafe, on Burlington's Church Street pedestrian mall. And Rene and Mary Arne served as official Hudson Valley cheerleaders during the race. It was so great to see Rene there Sunday morning at Mile 20, cheering us to keep moving, just when the lactic acid was urging us to stop. It's the bonds we create through our associations with each other over time, especially through groups like the ORC, that help lift events like these from a chore, to sublime personal bests.

So to close on the subject of fun, the ORC is looking to create more of it. This summer we are planning some informal gatherings, like the July 18 get together at the Captain's Table in Monroe. Bob Harris and Kathleen Rifkin are launching the trail running season with a tour of Lake Minnewaska, June 15. Online links are included in the items (see right-hand column) for easy reference and directions. Get out there and form some connections. You never know where they will lead you.

And if you have any fun ideas, send us an e-mail and we will get it out to your Orange County running peers.

So what are you waiting for? Lace 'em up and get out there already!!! 

This month's Hudson Valley Races

• June 1, Ruthie Dino Marshall 5K, Middletown
• June 8, The Classic 10K & Rowley 5K, Middletown
• June 14, Rhulen Rock Hill Run & Ramble 5K, Rock Hill

Link here for more events and detail s

Next ORC 2008 Monthly Meeting

June 6, @ 6:30 p.m.Meet and Greet at the bar at DeStefano's Olde Erie Pub, Middletown. NOTE: The 6th is a Friday.

This month's very special guest speaker will be Frank Shorter, Olympic Gold Medalist, international running star and Middletown native. Dinner starts around 7 p.m. Frank will begin his prepared remarks around 8:05 p.m.

Due to an expected high turnout for this month's meeting, the ORC will be requiring an RSVP for attendees. Only ORC members are eligible to attend.. Please send an e-mail to President Todd Jennings, at todjen@optonline.net