The first race in the GRTC Freezeroo series will again be at Pineway Ponds in Spencerport. Sal's, led by the infamous MikeI'msoworriedIneedScotchNow W. is leading the local volunteers in organizing the race. This is the 37th version of the race (I'm making this up). Really, though, years ago this course was used for PolarCat races before GRTC requested our help.
This is a five mile course and deceivingly harder than one might think. Many runners have insisted the course is long, but it was accurately wheeled and also Garminized. It isn't certified, but is accurate nonetheless. A course map is available at USATF. There are two small hills and a long, slight incline from 2.5-4 miles.
YellowJacket Racing will be timing the race, so expect results quickly. This year's weather looks great, for once we won't have an icy roadway within the park!
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Showing posts with label Spencerport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spencerport. Show all posts
Friday, December 9, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Spencerport Running Secret
There is a path beginning off of Slayton Avenue, near the new Top's Market. It is just past the wooden stairway leading to the canal, which is north of Tops, and behind the smaller strip mall with 4-6 stores. The path heads east, towards Gillett road. It is a dirt and grass trail that is yet to be fully developed, mostly due to too many governments, the railroad and utility companies being involved.
The path is still runable though. The original Town of Ogden plan called for it to be a smooth surface so that senior citizens could access it from the Glenn Haven road area of homes. At one time there were even supposed to be lights. You can climb up a small hill near the Gillett road overpass, get on Gillett, cross the canal bridge and come down to the canal path back into the village. This route would be about three miles.
For a year the path continued under Gillett road and through some nice woods and farmland to Manitou road, giving mtn bikers, runners and walkers another mile + of off road experience. Unfortunately one (1!!) neighbor complained (even though the path wasn't on his property, in fact is probably 100 yards from his house) and someone in a state agency authorized an 8' high steel fence be built. This was done without the Town of Ogden's knowledge.
A little government can be a bad thing. Too much government definitely is.
The path is still runable though. The original Town of Ogden plan called for it to be a smooth surface so that senior citizens could access it from the Glenn Haven road area of homes. At one time there were even supposed to be lights. You can climb up a small hill near the Gillett road overpass, get on Gillett, cross the canal bridge and come down to the canal path back into the village. This route would be about three miles.
For a year the path continued under Gillett road and through some nice woods and farmland to Manitou road, giving mtn bikers, runners and walkers another mile + of off road experience. Unfortunately one (1!!) neighbor complained (even though the path wasn't on his property, in fact is probably 100 yards from his house) and someone in a state agency authorized an 8' high steel fence be built. This was done without the Town of Ogden's knowledge.
A little government can be a bad thing. Too much government definitely is.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Spencerport Running Secrets III
Dump Road.
This, of course, is not the real name of the road. Dump Road is actually Sals name for the extension of West Avenue that leads from the village to the Public Works department and out to Trimmer road.
There used to be a real dump in this area, the village dump that is now covered in clay, dirt and grass. The carnival people camp out on top of the small, grassy knoll once a year when they are in town.
Firemen use Dump Road for some competition once a year. They run and climb ladders, jump off of trucks and drink a lot in the bed of their pickup trucks cheering each team on.
Sals runners know this area as our long-time training grounds. It is marked at the 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile. The decade of the 1990's saw a few of us doing Yasso 800m repeats, up to 10 at a time, when training for Ironman competitions (Augie) and Boston marathon qualifying attempts. Our splits ranged from 2:45-3:05 with a 2 minute rest between.
Ten to fifteen years later our splits are slower, but at least we are still able, and want, to do it.
In the winter Dump road is the cleanest road in the village. The Public Works people take care of their road, as they should. There are no potholes on this road. It has a bit of a curve in the road, but that is okay. The wind usually comes out of the west, but that helps make up for the ever so slight downhill. It's also nice to have the wind at your back heading east. Lots of trees are helpful when nature calls. Traffic is light or non-existent.
Dump Road is still one of my favorite places to run in Spencerport.
This, of course, is not the real name of the road. Dump Road is actually Sals name for the extension of West Avenue that leads from the village to the Public Works department and out to Trimmer road.
There used to be a real dump in this area, the village dump that is now covered in clay, dirt and grass. The carnival people camp out on top of the small, grassy knoll once a year when they are in town.
Firemen use Dump Road for some competition once a year. They run and climb ladders, jump off of trucks and drink a lot in the bed of their pickup trucks cheering each team on.
Sals runners know this area as our long-time training grounds. It is marked at the 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile. The decade of the 1990's saw a few of us doing Yasso 800m repeats, up to 10 at a time, when training for Ironman competitions (Augie) and Boston marathon qualifying attempts. Our splits ranged from 2:45-3:05 with a 2 minute rest between.
Ten to fifteen years later our splits are slower, but at least we are still able, and want, to do it.
In the winter Dump road is the cleanest road in the village. The Public Works people take care of their road, as they should. There are no potholes on this road. It has a bit of a curve in the road, but that is okay. The wind usually comes out of the west, but that helps make up for the ever so slight downhill. It's also nice to have the wind at your back heading east. Lots of trees are helpful when nature calls. Traffic is light or non-existent.
Dump Road is still one of my favorite places to run in Spencerport.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Spencerport Running Secrets II
This isn't too much of a secret, with 200+ people participating every December, but the Pineway Ponds 5 mile race (now a Freezeroo) is a nice run. The course has two minor hills and a gradual incline up Trimmer and part of Canal road that makes the fourth mile slower than you might expect.
The first Pineway Ponds races were directed by Bill Kehoe and the CATS athletic club. MW and I helped Bill measure and design the course, which originally went in the opposite direction of the current Freezeroo. Many of our Sal's members, as usual, volunteered for these races and/or ran them. Pineway Ponds replaced the 10k kick Canal Days race course.
For awhile Kehoe also had a 4+ mile winter race utilizing Pineway Ponds as part of his Polar Cats series.
The current course heads east on Park Road, left onto Union st, left onto Clearview Drive, right on Ritson, right on Sandstone, left on Union, left on Ogden Town Line road, left on Trimmer, left on Canal road, left on Union, left into park. Mike and I designed it this way to go against traffic, which we felt was safer, and made the intersections safe (as long as runners aren't stupid and run in the middle of road, as some choose to do).
The first Pineway Ponds races were directed by Bill Kehoe and the CATS athletic club. MW and I helped Bill measure and design the course, which originally went in the opposite direction of the current Freezeroo. Many of our Sal's members, as usual, volunteered for these races and/or ran them. Pineway Ponds replaced the 10k kick Canal Days race course.
For awhile Kehoe also had a 4+ mile winter race utilizing Pineway Ponds as part of his Polar Cats series.
The current course heads east on Park Road, left onto Union st, left onto Clearview Drive, right on Ritson, right on Sandstone, left on Union, left on Ogden Town Line road, left on Trimmer, left on Canal road, left on Union, left into park. Mike and I designed it this way to go against traffic, which we felt was safer, and made the intersections safe (as long as runners aren't stupid and run in the middle of road, as some choose to do).
Monday, January 3, 2011
Spencerport & Town of Ogden Running Secrets
There are many advantages to living in the Spencerport area when it comes to running, biking and swimming. I'm going to divulge the secrets over time, in no particular order of preference.
The 10k Kick race course. The older runners and those who have been privileged to run with us know this course well. It is one of my favorite courses. It can be a timed tempo workout or a great hill workout. I count 9 decent uphills on this course and a couple of inclines.
Originally the 10k Kick was run as part of Spencerport Canal Days, but traffic concerns and lack of real support with the Canal Days people made continuing this race difficult. Bill Kehoe was the race director. The course was modified to finish at Pineway Ponds and later changed again to a 5 mile loop.
Here is the original 10k Kick Course. Begin at what is now Hi-Qual Heating on Amity Street, across from the Post Office. Head west to the end of Amity, turn left up Evergreen, left onto West Avenue, to Union Street. Turn right, then left onto Old Lyell road. Run to Bernabi Hill, turning right up the hill, then right at the top until you get to the sidewalk heading towards Coolidge Ave, turn right up the hill, left onto Maplewood, quick left onto Coleman, right onto rt31, quick right onto Prospect, left onto Hillcrest which changes for bizarre reasons to Parkhurst, and continue till you get back to Prospect, turning left. Another left takes you to Maplewood down the hill, then back up. Left onto Union, right onto Brockport Road, right onto Village Walk Circle, right to Village Walk, left at Village Trail. Turn left at Martha Street, left at West Avenue, right at Evergreen and right at Amity back to Hi-Qual.
As you can see, lots of turns and if you aren't going up or down a hill you probably went the wrong way.
This is a great route to use after running a 12-15 miler on the canal when preparing for a marathon that may have a few hills in the later stages. Watch for traffic. The exact measurement may not be a 10k, but it is close depending on how often you are on sidewalks instead of the road, take tangents on curves and run on the left or right side of the road.
Here is the MapMyRun link to the route.
The 10k Kick race course. The older runners and those who have been privileged to run with us know this course well. It is one of my favorite courses. It can be a timed tempo workout or a great hill workout. I count 9 decent uphills on this course and a couple of inclines.
Originally the 10k Kick was run as part of Spencerport Canal Days, but traffic concerns and lack of real support with the Canal Days people made continuing this race difficult. Bill Kehoe was the race director. The course was modified to finish at Pineway Ponds and later changed again to a 5 mile loop.
Here is the original 10k Kick Course. Begin at what is now Hi-Qual Heating on Amity Street, across from the Post Office. Head west to the end of Amity, turn left up Evergreen, left onto West Avenue, to Union Street. Turn right, then left onto Old Lyell road. Run to Bernabi Hill, turning right up the hill, then right at the top until you get to the sidewalk heading towards Coolidge Ave, turn right up the hill, left onto Maplewood, quick left onto Coleman, right onto rt31, quick right onto Prospect, left onto Hillcrest which changes for bizarre reasons to Parkhurst, and continue till you get back to Prospect, turning left. Another left takes you to Maplewood down the hill, then back up. Left onto Union, right onto Brockport Road, right onto Village Walk Circle, right to Village Walk, left at Village Trail. Turn left at Martha Street, left at West Avenue, right at Evergreen and right at Amity back to Hi-Qual.
As you can see, lots of turns and if you aren't going up or down a hill you probably went the wrong way.
This is a great route to use after running a 12-15 miler on the canal when preparing for a marathon that may have a few hills in the later stages. Watch for traffic. The exact measurement may not be a 10k, but it is close depending on how often you are on sidewalks instead of the road, take tangents on curves and run on the left or right side of the road.
Here is the MapMyRun link to the route.
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