#TrailsRoc

I decided to skip our “New Year” news letter and let the rush of the holidays and the new resolutions settle. We hope your goals are still in tact, but the great thing about goals is that they are changeable. If you fell off the wagon, don’t worry you can join us and be surrounded by a group of supportive folks who know all about failing and then having success.

Recently I heard a story that left me pretty upset. A new runner was talking about goals and dreams with her own running. A veteran runner told her “You can’t do that, you won’t be able to.”

I was shocked. I have never seen that in the running community. I have sat around camp fires in the summer and iced over parking lots in the winter listening to fellow runners talk about dreams. Faster 5k times, 100 miles in the mountains, new off road tri events and taking on Fastest Known Time routes. Never once did I hear someone tell those runners “You can’t”.

I hear encouragement – I hear cheers of excitement – I hear a community say, “I’m in”.

If you have been told by others in the past that “You can’t”. Let me be the first to tell you this;

You Can.

You will.

We will support you.

Join us on our FREE and supportive group runs. Surround yourself with people who say YOU CAN. Tues 6pm, Weds 6am, Thursday 6pm and Sundays at 11am run with us – Train with us- succeed with us.

We fail so much that we make a game of it. It’s not really about the goals though, or the failing, or the getting back up and trying again – It’s about the process and the journey along the way.

Are you enjoying yourself? Are you surrounded by good people? You can be! You should be!

Meet us on the trails,

Eric and the #TrailsRoc crew

TRAIL NEWS

Clean up:

Pick Up The Parks day is April 25th – Put in on your calendars and join us while we clean up and fix up our amazing park system

Group Runs:

Tuesday Trail Trots – 6:00PM. An easy 3-4 mile. You should be able to run 3-4 miles consistently and we will lead you through the parks. We always have at least 2 pace groups available. Check our website for more details.

Wednesday Morning Runs– 6:00AM. We will post the schedule on our facebook page each week.

Thursday Medved and then headlamp runs– 6:00pm. We go through the all of the parks in the county. Medved coordinates in the spring and summer – We coordinate in the late fall and winter.

SAS – Slow and Steady – These runs are on Sundays and are for those who are just learning to run. We go, as the name says,  Slow and Steady.

Races:

Mess The Dress – Put on your best formal wear and get it muddy with us at Black Creek Park. Registration is open. Get in soon because it is filling fast!

Mighty Mosquito 99 Mile Relay – Registration is OPEN team of 6 will take on a 99 mile course in Mendon ponds. Limited to 30 teams so act fast – All of our race profits will go to the Monroe County Parks Department.

#TrailsRoc: The App:  An android version now available – We know plenty of iphone users have found the app to be extremely easy to use and often very helpful!

Know a good trail that is not in our database? Send us your GPX data and allow others to share that trail with you. Contact TrailsRoc@Gmail.com with GPX or comments.

DECEMBER RUNNER SPOTLIGHT

Pete Lacey

Each month we will highlight you. A local trail loving runner. Every other site is highlighting the stars, we want to highlight OUR stars!

Why Trails:

I had been running casually three times a week for about seven (7) years (five years while member of the world’s greatest Navy) and enjoyed the healthy side of it.  I didn’t know what pace meant or what minute mile I ran and for seven (7) years I had never heard the term “PR” and life was good.

Then a friend talked me into the Snow Cheap at Cobbs Hill.  I borrowed a headlamp and ran the race.  At some point I found myself running alone in my own solo in-between spot with people ahead of me and a group behind me.

It was dark but not entirely without light.  The surrounding headlamps created outlines and shadows of the trees around me.  The ups and downs of the hills were fun and different than I was use to running on a road.

I could hear the sounds, smell the scents, and experienced the peacefulness of Mother Nature and I knew at that moment that I loved running trails.  I really find it natural to run in the dark during a summer rain or a winter snow; it’s just so peaceful.

On Injury Prevention 

Cross train!  When training for a longer race I will integrate spin class, Yoga, Pilates, bicycling, water resistance (Aquafit at my gym).  I ran what I believe was a good first trail marathon last year with six months of training and rarely ran more than three days a week.

I filled the week up with other activities and took days off.  I had a training calendar that provided me with a plan but by no means was it the law, rather just a guide.  I tried hard to listen to my body and make smart choices and ultimately it paid off as I avoided any injury for the training period and during the race.

Favorite Trail Race 

I don’t know if I have a favorite race.  I’d prefer to say that I have a lot of favorite moments during a trail race.

• Any moment when I feel I am going fast and without any effort.

• Pre-race chatting with friends.

• Chatting with a friend as we run the race.

• Post-race chatting with friends.

• Miles 21 and 22 during Seg 2014 when I cried so fucking hard I am so glad no one was around to witness the fluids all over my face and the strange sounds that a person makes gasping for air as they run and cry.  At mile 21 I knew I was going to make it.  Tearing now as I think about it.

• After running a longer distance and thinking that I feel good.

• Passing a known faster runner.  I know they are just having an off moment but thank you for making me feel good about my effort.

• Starting the downhill portion of the race. “Oh, thank god!”

• Single-track.

• Knowing it is hard and not giving up.

What to do in Rochester when not running 

RIT Hockey and the Rochester Red Wings or a few drinks over a game of darts.  I like to bike as well; it reminds me of being a kid again.  I always had a bike growing up and I would ride all over Henrietta and even out to Mendon Ponds.

Today, I have three bicycles; a hybrid, mountain bike and road bike.  I like to take the hybrid through the city enjoying the different neighborhoods from Park Ave to Monroe or Corn Hill or Browncroft.  You’ll also find me on my couch relaxing watching a movie.  I also have lazy on my training calendar!

TROY NEWS

The 2015 season is scheduled – Many of these races are already open and registration is filling fast. We are working on a new and updated scoring system and welcome you to sign up for these amazing local trail races.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

We are looking for the best photos of the trails- Send us yours –

Submitted by Ron Heerkens Jr – See below for exciting news about Ron and his photography

FOUNDERS CORNER

Sean – Just completed 70 miles of the the Beast Of Burden Winter 100 miler. He was paced by fellow founders Ben and Eric and Ron was there to document the entire thing! Look forward to photos and videos.

Ron – Speaking of documenting, Ron has started a new photography business. His photos are some of the best around. Check out his site and support his work!

Ben – You know we love this area of the country. Ben has launched a new site to document the amazing outdoors lifestyle in the North East. UPPERRIGHTUSA.COM Incredible stuff – Check it out and follow along.

Eric – The launch of a new company Trail Methods is going well. Offering new events to this area including cycling (off road, and on), coaching services, and the areas first Trail Camp. Register for a week of running, hiking, and camping in the “Enchanted Mountains” of Allegheny State Park.