Running Reinvention

By Laura Clark

Races canceled. Schools closed. Theaters shut down. Stadiums locked… Overnight we went from overload to scarcity; from no personal time at all to way too much. Accompanying that, we acquired a new vocabulary: abundance of caution, social distancing, new normal, quarantine. As runners we are fortunate that ours is not a contact sport. Or is it? Think Boston, Freihofer’s or any mega start/finish line, and we have to reconsider. But unlike team players who really need a lineup, we can at least get out there solo or with family for our daily fix.

Still, we all need a community, human contact that involves more than Facetime. To this end, I’m amazed at how quickly running clubs and shops have reinvented themselves, making the best of a difficult situation, and striving to maintain connectivity however virtual that may have to be. Below is an inventory of what regional entities have creatively designed to help us remain in the game.

Saratoga Stryders has been gradually adding options. While their Saratoga Spa State Park gatherings and weekly runs are canceled, club coaches John Couch, Mary Fenton and Tony Lupo have been diligently creating videos and written descriptions of the Wednesday night workouts for members to execute, either singly or with a socially-distanced friend. Afterwards, instead of meeting at R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery, participants share our stories via Zoom – often, with a drink in hand.

With Stryders Grand Prix races canceled, the events are now virtual. So far, a virtual 5K drew over 80 registrants to benefit a good cause, and members are looking forward to virtual 1M, 10K, 4M, and 5K trail races. Virtual events can be run on any similarly-distanced route, trail or road, flat or hilly, with participants posting via Strava or Garmin, or emailing time and route. Events typically occur over a span of a few days to a week or more – so if you are not pleased with your time, you have the option of repeating… When have you ever been able to run the same race twice to post the better time! While obviously not a “real” race with myriad participants, this feature does pose a fun challenge, with members wearing favorite old racing bibs, and donating to selected charities.

Since it seems as if we runners will be using our imagination for a while, the Stryders Book Club, normally hosted by Palette Cafe, will resume via Zoom on June 2 with Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor taking the spotlight. For more info, visit saratogastryders.org.

In nearby Malta, the Roundabout Runners Club, under the leadership of Malta 5K/10K race director Paul Loomis, has been inventively keeping members engaged. This is a somewhat unusual club for the area, in that besides the usual adult component, it includes an enthusiastic youth membership focusing on track & field and cross-country. The group is especially close-knit as many of the adults are themselves parents of the participating kids. According to Paul, “We have been sending out a club email with a list of workouts for the kids. Parents have been great sending out pictures of the kids through our TeamReach app.” Participants in the adult social runs keep in touch via Facebook Messenger app, and currently have logged a virtual half marathon to replace AREEP’s Helderberg to Hudson. Finally, every Saturday a revolving group of family volunteers gather to work on the Luther Forest trails, using materials donated by the Town of Malta and Global Foundries, with the eventual goal of holding a bimonthly trail series. Go to roundaboutrunnersclub.com.

Next, travel to Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club to read The Pacesetter, their club newsletter for some interesting profiles about how various members are coping with Covid-19 restrictions – lots of good advice. HMRRC offered a virtual option for the Runnin’ of the Green race, and more opportunities are anticipated for those who do better at maintaining consistency with a fixed goal in mind.

Also, Albany Running Exchange’s Social Distance Running Challenge, where runners can select 5K, 10K or 13.1M options to be completed any time during the month of May. Distances can be run repeatedly, with the fastest selected. All participants receive a customizable bib, and a must-have toilet paper roll medal, as well as the option to contribute to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY. Check out socialdistancerunningchallenge.com.

While qualifying as neither a running club or specialty store, Freihofer’s Run for Women is such a local institution that it deserves mention. Not to be deterred, co-race director Kristen Hislop muses, “How do you cancel a race that has been running for 41 years? Do you try to postpone to the fall, compete with the fall calendar, and all the newly postponed events?” Their solution is to offer a menu of selections: allow registrants a full refund, offer the option to donate their fee to the race charities, or propose a virtual component stressing the sheer joy of running for you. 

Freihofer’s Run has been a long-standing tradition for my daughters and grandkids, and now thanks to this opportunity, one of my daughters who lives in Ohio can once again run with us! On the plus side, next year they’re considering virtual opportunities for loyal Freihofer’s Run followers who find themselves scattered in different parts of the country. For more info, freihofersrun.com.

In Saratoga Springs, iRun LOCAL is partnering with Freihofer’s Run, offering a gift card for their raffle. Owner Jamie Mastroianni states her shop is open for online orders, curbside pickup, free local deliveries within a 45-minute radius, and free shipping – so there is no excuse to postpone your run. She also mentioned that breathable runner-specific face masks will be available soon. Go to irunlocal.com.

Besides their usual offerings, Fleet Feet in Albany and Malta is emphasizing hydration systems and on-the-go energy products, a wide buff assortment and face masks – everything to make you an independent runner, not reliant on unnecessary exposure. Owner Charles Woodruff is busy smoothing out supply changes and instituting virtual fittings – processes that will enhance the experience once the stores reopen.

Fleet Feet’s Training Programs have shifted to virtual workouts, and they cap-off every week with a computer-generated Thursday night happy hour! Coach Mark Mindel has connected the Fleet Feet training teams to the national Run Free Grand Prix, through USATF New England, with a virtual 10K, 1M, 5K and 13.1M. Once the half-marathon is completed on May 7-10, Mark plans to ramp-up a set of Fleet Feet Grand Prix races in various distances as well. If you opt-in, expect lots of informative and entertaining updates from Mark, and fellow-runner profiles to keep things interesting! Visit fleetfeetalbany.com. 

Although there is no real comparison, our “new normal” reminds me of the time when the children’s floor of the Saratoga Springs Public Library was closed for a few months for a facelift.  We crammed as many library items as we could into one room and carried on. No longer did we have fancy toys, but selected only the basics – a set of wooden blocks and animals. Amazingly, and with no complaints, the kids played cooperatively for hours, building elaborate structures and story lines. While I wouldn’t go back, I do still miss those days of imaginative play. 

Although no one wanted this pandemic and staying home to happen, the inventiveness, sense of community, and sheer appreciation of the simple act of running without all the frills are lessons we can apply to a post-Covid world!

Laura Clark (snowshoegal133@gmail.com) of Saratoga Springs is an avid trail runner, ultramarathoner, snowshoer and cross-country skier. She is a children’s librarian at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.