2001 FLRC Calendar Clues

(Editor's note: official calendar to be published in January and beyond until we get it right!)

In no particular order...a peek-a-boo:

1.We have four indoor track meets this season (note the morning starting times), under the supervision of Rick Cleary. That's not counting the 34th annual Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile, directed by Rick Hoebeke. The final March meet will be family fun day at the track, which was very successful in 2000. Family fun day will be directed by Tim Ingall and Rick Cleary. (Motto: We're low-key already, but we can go lower!)

2.The snowshoe race is on -- snow or not, January 27th. Joe Reynolds will direct with an assist from Diane Sherrer. Yes, it's on the trail runner's circuit, and yes, if the weather permits, we will use the original 7.6-mile loop course. Redfeather snowshoes will be provided for free, but bring your own if you have any. We may have a chili lunch included for all participants; bring your long johns And, no whining!

3. Skunk (is it the 20th anniversary?) returns to the first Sunday in April (April Fool's Day) to avoid lactic acid hangover for the Boston-bound crowd two weeks later. The Farmer's Almanac predicts a major snowstorm for that first weekend of April, but that would be par for the course. Yvette deBoer, who won the Red Baron Half Marathon and took notes, will direct Skunk again.

4. Tessa Bauer has moved Bugliosi off Mother's Day, to the Saturday before Mother's Day, May 12th.

5. Jeffrey Juran has moved his Rec-Way 10K from August to Memorial Day Weekend -- actually May 26th. Hopefully, all the Cornell grads and their families will show up, and skip commencement!

6. Jim Miner promises to move all volunteers into the shade and off the bridge at the Tortoise & Hare, June 9. If you see Jim, push for the return of the strawberries. In honor of Rich Lawrence, we'll screw up something.

6a. Twilight 5K is back at Ithaca HS and moves to June 20, a Wednesday evening. Hot times and a hot tee-shirt made this one of last year's "must runs" for evening speedsters.

7. To avoid conflict with the Boilermaker, the FLT50s move to June 30, just a day away from July. We'll start the BBQ early; it's the most inexpensive 50-miler around, so consider making an ultra debut here.

8. The gender-specific World Wrestling Federation 5K (oops, Women's Distance Festival) will be held at Dryden Lake Town Park, again on a Thursday eve., July 19. Lorrie & Di are the bosses. We hope to link up with TCRC and Syracuse to encourage signing up for all three women's 5Ks in Central NY. Sisters, twins, mom & daughters, only kids, and rookies -- show up!

9. Then it's right back to Dryden Lake for our loop-the-lake, don't eat the mayonnaise, food poisoning is not an option FLRC free picnic on July 22. Joe Dabes & Audrey "I hate Martha Stewart" Balander are co-directing.

10. Welcome to our race calendar: the Empire Haven 4-Leaf Clover Run on Aug. 4. Empire Haven is a nudist camp. No kidding; so please read the entry form carefully, because the race is on!

11. Welcome to our race calendar: The Forge the Gorgeous trail run in Fillmore Glen (Moravia), created by Tim Ingall. It's on the evening of Aug. 23 and it's on our Stonehead ranking to-do list.

12. Stephen Snyder and the Scottish Blue Harriers will direct Virgil Mountain Madness (30K), set for August 12th. Kilts and blue paint always welcome!

13. It's not our race, but Pud's Run 5K will move to the 3rd weekend in August instead of the last. It's a peaceful treaty with the Chris Thater's organizers to stay off the same date. But when Pud's can be held on August 31st (Mike Padula's birthday) it will be held that year on that date.

14. Firefighters Dave Burbank and Gillian Sharp will direct the Monster & Half Monster, moved to the favorite time zone: Labor Day weekend, September 2nd.

15. The 5 & 10 will remain the third Sunday in September, with Lorrie Marnell at the helm.

16. Suzanne Aigen will take over directorship of Danby Down & Dirty. Date: October 14.

17. As with all the races, pre-register and you'll save lots of bucks. Wait to race day, and kiss your cash good-bye. We want to make racing affordable for everyone!

-- Diane Sherrer