Steve Schallenkamp: Viking Run in Rosendale enjoys a second life – The Daily Freeman

On Saturday, Dec. 31, the Onteora Runners Club hosted the 49th Viking Run. The race was started in 1974 by Kingston High School Cross Country and Track Coach George Tomson. Tomson coached at Kingston for 30 years. Tomson lived on Mountain
Road in Rosendale, which became the race route.

The race was conceived to keep his boys active and build team spirit. The original race was 4.3 miles, all on the aptly named
Mountain Road. It is rumored to be uphill both ways. Tomson was a fervent Minnesota Vikings football fan. The race was on the day of a Vikings playoff game. I suspect after the race; everyone sat down in George’s living room to watch the game.

At some point, Joe Keller, who lived on the town of Rosendale and New Paltz line, became involved. Keller expanded the race distance to 10k by starting and finishing on James Street. The town’s Community Center had enough parking space and provided a warm area for pre- and post-race activities. Keller would be the race director until his passing in 2009.

Under Keller, the ethos of the race evolved from football to the Vikings of Scandinavia. Keller likened runners to Norse warriors. You had to love running and be tough to run his Viking Run. Keller especially enjoyed the blizzard conditions that late December
often brought. Without Keller at the helm, planning for the run was inconsistent, and race numbers dwindled. In recent years, the Onteora Runners and Shawangunk Runners have joined forces to breathe new life into the event. With many area runners members of both clubs, it only seemed natural.

In the 21st century, there are more races than ever before, which means that there is much more competition to attract participants. Many of today’s runners expect a lot of “frills” such as finisher medals, T-shirts, awards, and extensive refreshments. As a result, entry fees have steadily increased.

The Viking Run was Keller’s race, and Keller believed that running should be affordable and accessible to all. The Onteora Runners Club shares this vision. Thankfully, a few local runners stepped up, and through their generosity, the ORC has been able to keep the entry fee low.

The ubiquitous Christopher Regan does the chip timing and makes all the awards and finishers’ medals for free. Don Mac Thurston, who seems to run every race in the Mid-Hudson Valley, made vegetable soup and vegetarian chili and brought hard rolls for the nearly 200 runners and volunteers. This spirit of generosity and service permeates the whole event. Even though the race has “frills” and is well-organized, there is nothing “corporate” about this event. The challenge of the course and this spirit of sharing has participants raving about the race.

This year, the race had a record 188 registrants and 167 finishers. Lisa Jerkowski, a town of Rosendale resident and a member of the Onteora Runners Club and Shawangunk Runners, deserves a big round of applause for being the race director. She is keeping Keller’s legacy alive.

Sean Casey from Poughkeepsie won this year’s race in 39:25. Coming in second and third were Lil Homie (40:01) and Robert Pape-Laucella (41:27). Winning the women’s division was Beacon’s Krista Kowalczyk, fourth overall, in 41:40. Following Kowalczyk to the finish line were Kristin Sherwood (44:27) and Meghan Donovan (47:21). The top masters (over 40) were Scott Hayes, fifth overall in 42:12 and Jennifer Warren (49:25).

Recover From the Holidays 50k

After two years of being canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Recover From the Holidays 50k (31 miles) returned to Norrie Point State Park in Staatsburg on Jan. 7.

This race is two events in one. First, it was an official ultramarathon race for 13 participants who ran 31 miles. Then, for the rest of the 72 runners, it was the perfect vehicle for a long Sunday group run. Mild temperatures and dry roads made for a pleasant day of running.

The top three finishers were Donald Coletta, Scott Hayes, and Chris Gallo, all in a time of 4:51. The top three women were Jacque Schiffer (5:11), Allison Lassoe (5:27), and Kim Hooper-Stanley (5:37). Congratulations to Steven Estremera for taking over race directing duties from longtime director Pete Colaizzo and to the Mid Hudson Road Runners for bringing this event back. With word out that it is back, I suspect it won’t take long for the event to return to its pre-pandemic numbers.

The Onteora Runners Club’s Winter Breakfast Runs got off to a record start on Jan. 7 with 28 participants. The group ran the original Kingston Classic 10K route. The Breakfast Runs are every Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. through March 4. All the runs
are in the six-mile range, free of charge, and open to all. Participants run at their own pace. After each run, many participants sit down at a nearby eatery and have breakfast.

The next run will be the Tour of Lake Katrine on Jan. 21, meeting at the Town of Ulster Offices. Then, on Jan. 28, the run will be the Rhinebeck Ramble. The Breakfast Runs are a great way to meet other runners and get introduced to some new running routes. For more information, visit the ORC website at www.onteorarunners.org.

Quite a few runners like to listen to music or playlists while running. I am far from being an audiophile or musicologist, but I have a few suggestions for artists and tunes to try. These songs span eight decades and include some classic hits along with artists you
may be unfamiliar with:

* One Eskimo, “He Called Me Baby.” This cover of the 1956 Patsy Cline hit features British blues singer Candi Staton. Listen to the original and then compare it to this 2009 release.

* Peter Tosh, “Johnny B. Goode.” The first time I heard this reggae version of Chuck Berry’s hit, it blew me away. But I like it better.

* Leann Womack, “Sunshine on my Shoulders.” This cover of the John Denver song reminds me to slow down and appreciate the small things in life.

* Carlos Santana, “Samba Pa Ti.” Santana is one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and he proves it in this entirely acoustic piece.

* Death Cab For Cutie, “Here to Forever.” This song examines the transience of life, and I like the sound of this 2022 release and band.

* Cat Stevens/Yusuf, “Lady D’Arbanville.” This song is about the breakup of one of Stevens’ loves. He is a master of real-life stories.

* War on Drugs, “I Don’t Live Here Anymore.” This song was released in 2021 by an Indie-style band formed in 2005. I like its sound and believe the band’s name is a satire on one of America’s most disastrous policy campaigns.

* Levon Helm, “Take Me To The River.” I just had to include a song from a man who made Ulster County his home. I have always found his voice distinctive. Helm’s Midnight Rambles at his barn in Woodstock brought a lot of talented musicians to our area.

* Amos Lee, “Windows Rolled Down.” I remember driving home from a track workout in New Paltz and hearing this song on WDST in 2011. It mesmerized me. I love the lyrics, the timing, and the feelings it evokes. It reminds me of driving around the countryside
with my dad in the early 1960s with “the windows rolled down.”

* The Longest Johns, “The Workers Song.” This song, released in 2022 by a British folk group, tries to remind us of what is an eternal economic truth.

Save the Dates

Jan. 29 to March 5, Onteora Runners Club Winter Survivors Series. This five-week series can be done in person or virtually. For additional information, visit the website zippy-reg.com.

Jan. 29, Mid Hudson Road Runners Roy Abraham Winter Run. Five miles at Baird State Park. For more information, visit the club website mhrrc.org.

Jan. 29, Orange Runners Club 5k Winter Series Race No. 2 in Middletown. For all information on the remaining three races, visit the club website at orangerunnersclub.org.

Feb. 4, The Snowmoon Festival 5k in Saugerties. For more information, visit the website saugertiessnowmoonfestival.com.

Despite it being the slowest time of year for runners, you can see that area running clubs are working diligently to keep everyone motivated and moving throughout the winter months. I hope to see many of you at a race, group run, or workout this winter.

Steve Schallenkamp has been active in area running circles since 1966 as a runner, race director, volunteer and coach. He is a member of the Onteora Runners Club and president of the Shawangunk Runners Club.