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We tested the best running watches out there to find which ones are the best of the best. Here’s how we did it and which ones you need on your wrist. Melissa Rorech, Reviewed.com

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As with the rest of our lives, as we prepare to flip the calendar from 2019 to 2020, we’re in that transitional period on the local running scene: Wrapping up 2019 while gearing up for 2020.

Training for races is all about delayed gratification. We put in the work for weeks and months at a time, in preparation for a supreme effort on some faraway race date. That’s why resolutions are a natural thing for runners, who are all about setting goals. And with the way race registrations fill up so far in advance, it’s imperative to plan way ahead on your 2020 goals.

But before we look ahead to 2020, the 2019 Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club racing season came to a close on Saturday (Dec. 7) in Wappingers Falls with the Pete Sanfilippo Holiday Run at the Knights of Columbus in the village. The race celebrated its 40th running this year, sadly three years after race founder Pete Sanfilippo passed away.

His son, Mark, and his good friend and local running legend Mike Slinskey co-direct the race, which had more than 100 finishers on a very chilly morning. Slinskey posted a thank-you note to the local running community, about the race, on Facebook on Saturday night:

“I’m sending out a heartfelt thank you to all my running friends that came together today to run our unspoken final championship Dutchess County race of the year. Forty years ago, Pete had a passion for running and the community he lived in. And to bring both together, he started the Knights of Columbus Holiday Run. Eight years into it, I was introduced to this amazing experience; 32 holiday races later, I’ve realized one thing: The people that make up this community are something special. Three years ago, Pete passed away on race morning. But, not without making sure his race was set to go. That day, there wasn’t much more to do but say ‘ready, set, go.’ His youngest son Mark and I agreed to work together and continue his dream to continue to bring the community together. All the volunteers also never thought anything different. Thank you to them, also. But, without runners and volunteers, we only have a few lines and arrows on a few streets. Mark and I thank everyone so very much from the bottom of our hearts for being part of something special.”

Thank YOU, Mike, for working with Mark to keep this thing going, as well as for inspiring hundreds of runners through the years with your elite-level running coupled with your down-to-earth personality. Both traits have served you well for many decades, and have made you a great coach and mentor to many youth and adult runners as well. Nicely done!

Michael Tanzi (27:25) and Jacque Schiffer (35:18) are the 5-mile race winners out of the 109 finishers. Complete results and photos can be found at www.mhrrc.org

Norrie Point race

Looking ahead to 2020, the first race on the MHRRC calendar is the Recover From the Holidays 50 km at Norrie Point in Staatsburg, on Jan. 12. Charlie Sprauer and I have organized this race since its inception in 1996. It’s an out-and-back 5 km-loop on park roads, mostly traffic-free.

Typically, we have between 10-20 runners who complete all 10 laps for the full 31-mile (50-km) distance, with nearly 100 or more runners and walkers coming out for part of the day. The majority of the participants simply come out for several laps to get in a group long run. Our official start time is 9 a.m. But through the years, the “start time” of the race has been expanded to “whenever you check in with us,” in an effort to streamline the day.

Although it’s a go-as-you-please format, we do “keep score” and tabulate race results. There are no awards, and there is no entry fee. And there’s certainly no “pre-race registration” either. Just sign a waiver form, check in with us for a starting time and start running! We’ll post more details in the coming weeks. Any questions, email me or call me at runhed246@hotmail.com or 845-309-3640.

What’s on your 2020 schedule?

Also for future columns, please share your 2020 running resolutions, goals and race calendar. Steven Estremera of Conquer The World (CTW) racing has a lot of outstanding trail races planned in eastern and southern Dutchess County. He’s even adding a 12- and 24-hour ultra in Pawling in September, which already seems to be garnering a lot of interest. Check out his races on social media; he puts on well-run events. Merry Fitness!

Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club member Pete Colaizzo, the track coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, writes on running every week in Players. He can be reached at runhed246@hotmail.com. For more club information, go to www.mhrrc.org

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