Pace Setter : October 2024

2024 Distinguished Service Award Winner - Karen Dott

The Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual whose volunteer activities on behalf of the HMRRC have contributed significantly to HMRRC and the running community. Members of the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club (“HMRRC”) are given the opportunity to nominate and designate a fellow club member for their Distinguished Service to the club. Distinguished service may include working finish lines at races; serving on the Board of Directors; chairing a committee; directing a race, or all the other countless jobs/duties that need to be performed in order for our club to function and do the great things that it does.  The person’s standing in the running community in general may be relevant, but it is secondary to the efforts put forth for HMRRC.  The award has been handed out to worthy volunteers since 1972.  For a complete list, see our webpage:

https://www.hmrrc.com/application/files/2216/2480/2286/DistinguishedServiceRecipients062721.pdf

The award ceremony took place at the Distinguished Service Race on September 22, 2024. As a longtime dedicated and enthusiastic club member who has volunteered in numerous capacities over many years, Karen gracefully accepted this award after the race. 

Karen has volunteered at multiple HMRRC’s races including:  the Delmar Dash, the Masters Run, the Marathon and the Winter Series, just to name a few. She frequently recruits other volunteers to join her at HMRRC events. Karen has been a long standing volunteer for eleven years at Just Run, where she has coordinated the results operation at both the track meets and cross-country meets for the hundreds of school-age children that participate. She is the "go to" person for all the races that Ed Neiles times, whom she has assisted with race timing for at least sixteen years. Karen shines as an overall great contributor, where she always fulfills her volunteer duties with warmth, enthusiasm and a shining smile.

Karen is on the far right. 

Karen has provided some of her own thoughts on this award and the club in general: 

1. How long have you been a club member or been running in general? 

I started running in 1995. At that time my brother Bryan had recently started running to keep up with his twin daughters who had joined the school track team. He ended up getting my brother Art running, and he was the one who motivated me to start running. Shortly thereafter two of my sisters started running as well. I believe I joined the club before the end of that year. Numerous nieces and nephews joined in after that so we would always have a blast at the Tuesday Night Track Meets. 

2. What is your most memorable Club race or memory? 

I’d have to say the 2002 Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon was most memorable as this was the year two of my sisters (Donna and Mair) and myself crossed the finish line together. It wasn’t our first marathon but it was our first time all finishing together, and it was a moment I will never forget. 

3. What has inspired you to continue your commitment to the club? 

It brings me a lot of joy to see others fall in love with running like I did, so to be able to be a part of affordable and well run races with such a great group of people is honestly an honor. I especially enjoy the Just Run program. It is really special to be able to see children experience the benefits of running and start to build healthy habits. Not only does it encourage a new generation of runners, but I also get to see the best bunch of volunteers ever. 

4. Do you have any advice to new club members in regards to running or volunteering for the club? 

Simply put - Just do it! The community we get to be a part of is like no other! 

5. What are your plans for the upcoming year for running/racing/anything else related to the club? 

My hope for the future is to keep moving for as long as possible. I love staying involved with the running community and HMRRC so I plan to volunteer for as long as I am able! This great community is long-lasting and weather withstanding!