The Running Mind of the Upstate Classic Race Director

by Josh MerlisOther than giving us background on the glorious Upstate Classic Event that electrified the Albany area running community, Josh details how the pandemic ravaged his enterprise, bringing it near bankruptcy, but with his usual sangfroid attitud…
by Josh Merlis I took a few steps… Josh Merlis Click on picture Josh Merlis https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/december/running-mind-upstate-classic-race-director

Anny Stockman’s Triple Crown: 3 National USATF Titles!

by Christine BishopAnny Stockman has achieved the almost impossible. She has won three USATF national titles for her age group. Read about her and how she did it. Surprisingly, she didn't even start to run until she was 48 years old. Since then, she has b…
ordinaire Jim Gilmer and the timing magic of Josh Merlis and ARE Timing… in front of the Bethlehem Middle School and Josh Merlis volunteered to set up a separate timing mat https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/november/anny-stockmans-triple-crown-3-national-usatf-titles

Exceeding Your Limits

by Josh MerlisJosh pays homage to his wife's skill and determination that have driven her to break records and to seek more. "On Sunday, September 20, 2020, Michelle Merlis completed the Devil’s Path trail in the Catskill Mountains in 5:29:34. It was the …
by Josh Merlis On Sunday https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/november/exceeding-your-limits

Trick? Or Treat? at the Hairy Gorilla

by Laura ClarkLaura talks about her experience running the Hairy Gorilla. "With temperatures in the low twenties and two inches of snow on the ground, Thacher Park resembled Jack Skellington’s Halloween Town in Tim Burton’s film, The Nightmare Before Chri…
miler that RD Josh Merlis produces https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/november/trick-or-treat-hairy-gorilla

The Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon and Squirrelly Six Mile: Racing in a Pandemic

by Josh MerlisWho better to write about these races than their creator, Josh Merlis? He mentions the difficulties in putting together any race in a pandemic and then goes on to detail the planning and execution of these two races that always delight parti…
by Josh Merlis Over the past few months… Josh Merlis Archive The Upstate Classic https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/november/hairy-gorilla-half-marathon-and-squirrelly-six-mile-racing-pandemic

The Upstate Classic: 5K, 13.1M, & 26.2M

by Josh MerlisThe Upstate Classic, scheduled for November 15, will be staged where the Druther's Helderberg to Hudson race was but with different routes. The emphasis on safety, competition and fun will still be the same. For full arti…
check out UpstateClassic.com by Josh Merlis 5K https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/october/upstate-classic-5k-131m-262m

Toeing the Line at Thacher Park

by Jenna Robinson”Do you remember what it is like to toe the line? To look down and see all of the worn sneakers pressed up to the freshly painted start line, ready to spring forward at the sound of the gun?" For full article, click he…
thanks to Josh Merlis and the many dedicated volunteers at the Tha https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/september/toeing-line-thacher-park

Meet Our Runners

This month's column has a new question added that was contributed by Connie Smith: What was the strangest thing you saw on the side of the road while running? The answers may surprise you as will the responses of Josh Merlis, Dallas DeVries. Shelby Sayre,…
Josh and Michelle Josh Merlis Why do you run https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/september/meet-our-runners

Froggy Five Miler: Fractured Fairy Tales Part II

by Laura ClarkLaura loves trail races especially when they have story book characters leading runners on a merry pace over treacherous terrain and are lovingly organized by Josh Merlis. Her favorite part was "the Magical Mystery Tour through the swamp and…
Name Age Sex City State Time Josh Merlis37MAlbanyNY0 https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/september/froggy-five-miler-fractured-fairy-tales-part-ii

Capital District Challenge – Series Recap

by Josh MerlisThe Capital District Challenge, presented by ARE Event Productions, was all about motivating entrants to log miles by running or walking – and to enjoy it too! In 5 weeks, starting on July 5, over 50,000 miles were collectively logged by 506…
by Josh Merlis Sunday… Josh Merlis Series Stats Parti https://www.hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/july/capital-district-challenge-series-recap

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