SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — For many people in Central New York, getting outside and staying active is a challenge during the region’s intense winters. Snowstorms and subzero temperatures usually mean staying inside and keeping warm, but for a local Syracuse running club, they signal it’s time to get out and go.
The group is appropriately named the Lake Effect Run Club. Its members are well accustomed to running in Syracuse’s harsh winter elements, and they don’t seem to mind the added challenge.
On Jan. 23, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in New York ahead of incoming snowstorms, but the Lake Effect Run Club didn’t budge — they simply bundled up a bit more.
“I’ve got the big mittens and I’ve got the hand warmers,” said Lorieanne Voight, a longtime club member. “You know you’ve just got to dress appropriately.”
Despite howling winds, heavy snow and freezing temperatures, the weather is mostly an afterthought for many Lake Effect Run Club runners. They come to challenge themselves and achieve personal goals, not to be held back by the weather.
“I mean, I’m driven,” said member Harry Triana. “I have some individual goals that I’m trying to attain, so the weather isn’t at the forefront of my daily runs.”
Triana joined the Lake Effect Run Club in May. He knew running in extreme conditions would be challenging as a relatively new runner, but he wanted to stay consistent through the winter.
“As soon as the weather broke and got colder, I probably have taken two or three days off this winter,” Triana said. “That’s about it.”
Although branded as a running club, the Lake Effect Run Club is just as much about socialization and community as it is about running. Each meeting starts and ends with a social gathering at a restaurant or bar so runners can share food, drinks and a good time after their runs. Anyone is welcome at the club’s meetings, no matter their pace, age or experience.
“It’s a great diverse group,” said Voight. “There’s all ages, there’s females and males. We have people that are in their 20s, and we have people in their 70s and 80s.”
The club hosts meetings twice a week on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons year-round.
And even as Central New York’s harsh winter continues, members of the Lake Effect Run Club plan to keep showing up, one run at a time, no matter the weather.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: No snow days: Syracuse’s Lake Effect Run Club won’t stop
Daniel Zaslow: In Central New York, winter weather can make it hard to stay active, but for the Lake Effect Run Club, the cold won’t keep them inside.
Harry Triana: As soon as the weather broke and got colder, probably have taken two or three days off this winter, that’s about it.
Zaslow: Harry Triana joined the Lake Effect Run Club this past May, and he says that the weather rarely crosses his mind.
Triana: I mean, I’m driven. I have some individual goals that I’m trying to attain, so the weather is not at the forefront of my daily runs.
Zaslow: You might call me crazy for standing out here. You might call them crazier for running out here, but that’s not even the craziest part. The Lake Effect Run Club rarely cancels their meetings. It took negative 21 with wind chill for runners to stay home this weekend. And believe me, if they could, they would have been out here running.
Lorieanne Voight: I got the big mittens and I got the hand warmers and you know, you just gotta dress appropriately.
Zaslow: Member Lori Ann Voigt has been running with the club for over four years now and she says that it’s not the running that keeps bringing her back, it’s the people and the community.
Voight: I think what’s most appealing is the people that belong to this group. It’s a great, diverse group. There’s all ages. There’s females and males. We have people that are in their 20s, and we have people in their 70s and their 80s. And it’s just a good, collective group.
Zaslow: Lake Effect Run Club starts and ends every meeting with a social gathering. They put in the hard work outside, and then they celebrate with food and drinks. Daniel Zaslow, NCC News.