Oak Tree Race Returns to Geneseo
The area’s largest running race is returning to Geneseo over Labor Day weekend. The Oak Tree Race, in its 17th year, returns after last year’s “Solo Oak Tree” where participants completed the course on their own and reported in times because of safety limitations on event size.
This year’s Oak Tree returns as a head-to-head race where the top runners from the Rochester area compete along a unique course that features historic downtown Geneseo and the rural countryside of Nations Road that offers scenic vistas of farms and forests for runners.
Organized by Genesee Valley Conservancy, the event is the largest fundraising event for the organization. Executive Director Benjamin Gajewski says “We are thrilled to bring the Oak Tree Race back this year. It is an important fundraiser for our local conservation work, it is the unofficial kickoff to the fall road racing season for runners, and the race showcases conservation work the Conservancy has been doing since 1990.”
Last year, Genesee Valley Conservancy helped raise funds to replant trees along Nations Road after more than 300 ash trees had to be removed after dying off due to the invasive emerald ash borer. Prior to that, the Conservancy has been working with the area’s landowners to protect the habitat, open space and farmland in this area to ensure this wide-open vistas and agricultural lands do not become blighted by subdivisions and development along this dirt road. Over 3,000 acres along the race course are protected, including the Conservancy’s Island Preserve which has public hiking trails across from Geneseo Central School.
The Oak Tree Races take place on Sunday September 5th starting with the 8am Oak Tree Half Marathon which begins on Route 39 near the Geneseo Central School, travels to main street, before returning north to Nations Road, Roots Tavern Road, and Huston Road, before returning to the school for the finish.
The companion Oak Tree 5K race begins just after, starting at ~8:15 and circles through the Village of Geneseo before finishing at the Geneseo Central School Track.
As an outdoor event, organizers are confident the event will be safe for participants and volunteers. Runners will notice a few small changes, like packet pickup being held outdoors and the food tent switching from buffet style to being served by gloved volunteers, but overall, very little needed to be changed to make this outdoor event safe for all involved.
Gajewski expects numbers will not reach record levels, but expects the event will be a welcome return for the community and organization. “We cut back promotions this spring, not knowing where the pandemic would be and there are runners not ready to return to head-to-head racing just yet. We’re looking forward to hosting the race and next year will hope for a record setting year!”
The Oak Tree Race is underwritten by Tompkins Bank of Castile, Tompkins Insurance Agencies, and Tompkins Financial, among a dozen other local businesses that support the race and the mission of Genesee Valley Conservancy of protecting lands in the Genesee Valley.
To register, visit www.oaktreerace.org
Village of Geneseo residents are encouraged to avoid driving between 7:45am and 9am on Sunday September 5th, to avoid road closures that result from the race.