Spencerport resident Lois Hotchkiss is shown on one of her morning practice runs in the neighborhood. Lois started running for exercise in 1978 but caught the racing bug the next year. Since then she has run in 348 races and covered 1,655.2 miles in actual contest situations. Her normal events cover 10K or 5 miles and, in the 60-65 age category, she has placed first, second or third in all of them. She runs in a race nearly every weekend. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Spencerport resident runs away from the competition

To the eye, it is clear that time has not caught up to Lois Hotchkiss. At 62-years old, there are not even many people who can catch up to this longtime Spencerport resident and avid runner.

She began with about six of her neighbors in 1978 when her daughter Pamela graduated from Spencerport High School. The group began jogging around the block to get into shape. After a few nights of training, it was obvious that most of the members planned on making this evening ritual a short lived tradition.

Soon it was just Hotchkiss and neighbor Mary Brewer who continued to carry the torch. Every night they would run and talk. Night after night a terrific friendship was born. And so was a love for running. In the early 1980s, it was almost as if Mary and Lois had become fixtures in the Spencerport street-scape.

"I wouldn’t quit until she quit and she wouldn’t quit without me," said Hotchkiss.

"Everyone could see them running in the village when nobody else was running," said Patrick Hotchkiss, Lois’ husband of 43 years.

Hotchkiss and Brewer entered many races throughout Monroe County placing at the top of almost every one. Along the way they gained some local recognition for their ability and dedication to their sport. Then Brewer came upon a detour, moving to Pennsylvania with her husband in 1987 to open up a hardware store.

Hotchkiss was left without her friend and running mate.

"When she left, it got harder," said Hotchkiss. Her interest in racing competitively dwindled until she hit a low point in 1992, running in only one race. Then she got a letter from some fellow runners whom she admired. George and Marsha Tillson, known as the elder statesmen in local road racing (with Marsha recently turning 81 years old), wrote to tell Hotchkiss that they missed seeing her at the many races throughout the year.

That encouragement, along with some neighbors who began joining Hotchkiss on her nightly runs, began to motivate her to get back into running full force. Last year, Hotchkiss competed in more races than ever before, a total of 40. While Hotchkiss has gone from 10k to mostly 5k competitions, she has worked hard to keep her speed up and is disappointed that her average is just under 25 minutes – a minute slower than her average time two years ago.

In the 40 races, she finished first an unbelievable 39 times in her age division, receiving the title as "Rochester Runner of the Year" for the second consecutive year. To date, Hotchkiss has run in 348 races completing 1,655 competitive miles. Last year alone she ran nearly 146 miles worth of races.

While her records have earned her the right to brag, boasting is one of the few things Hotchkiss does not do well.

"I’m a quiet person," said Hotchkiss. "Getting all this attention embarrasses me."

As Hotchkiss sits in her home on West Avenue, she speaks quietly, flipping through meticulously kept scrapbooks and talking about how she enjoys interacting with her fellow runners. She has given all of her trophies to charity. The Mercy High School graduate explains how running has become her social outlet and how she cherishes each race.

"I think what keeps me going is the people I meet," said Hotchkiss. "I really enjoy my fellow racers."

Hotchkiss also credits her husband, who is a fitness buff and avid golfer, with getting her into running. Patrick is supportive of the time and effort she puts into preparing for each race.

"Before running, Lois didn’t have one thing to call her own," said Patrick. "I think it is good for her psyche."

Hotckiss also feels good about her ability to draw others into running. Hotchkiss has drawn in neighbors and even family members. Her most recent challenge has come all the way from Green Bay, Wisconsin where her 15-year-old granddaughter, Gina, threatens to beat her.

"Running is something that I can do on my own," said Hotchkiss. "I’m proud of myself and it does keep me in shape – better than sitting in the house watching television." To stay fit Hotchkiss runs six miles three days a week and does aerobics four days a week.

Even the best of shape runners can still make a wrong move. Recently, Hotchkiss caught her foot on a section of sidewalk and took a nasty spill, cutting herself up pretty good and bruising her pride. When she took refuge in the Spencerport Ambulance headquarters, the medic on duty asked her how she had injured herself.

"They wanted to know how old I was and said they thought I shouldn’t be running (at her age)," Hotchkiss laughed. Where had they been the last 1,600 miles?

While Hotchkiss may be hobbled for the next couple of days, she isn’t worried. After all, if she gets too bored she can go back to a project she started a long time ago. She’s sewing a custom designed quilt, crafted out of her 348 running shirts.