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By Mona Kulkarni Caron
After months of bundling up, warm-weather running is just around the corner. That first run when you feel the sun on your face, the breeze on your arms and legs, and take in the sights and sounds of spring – they’re all great reminders of why we run. Check out the full array of races on the calendar in May and get excited about these great spring races!
Start the month with one of these three races on the first weekend of May. Stand up and run or walk for those in need at the Joan Nicole Prince Home Community 5K Walk & Run on Saturday, May 4 in Schenectady’s Central Park. Event proceeds support the mission dedicated to providing a safe, comfortable, caring residence for terminally ill patients in need of a home during their final days. Register: joannicoleprincehome.org.
On Sunday, May 5 it’s the 9th annual Tour de Force Half Marathon, 10K & 5K in Plattsburgh. All three distances are out and back courses and start and finish at beautiful Point Au Roche State Park along the shore of Lake Champlain. The event also includes 25- and 50-mile bike rides which head north from the park on an out and back course.
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A Tribute to Mountaineer Nola Royce | |
By Sonja Stark
“If you’re serious about peak-bagging, you need to have the right gear,” she said, lending me one of her hiking poles. My kneecaps writhed in pain as we descended the steep, uneven terrain of the Adirondacks. It relieved the pressure but it was still torture. This wouldn’t be the first time Nola’s momentum on the mountains put mine to shame.
Nola Royce (Athlete Profile, July 2004), was 62 years old, 25 years my senior, when she introduced me to Giant Mountain. It was also her first Adirondack high peak when she hiked it, way back in 1973. It was a warm, spring day, a few months after moving to the Capital Region from Queens. It was the beginning of a love affair with heights that would last for the next 50 years.
At just under five-feet tall and light as a feather, Nola’s indomitable spirit was as high as the mountains she scaled. She lived in Delmar, but rarely would you find her car parked in the driveway. Her adventures took her all over the planet for expeditions on all seven continents.
You’d be hard pressed to list every summit Nola hiked or every mile she biked or every elevation she climbed. For those who try, here’s a head start from that lofty list: 20,332’ Denali in Alaska, 16,050’ Mount Vinson in Antarctica (twice), 26,362’ Gasherbrum II (K4) in Pakistan, 23,406’ Peak Lenin in Russia, 19,341’ Mount Kilimanjaro (Uluru) in Tanzania, 14,411’ Mount Rainier in Washington and on and on…
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OUR BEST BET EVENTS
Included events are Adirondack Sports advertisers and/or exhibitors
May issue ad deadline: Monday, May 6
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“Run like hell, and get the agony over with.”
–Clarence DeMar, seven-time Boston Marathon winner | |
Congratulations to all the Boston Marathon finishers! | |
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Friday-Sunday, April 19-21
19th Canal Clean Sweep in honor of Earth Day. Volunteer clean-up days. 100+ locations: Erie & Champlain Canalway, Glens Falls Feeder Canal, Black River Feeder Canal, & Rochester Riverway. Parks & Trails NY & NYS Canal Corporation. Register: ptny.org.
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Saturday, April 20 – Earth Day
Glens Falls Rotary Community Wellness 5K Run/Walk. 9:30am. Dri-fit shirt to first 300 entrants. Discounted for ages 12-under. Proceeds benefit Glens Falls Symphony & Glens Falls Area Youth Center. SUNY Adirondack, Queensbury. itsyourrace.com.
Capital Bicycle Racing Club: Trooper David Brinkerhoff Memorial Road Race #1. 62M/50M/38M. 11am. Best early season bike race series in the Northeast. Four separate fields including beginners for first-timers. Juniors race free. Race #2: 4/27. CBRC membership (new website): cbrc.club. Coxsackie-Athens High School, Coxsackie. bikereg.com.
Legends of Wells Bridge Paddling Race. 9 miles. 10am. Canoes, kayaks, SUPs welcome. Susquehanna River, Wells Bridge. nypra.org.
Glens Falls Brewfest. 4-7pm. A craft beer tasting experience fundraiser to benefit Feeder Canal Alliance. Cool Insuring Arena, Glens Falls. glensfallsbrewfest.org.
Earth Day “Sustainable Futures” Presentation by Blue Zones. Speaker: Tony Buettner, author of “Live to 100.” Glens Falls City Park, Glens Falls. bluezones.com.
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Sunday, April 21
Hero 5K Run/Walk for Autism. 9:30am. Superhero costumes encouraged! Benefits Autism Society of the Greater Hudson Region as part of Autism Acceptance Month. New this year: every participant receives a unique refillable aluminum water bottle for sustainability. Each participant receives a free Kona Ice from their food truck. Timing by AREEP. Mohawk Harbor, Schenectady. asghr.org.
Little River Ramble Paddling Race. 2M/6M. 12pm. Canoes, kayaks, SUPs welcome. Boat Launch, Little River, Canton. slvpaddlers.org.
Bikeatoga “Slow Rolls.” 10am-12pm. Free family-friendly community bike ride. Congress Park, Saratoga Springs. bikeatoga.org.
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Saturday, April 27
12th Bacon Hill Bonanza: 5K Run/Walk & 10K Run. 10am. Kid’s 1M Fun Run: 9:30am. Bacon Hill Reformed Church, Schuylerville. baconhillbonanza.com.
Furry Fun Run/Walk 5K for People & Dogs. Warming Hut, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs. peppertree.org.
Capital Bicycle Racing Club: Trooper David Brinkerhoff Memorial Race #2. 62M/50M/38M. 11am. Best early season bike race series in the Northeast. Four separate fields including beginners for first-timers. Juniors Race Free. Coxsackie-Athens High School, Coxsackie. bikereg.com.
42nd Bill Robinson 10K & Masters 10K Championship. 9am. Guilderland High School, Guilderland. hmrrc.com.
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Sunday, April 28
44th Doc Lopez Run for Health: Half-Marathon & 5K Trail Run/Walk. 13.1M: 9am, Keene to Elizabethtown. 5K: 10am, Elizabethtown. Benefits UVM Health Network-Elizabethtown Community Hospital. ech.org.
Saratoga 300K Brevet Bicycle Road Ride. 7am. 186 miles. Adirondack Ultra Cycling Bike Shop, Schuylerville. bikereg.com.
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May 1-31
ADK Unite. Virtual bike, run, walk, hike to raise money for Adirondack community food pantries. Online leaderboard with prizes. Info/register: bikeadirondacks.com.
Friday-Sunday, May 3-5
62nd Canton Canoe Weekend. Rushton Tour, Races, Marathon canoe & kayak races. Grasse & Little Rivers, Canton. cantoncanoeweekend.org.
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Saturday, May 4
4th The Great North: Battenkill Valley. 77/55/20M gravel rides & 25M road ride. Supported rides for all levels. Local food, apple pie, beer, music. Argyle Brewing, Cambridge. anthemsportstours.com.
Splish Splash Masters Swim Meet. Warmups: 9am. Meet: 10:15am. Union College Pool, Schenectady. Adirondack District Masters Swimming: adms.org.
Joan Nicole Prince Home Community Walk & Run. 9-45am. Complete each lap around the pond for raffle tickets & gift baskets. Central Park, Schenectady. joannicoleprincehome.org.
I Love My Park Day. Volunteer event for NYS parks. Various locations. Parks & Trails New York. ptny.org.
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Sunday, May 5
9th Tour de Force Charity Road Races. 13.1M/10K runs & 5K/1M run/walks. Plus, 50M/25M bicycle road rides. Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh. runsignup.com.
9th Tour de Force Charity Bike Rides. 50- and 25-mile scenic road rides. Plus, 13.1M/10K runs & 5K/1M run/walks. Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh. runsignup.com.
2nd Hudson Valley Marathon at Walkway Over the Hudson. 26.2M & 13.1M: 7am. 5K: 7:30am. 10K: 8am. 1M: 9:30am. Highland Trailhead, Highland. alpha.win.
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Sunday-Thursday, May 5-9
Hudson Valley Detours: Biking Adventure. 25-50M guided bike tours. Diamond Mills Hotel, Saugerties. alpha.win.
Monday, May 6
Albany Rowing Center: Adult Learn to Row. Program starts 5/6. ARC Boathouse/launch, Albany. Register: albanyrowingcenter.org.
Tuesday, May 7
AdiRUNdack 5K Trail Race Series #1. 6pm. 20K challenge: do all four on 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28. Cole’s Woods, Glens Falls. Info/register (see 5/28 listing): zippyreg.com.
Thursday-Friday, May 9-10
Wilderness First Aid Certification. 8:30am-5pm. Lake George Land Conservancy, Bolton Landing. lglc.org.
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Friday-Saturday, May 10-11
Placid Planet E-Bike Demo Days. Fri: 11am-4pm. Sat: 10am-4pm. Placid Planet Bicycles, Lake Placid. placidplanet.com.
Friday-Sunday, May 10-12
Girlfriends Getaway Weekend. 17 talks, workshops, talks, demos & fitness classes & more. Sagamore Resort, Bolton Landing. girlfriendsgetawaybolton.com.
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Saturday, May 11
11th Schenectady Pedal-Paddle-Run. 7M bike, 2M kayak/canoe/SUP on Mohawk/Erie, 5K run. 8am. Not your typical triathlon! Solo & teams. Kayak rentals available. Aqueduct Park, Niskayuna. schenectadycountyny.gov.
The Grand Hike. 14M; shorter options available. Rest stops, snacks/water, shuttle. Après Hike Party: Westport Golf & Country Club. Benefits CATS. Essex Gateway Trailhead, Essex to Westport. champlainareatrails.com.
34th Prospect Mountain Road Race. 5.67M, 1,601 vertical feet. 9am. Prospect Mountain Highway, Lake George. adirondackrunners.org.
8th Summer Smith 5K Addiction Awareness Memorial Run/Walk. 10am. Memory ceremony: 9am. Kids’ fun run: 9:45am. Prizes, raffles, vendor fair, refreshments. Guilderland High School, Guilderland Center. summersmith5k.com.
17th CCRC 5K Run/Walk. 3pm. 1K Kids’ Run: 4pm. Family 2-person teams. Post-run BBQ with many prizes. Christ Community Reformed Church, Clifton Park. itsyourrace.com.
Women’s Bike Clinic & Group Ride. 8-11am. Road, mtn, gravel rides for all levels. All welcome! Adirondack Multi-Sport Club. Gurney Lane, Queensbury. Reg/info: bikereg.com.
‘Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race. 10.5M. 11am. Ampersand Bay to Riverfront Park, Saranac Lake. nypra.org.
Swift Canoe & Kayak Demo Day. Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters, Saranac Lake. adirondackoutfitters.com.
Spring Women’s Mountain Bike Clinic. Beginner’s clinic: 9am-12pm. Intermediate clinic: 1-4pm. Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs. Saratoga Shredders. bikereg.com.
Saratoga 400K Brevet Bicycle Road Ride. 7am. Adirondack Ultra Cycling, Schuylerville. bikereg.com.
Wilderness First Aid. 8am-5pm. ADK Cascade Center, Lake Placid. adk.org.
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Sunday, May 12
12th Mother-Lovin’ 5K Run/Walk. 9am. Benefits Kelly’s Angels. Orenda Pavilion, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs. kellysangelsinc.org.
Vermont Sun Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. Branbury State Park, Lake Dunmore, VT. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com.
Monday-Wednesday, May 13-15
Women’s Beginner Backpacking. 9am. Cascade Welcome Center, Lake Placid. adk.org.
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Tuesday, May 14
AdiRUNdack 5K Trail Race Series #1. 6pm. 20K challenge: do all four on 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28. Cole’s Woods, Glens Falls. Info/register (see 5/28 listing): zippyreg.com.
Wednesday, May 15
Ride of Silence. Commemorative ride for those killed or injured while riding. Corning Preserve, Albany. albanybicyclecoalition.com.
Thursday, May 16
CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge. 3.5M run/walk. 6:25pm. Register teams by 5/1. Volunteers welcome. Empire State Plaza, Albany. cdphpwtc.com.
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MON-FRI Rock Your Fitness: Boot Camp Workouts. Mon/Wed/Fri: 5:30am, 6:30am, 9am. Tue: 5:30pm. Sat 8am. Special offer: Free week of class with registration for 2x/3x per week option. To register, text and use promo code “ADK fit” to 518-522-9765. Malta Community Center, Malta. facebook.com/rockyourfitnessllc. | |
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