Enjoy Fall – Rides, Tours and Races

By Darryl Caron

There’s no beating October riding. The weather is cool and comfortable and the foliage and scenery is magnificent. Upstate New York has some of the best events whether you’re riding or spectating. READ MORE

Will Run for Cider Donuts – Fall Road Races

By Mona Kulkarni Caron

Fall in love with fall races. After training through a hot and humid summer, you can enjoy the cooler temps and reap the benefits from your hard work. The race calendar is full of options for road races in October and beyond. Consider these highlighted events for your next races. READ MORE

The 10-Plus Essentials

By Rich Macha

The list of “10 Essentials” has been a fixture in hiking circles for close to 100 years and its time-tested formula can also be applied to paddling. My own observations in the field and the weekly NYSDEC Ranger Reports make me believe that many folks do not adhere to these suggestions or are just unaware of them. READ MORE

Piece Together Your Own Trail Adventure

By Laura Clark

Despite losing bonus summer days to this year’s early Labor Day, there is so much to look forward to: mosaic patterns of falling leaves, wearing a sweater, crisp cider donuts, and all things pumpkin. On August 27, a Men’s Fitness post by Joseph Arango detailed why you should head to the woods. Besides the obvious opportunity to unwind in a natural setting away from congested streets, the twists and turns of trail running help develop quicker reactions, split-second balance and stronger muscles. Forget Sudoku. There is no drifting off here, with the minute-to-minute adjustments needed to keep your body upright, your brain will be working just as hard as your feet. Four months out from back surgery, I have confirmed that a cautious month on hard pavement is no substitute for the soft dirt of trails, and that judicious up and down motion is kinder overall. Who knew? READ MORE

Spice It Up!

By Jim Allott

Hey runners, bikers and adventurers! Mark those race calendars for the third weekend in October. There are not one, but two events that offer the opportunity for something new and different. Both the Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon and the Saranac Lake Backcountry 3P are considered multisport races meaning they offer at least two different sports – it’s not ALL about triathlons! Tired of the same old 5K foot race or local sprint tri? Ready to branch out and try something you haven’t done before? C’mon, join the party. READ MORE

Jessica Nash

By Kristen Hislop

“You never know what you can do until you try, and very few try unless they have to.” –C.S. Lewis

There are two ways to face a challenge; take the easy way around it or meet it head-on and discover what you’re capable of. Jessica Nash has spent the last decade and a half choosing the second path – and reaping the rewards. READ MORE

Peck Hill State Forest – A Little Known Trail System

By Christian Sandel

At the western fringes of the Capital-Saratoga Region, there is an overlooked mountain bike trail system with a brewery smack dab in the middle. The Peck Hill State Forest and Farm have about 20 miles of singletrack and multiuse trails near the hamlet of Meco. Both are located in Fulton County, two miles west of downtown Gloversville, and just a few miles south of the Adirondack Blue Line. READ MORE

Fall Views – Rooster Comb and Three More

By Barbara McMartin

The best views of the Adirondack High Peaks are not from its interior summits, but from some of the middle-sized mountains that ring the area. Of the many peaks around the periphery of the High Peaks, few have as lovely a view as Rooster Comb, our featured hike. Three other hikes with views of the High Peaks are briefly mentioned: Vanderwhacker Mountain, Goodnow Mountain, and Mount Van Hoevenberg. They range in length but are suitable for hikers of any age or ability level, including children. READ MORE

Mediterranean Diet Revisited

By Paul E. Lemanski, MD, MS, FACP

In the first 122 installments of the Non-Medicated Life, a healthy diet and lifestyle have been shown to accomplish naturally for the majority of individuals most of the benefits of medications in the prevention of the chronic medical conditions mentioned above. With respect to a healthy diet the Mediterranean diet is widely regarded in medical and nutrition circles as one of the healthiest. This diet is still eaten in many parts of the countries bordering the Mediterranean sea, but a recent influx of the “standard American diet” has diluted many of its benefits. Moreover, Mediterranean restaurants in the U.S. many times do not strictly adhere to the diet’s original tenets. In this article I would like to more completely define the Mediterranean diet, describe its most beneficial aspects, and suggest how the diet works to so impressively improve health. READ MORE