Start of Summer – No Shortage of Quality Races!

By Mona Kulkarni Caron

Challenge yourself, support worthy causes, improve your fitness, focus on your well-being, join the festivities of running – pick one or more of what motivates you and you’ll reap the benefits of running and walking. Check out these great events that offer a variety of terrain, venues, distances, and experiences – and sign up today.

For an awesome racing experience, be part of the second annual Miles on the Mohawk – with distances of 26.2, 10 or 5 miles – on Sunday, May 29. Go after a PR on fast courses or enjoy the beauty of running on the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail/Empire State Trail, alongside the Mohawk River/Erie Canal, and through Schenectady’s Stockade Historic District. The marathon and 5-mile start and finish at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady, a great venue with restaurants, hotels, and casino just yards from the finish line. For the marathon, 16 of the miles are run on the trail, including the final 11 miles. The 5-mile is the same course as the Electric City 5 Miler.

The 10-mile is a point-to-point course from Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction and finishes at Mohawk Harbor. The first mile heads west on NY Route 5S, then joins the Mohawk-Hudson/Erie Canal bike path. The final 9 miles are a straight shot back to Mohawk Harbor, identical to the marathon course. Afterwards, enjoy live music, food and beer. Created by ARE Event Productions. Register: areep.com.

Running and riding since 2004, the Memorial Duathlon & 5K is held at the Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday, May 29. The 5K is on a relatively flat course near the harness and thoroughbred race tracks, perfect for individuals and families to compete in your age group or simply start your day with casual run or walk for a good cause. 

The event also includes the Memorial Duathlon – 5K run, 30K bike, and 5K run – perfect for triathletes who want to gauge their fitness for summer races or for those who like to avoid swimming. Well-organized by the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, proceeds from the duathlon and 5K benefit their sight, hearing, diabetes, youth and community initiatives. Register: thememorialduathlon5k.com.

Ladies, if you’re ready to feel empowered, join us for the 44th annual Freihofer’s Run for Women on Saturday, June 4. Start your 5K feeling energized with thousands of other women, teens, and girls of all abilities and fitness levels at this exciting event that feels like both a big-city event and a girls’ day out with your closest friends. Run or walk your way to the finish line in historic downtown Albany at the only premier all-women’s 5K in our region.  

Over 150 participants and 30 mentors have been training with the Freihofer’s Training Challenge and they’re more than halfway through the program. Look for the training challenge participants as they cross the finish line with big smiles on their faces after 11 weeks of supported workouts. 

There’s fun for the whole family so bring the kids so they can run in the Freihofer’s Junior 3K and Kids’ Runs. The 12th annual Freihofer’s Junior 3K Run is a 1.86-mile road race is designed to promote an active, healthy lifestyle for girls and boys ages 7-14. It begins on Washington Avenue at 11am on race day. The Junior 3K is a professionally timed race and takes place on a closed course. The Freihofer’s Kids’ Run is a series of free mini road races, ranging in distance from 50 meters to one-mile. The Kids’ Run is free and open to children between three and 11 years of age. Register for the 5K and 3K (use promo code ADK22 to save $5): freihofersrun.com.

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the Charlton Heritage 5K run/walk is on Saturday, June 4 at the Old Red School House. Sign up for the popular community race featuring rolling hills and flats amid the rural landscape, with a downhill finish in the historic hamlet. Post-race awards to five-year age groups. A Kids’ One-Mile Fun Run with shirt and medal follows after the 5K. Race proceeds benefit the Charlton Historic Society. Register: zippyreg.com.

The Heart 5K Run & Walk is back in person at the Harriman State Office Campus in Albany on Sunday, June 5. Cardiovascular disease occurs every 39 seconds and is the number one killer of all Americans (see the Non-Medicated Life column in this issue). Heart disease also kills more women than all forms of cancer combined and congenital cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects. Help fight heart disease and stroke by walking or running in the American Heart Association’s nationwide campaign. It’s free to register; participants are encouraged to fundraise and/or make a personal donation to support the Heart Walk. Register: capitalregionheartwalk.org.

The popular Kinderhook OK5K is back! The 22nd annual OK5K, sponsored by Kinderhook Bank, returns to Village Square and its flat, fast course in historic Kinderhook on Saturday, June 11. The OK5K also includes the free kids’ one-mile OK 1 Run (ages 4-12) and the Library Ramble for kids under six. All proceeds are donated to local non-profit, charitable organizations. In 2019, $10,200 was donated to 16 different organizations in Northern Columbia County benefiting groups such as Boy Scouts, school clubs, fire departments, libraries, food pantries, fraternal and youth organizations, rescue squads, historical societies, trails and fitness. Supported by many Kinderhook Runners Club volunteers, the OK5K is full of community spirit and attracts all levels of runners and walkers. Register: ok5krace.com. 

The eighth annual Good Karma 5K Run/Walk is back at The Crossings of Colonie on Saturday, June 18 after two years of huge virtual turnout. Join us for a unique 5K that includes a Yoga Warm-up and a free Kid’s Fun Run (half-mile) for ages 11 and under. The race course is flat, fast, and entirely within the park. Finish your 5K to fun Bollywood music and enjoy delicious Indian snack food at the end. A virtual option will be available from June 18-26 for anyone who wishes to assist in the fundraising efforts but cannot attend in person. Volunteers with Good Karma of the Capital Region and the AIM for Seva-Albany Chapter put on this fun, multicultural event. Race proceeds will go to AIM for Seva USA to support underprivileged children’s education in rural India and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY. Register: goodkarmany.org.

For something completely different, the fifth annual Wilmington-Whiteface Whiskey Run 5K Run/Walk & 10K Run is also on Saturday, June 18. Celebrate the area’s history and Whiteface scenery at Preston Festival Field in Wilmington for this whiskey-themed event. During the War of 1812, Wilmington supplied rye whiskey to the American troops at the Battle of Plattsburgh as part of their daily ration. During prohibition with its proximity to Canada, local residents provided temporary haven for bootleggers crossing the border. Participants receive local swag and a cool whiskey flask medal. Register: adkwhiskeyrun.com.  

For a unique point-to-point race, sign up for the third annual Adirondack 15K Race to the Lakes on Saturday, June 25, organized by the Adirondack Runners. Runners will start at the SUNY Adirondack campus in Queensbury, then onto the lovely Warren County Bikeway and finish at Battlefield Park at the foot of beautiful Lake George! Organized by Adirondack Runners, this is an affordable race that includes a bus ride back to the start. Register: adirondackrunners.org.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Dodge the Deer 5K on Saturday, June 26, the first ever event produced by the Albany Running Exchange. The idea for the Dodge the Deer 5K and kids’ races began when two members of the then newly formed ARE went for a run in the woods in the fall of 2002. At the moment they were to begin brainstorming for a trail race name, a deer jumped out in front of them, and “Dodge the Deer” was born!

The event offers a gorgeous, mostly flat course at Schodack Island State Park in Schodack Landing, on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, just south of Albany. The kids can do the Bully the Bear 200-meter sprint or Chase the Chipmunk one-miler. After the run, enjoy the music, food, and all-around fun atmosphere. Register: areep.com. 

See you out there!

Mona Kulkarni Caron (mona@adksports.com) is the consulting editor at Adirondack Sports, a running mentor for Freihofer’s Run for Women Training Challenge, race director of Good Karma 5K, and a program manager for the NYS Canalway Water Trail at Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.