Spring Training and Racing

By Mona Kulkarni Caron

Races are opening up registration and it’s time to start planning for your spring season. While you increase the miles, remember to be careful about ramping up the miles too quickly. Doing too much too fast increases your chances of an injury. The general rule about increasing mileage is to increase no more than 10% each week. Sign up for a spring 5K, run or walk training challenge, and consider a longer goal of a 10K, half or marathon.

Join the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday, Feb. 25 for the 35th annual CF Climb in the tallest building in Albany, the Corning Tower! Climb 42 floors or 809 steps as an individual, first responder, or as part of a four-person relay team. First responders can climb as an individual or as a relay team of four people – wearing full gear. This year, CF is offering a Kids Climb, where children ages five to 12 are welcome to participate in a quarter of the tower!

Whether climbing to improve your time or to simply cross the finish line for a great cause, this event is a great way to spend the morning with friends, family or coworkers, while supporting people with cystic fibrosis. A minimum fundraising amount of $150 per person or $65 for the Kids Climb is required. A virtual option is also available for those who can’t make it to race day. Learn more and sign up: fightcf.cff.org.

Are you looking for group training, a training plan or a goal race this spring? For the ladies, join the 13th annual Freihofer’s Run for Women Training Challenge which starts on Monday, March 20. Train weekly in small groups led by experienced running and walking volunteer mentors at a site of your choosing in Albany, Saratoga or Rensselaer counties. Everyone gathers together on Saturday at 8:30am at Town of Colonie Park.

With the Training Challenge, you can have fun while preparing for the 45th annual Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K in Albany on Saturday, June 3. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or have never run or walked a 5K, there’s a group for every ability level and pace. Each location will have a beginner, intermediate and advanced training plan, and mentor(s) to guide you through the 11 weeks of training. It’s open to all ages and abilities of runners and walkers. Each week of training builds your endurance and you’ll get expert advice on nutrition, stretching, injury prevention, clothing, and cross training – all while having fun!

The Training Challenge fee of $55 includes coached workouts to run, jog or walk the 5K, a custom performance shirt, and a three-month membership to any Capital District YMCA branch – that’s reason enough to join! Register yourself and then get two friends to sign up with your referral link, and get money back. Virtual participants can run on their own using weekly training emails as guidance and receive similar perks for $40. For more info and to register, go to: runsignup.com.

On Saturday, March 25, you have two great local races to choose from, the IceBreaker Challenge 5K in Albany and Run 4 Your Life 5K in Schenectady. 

The 13th annual IceBreaker Challenge 5K Run/Walk is a one-of-a-kind Capital Region road race challenging runners and walkers against rowers from the Albany Rowing Center. Participants will travel along the Corning Preserve bike path while rowers will race alongside in shells on the Hudson River. New for this year, all preregistered participants will receive a pair of custom IceBreaker Challenge running socks! They have also lined up great prizes from local vendors for all age category winners and overall event winners.

A free IceBreaker Challenge Kids Run (0.5-mile) starts at 9:30am, followed by the 5K at 10am. The Challenge is also an important fundraiser to support the mission of the Albany Rowing Center, helping them expand access to rowing and to the Hudson River for community members of all ages. ARC offers a Rowing Summer Camp for ages 12-18 with registration open now, and their Adult Learn to Row program begins May 1.

Join in for this unique, exciting event at the Albany Rowing Center boathouse at the Corning Preserve in Albany. For more info, visit: albanyrowingcenter.org. Register: runsignup.com.

The 14th annual Run 4 Your Life 5K Run/Walk will be held at 9am at the pavilion in Schenectady’s Central Park. The USATF-certified course follows two loops around the park and promises some fast times for competitive athletes and casual runners and walkers will enjoy the beautiful scenery around Iroquois Pond. Runners may also compete in a team competition for open or first responder categories. Dogs and strollers are welcome. 

At about 9:40am, there will be a Superhero Fun Run for kids ages 12 and under. Firefighters will be dressed as superheroes to cheer for the kids as they run around the pond and they’ll host the podium ceremony for the kids! In addition, ChowderFest is back with Platoons of the Schenectady Fire Dept. and four restaurants will be vying for the “Golden Clam” trophy and “Schenectady’s Best Chowder.”

Run 4 Your Life 5K is the leading source of awareness and fundraising for the Schenectady Firefighters Cancer Foundation. In 2012 a group of Schenectady Firefighters banded together to address a rapidly growing problem in the community. Firefighters are up to 200% more likely to contract a dozen forms of cancer as a result of exposure to carcinogens during the course of their duties. The foundation was formed with the intent to address this problem through education and advocacy, and to lend financial assistance to those afflicted with the terrible disease.

The race now brings in over $30,000 annually that goes directly to the mission. In 2022, 700 runners participated and an additional 350 people attended ChowderFest. Foundation members will be on hand to raise awareness of this worthwhile cause. Registration includes entry to the race, ChowderFest, long-sleeve race shirt, a surprise gift, and swag from race sponsors. There’s a virtual option so that anyone participate. To learn more, go to: neverfightalone.org. Register: zippyreg.com.

The 42nd annual Salem April Fool’s Race is on Saturday, April 1 – no foolin! It’s a great opportunity to run in historic Salem, with scenic views of Washington County hills and Vermont’s nearby mountains. There’s a 10K race at 9am, one-mile kids’ race at 10am, and 5K race/walk at 10:30am, leaving enough time to run in two races for one low entry fee! 

The April Fool’ Race is based at Salem High School with proceeds supporting the Rotary student exchange program and Salem’s class of 2025. There are food concessions, plus prizes and fun for runners of all levels. More info, visit: aprilfoolsrace.com. Register: active.com.

Maybe you’ve been running all winter and you’re ready for a challenge this spring? Go the distance with a spring half marathon.

The 43rd annual Doc Lopez Run for Health in Elizabethtown is on Sunday, April 30. The event features a half marathon and new 5K trail run/walk. It’s a great way to celebrate springtime in the Adirondacks and support the health and wellbeing of the community. Runners can enjoy breathtaking views along the challenging half marathon route from Keene Valley to Elizabethtown, or take on a trail loop along the 5K course.

Dr. Robert “Doc” Lopez, a veterinarian and accomplished runner who completed 60 marathons by age 60, started the tradition when he carried the 1980 Winter Olympics torch up and over Adirondack “hills” – this became the foundation for this beloved local event. Sue Allott, race director and daughter of Doc, says “The race has always been for the hardy, especially in years past when it was held in March and it could be below freezing. The half marathon course will still be a challenge, with the two-mile climb up Spruce Hill, but the later date makes it ideal for those training for a late spring or early summer marathon.”

The community support, aid stations, and complementary chili have long been runner favorites. The race benefits the University of Vermont Health Network - Elizabethtown Community Hospital. For more info, visit: ech.org. Register: runsignup.com.

In the North Country, the eighth annual Tour de Force Charity Run & Bike Ride takes place at Point Au Roche State Park on Lake Champlain, near Plattsburgh on Sunday, May 7. The run features a half marathon, 10K and 5K distances, and a one-mile walk. There’s also bike rides of 25 and 50 miles in scenic Clinton County. 

The 2023 Tour de Force charity run/bike honoree is Border Patrol agent Hunter LaBombard, 25, of Burke, NY, who died unexpectedly on Jan. 17, 2023 following an accident. Participants will receive an honoree medal and top three male/female runners will receive a trophy. For details, courses and registration, go to: runsignup.com.

Challenge yourself with a longer distance or destination race this fall. Registration is open for these full and half marathons.

The Marathon P’tit Train du Nord is “all nature in the Laurentian Forest,” just northwest of Montreal, Quebec. The half and full marathon, point-to-point bicycle path course runs exclusively along the P’tit Train du Nord Linear Park, with the half on Saturday, Sept. 30 and full marathon on Sunday, Oct. 1. The gradual downhill course on stone dust trails is a breathtaking setting during peak foliage. The race is already 90% full so signup soon! For more info and to register, visit: marathontraindunord.com/en.

The 27th annual Adirondack Marathon, Half Marathon and Relays take place on Sunday, Oct. 1 – around beautiful Schroon Lake! The marathon and relays circle the lake, and the half is on the second 13.1 miles of the marathon course. The race features carved bear awards, a commemorate finisher medal, pacer bears to hit your goals, performance shirt, and a Paradox Brewery beer at the finish! Registration supports four annual scholarships to local students. Learn more and register, go to: adirondackmarathon.org. 

The Mohawk Hudson River Marathon and Half Marathon is on Sunday, Oct. 8. The distances are great challenges but there’s no better place than these flat, fast courses, described by Runner’s World as “simple, understated and stunning.” The Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club provides “all the amenities of a major marathon with none of the hassles.” Whether novice or experienced, the slight elevation decline on bike trails and city streets with river views is ideal. Race info and registration, visit: mohawkhudsonmarathon.com. 

Give these races a try and I’ll see you out there!

Mona Kulkarni Caron (mona@adksports.com) is a race director of the Good Karma 5K Run/Walk, mentor for the Freihofer’s Training Challenge, and enjoys running and training for races. She also works at Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor on the NYS Canalway Water Trail.