Racing Season’s Last Hurrah

By Laura Clark

With the holiday countdown already begun and store shelves displaying candy canes, slippers and pjs, you can expect the last few months of racing season to gradually adopt a more casual, family-oriented approach. Once the turkeys claim the roads, most folks are ready for some holiday flair. November starts out fairly seriously and then turns into one big party, with participation and fun being the main goal. No wonder Thanksgiving Day is the most popular day to run a race – it is difficult to feel intimidated by a turkey in full feather mode.

On Saturday, Nov. 1, head to Fort Hardy Park in Schuylerville for the 13th annual Revolutionary Run for Veterans at “America’s Turning Point” 5K which benefits the Saratoga County Veterans Trust and Agency Fund. This family-friendly 5K run/walk features a fast, relatively flat loop on the historic Champlain Canal and Towpath and a wooded excursion on the path along the Hudson River. Part of the Saratoga 250th celebration, the 5K route takes you past Champlain Canal Lock 5 where British General John Burgoyne led several thousand soldiers across the river, resulting in the Battles of Saratoga – the Turning Point of the American Revolution. Visit: fc4events.com.

 Also on Saturday, Nov. 1, the Moreau Half is a 14.5-mile loop through Moreau Lake State Park in Gansevoort. Launching from the beach, the route features 3,000 feet of climbing on technical singletrack trails. Pass pristine lakes, weave through wild forests and test your grit on this classic. If you’re new to the park and wish to survey the course in advance, bring a buddy as the many intersecting trails make navigation challenging. For assistance, the Avenza Maps app has a nice MLSP trail map. This year the Moreau Half, produced by Mountain Dog Running, is the finale of USATF Adirondack’s inaugural Trail Grand Prix. Visit: ultrasignup.com.

The following day, Sunday, Nov. 2, enjoy your extra hour of sleep and arrive at the Saratoga Stryders Fall Back 5 Trail Race bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Registration is at the Roosevelt II building at the Saratoga Spa State Park. The five-mile race is a combination of hills, ridges, and singletrack, with a few wide trails, paved sections, and grassy areas – showcasing park areas some may have never seen before. This is nature’s original obstacle course at its finest. The route is permanently marked with yellow FB5 discs in both directions, so you have plenty of opportunity to practice ahead of time. On race day, large yellow directional signs will also be in place. Afterwards, runners and volunteers are eligible for a large selection of raffle prizes. Visit: runsignup.com.

On Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, you’re invited to head out to the Shenendehowa Central Schools campus in Clifton Park for the Shen Veterans Day Dash 5K. The race starts and finishes on the new track, and the flat campus course will be closed to traffic, so if you choose, you can run your own race knowing that your children will be running safely. Veterans can request a special code for free online registration. There is team registration for Shen athletic teams and all area schools can also register teams. Kids 10 and under are invited to participate in a half-mile fun run on the track. Proceeds benefit the Shen XC/Track Booster Club. Visit: runsignup.com

What better way to celebrate history than on a historic route – and a classic race! Begun in 1976, the 49th annual MVP Health Care Stockade-athon 15K on Sunday, Nov. 9 in Schenectady is one of the oldest major 15K road races in the U.S. This is your opportunity to participate in a rare event, because strangely enough, the 15K is a neglected distance. Personally, I enjoy the challenge – long enough for a serious training routine, but less demanding than the half marathon. This middle earth distance is somehow more strategic, with its mixture of speed and restraint. 

In the Stockade-athon, it is tempting to give it your all on the earlier hills, but that may strain on your energy reserves later on. With its mixture of hills and flats, this route through the historic Stockade district, Central Park and Vale Cemetery is one to study and strategize. If the generous prize money is not your goal, slow down and enjoy your cruise through the Stockade, with its over 400 pre-revolutionary houses, but speed up as you approach the haunted cemetery!

For the competitive runners, Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club has many award possibilities. In addition to open, masters, age-graded and age groups there are also Clydesdale and Athena awards for heftier runners, a category rarely seen. Team competition is for USATF card holders. Note the event is offering military veteran discounts and new this year, a 50% discount for runners 18 years of age and younger. Be aware that due to road closure permits, there is a two hour, 30 minute cut off (16 min./mile). A half-mile kids’ race follows the main event. Visit: stockadeathon.com.

Join the Girls on the Run 5K Celebration on Sat, Nov. 15 at Jennings Landing in Albany to support the efforts of the girls, together with their running buddies and coaches, as this event is the culmination of their fall program. The girls and their buddies encourage you to run or walk to help fund the program. This is a non-competitive fun run and a timing clock will be available at the start/finish area, but finish times will not be recorded. Afterwards, girls and their families are invited to join in face painting activities, bib decorating, and photo ops. All proceeds benefit Girls on the Run Capital Region’s scholarship program. Visit: gotrcr.org.

Echoing the pioneering spirit of our forefathers, ARE Event Productions created the Upstate Classic 13.1M & 5K to prove that a large Covid-era race could be produced safely and in an enjoyable format. Staged now for its sixth running on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Altamont Fairgrounds, it travels a gorgeous loop around the base of the Helderberg Escarpment, mostly on rural backroads in the Town of Guilderland. The 5K is out-and-back and beforehand, kids 12 and under have a choice of racing either a half-mile loop or two loops.  

As with any big undertaking, there are facts to be aware of, so even if you are a veteran runner, read the participant guide, available beforehand, to give your race a smooth start and obtain a detailed review of the course. This guide includes a spectators handbook, where race followers are encouraged to view their runners from the start/finish at the fairgrounds or just past mile five at the Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery with a food truck selling coffee and breakfast sandwiches. The Biergarten opens at 11am and runners who present their bib will get $1 off on draft beer. 

While there is no cutoff time for the 5K, half marathon participants will need to maintain a 16 min./mile pace to avoid the sag wagon, with the course closing after three hours and 30 minutes. To reduce litter, participants are encouraged to bring their own water holding devices and nutrition. One of the thrills of running an AREEP-produced race is the sheer energy, music and enthusiastic announcing at the finish line where everyone is a winner and everyone is fed a good meal afterwards. Visit: areep.com.

And now, the Turkey Trots! Once Stockade-athon, Upstate Classic and other races are behind us, some feel justified in taking a breather. Late fall/early winter is one of my favorite times to run: the air is crisp and refreshing, snow and ice storms are still in the future, and running in the dark affords one a measure of self-righteous heroism, regardless of pace or distance. In keeping with this laid-back period sandwiched between peak fall racing season and winter sports activities, many area clubs offer more casual, holiday-themed events to add variety to their usual fare and give hibernating runners a push to get out of bed in the morning. 

While Ben Franklin lost his bid to name the turkey our national bird, in the end, the everyman turkeys won out over the elegant eagle. After all, how many eagle races are there? Turkeys appeal to our community spirit, our tendency to flock together and enjoy group activities where participation is paramount. That and our Puritan heritage which demands that we “earn” our feast. And it is a justifiable excuse to avoid those pre-Thanksgiving holiday chores!

To kick things off on Saturday, Nov. 22, is Bolton PTO’s Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk, launching from Bolton Landing’s Veterans Memorial Park, with a 10:30am start. Since turkeys support big families, this race is a favorite, charging a bargain rate of $5 per child, $20 per adult, $40 per family. Poults can enjoy a free 10am Kids Block Trot, a one-mile run/walk through town for children and families.

The 5K has a mix of hills and flats, leading to a scenic tour of Green Island, home of the Sagamore Resort. There are prizes for top finishers in each age group and for best costume. There’s also a concession stand and race shirts for sale. New this year are games, challenges, obstacle courses, and more family fun throughout the morning. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to a local food pantry. Proceeds benefit Bolton Parent Teacher Organization initiatives. Visit: boltoncsd.org.

On turkey day, many regional turkeys honor tradition and flock to the 78th annual Troy Turkey Trot, America’s 12th oldest road race – established in 1916. The downtown Troy event features the region’s only Thanksgiving Day 10K as well as a 5K, Grade School Mile, and Turkey Walk. The 10K gets underway at 8am, and with its prize money attracts a serious crowd, jostling for position and willing to sacrifice a few loose feathers. With its time slot spaced two hours ahead of the main dish 5K run/walk, it’s also perfect for those with family obligations, whether it be trotting with their own young poults, or trading babysitting duties with other adults.

All of the out-and-back routes are flat and fast, giving the majority just out for fun and dinner credits an opportunity to wave to friends and to view the costume parade. If you have young poults entering their first 5K, this would be an entertaining experience that would give them something else to focus on when the going gets tough. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Regional Food Bank and Joseph’s House & Shelter. Visit: troyturkeytrot.com.

Stepping up to the plate in Schenectady, is Ellis Medicine’s 44th annual Cardiac Classic 5K. With three great events, there’s something for everyone. The 9am 5K is reserved for runners only, with walkers urged to register for the 8am Two-Mile Wellness Walk, and youngsters for the One-Mile Duck Pond Fun Run. 

The online registration cutoff is midnight, Nov. 25 and there are no day-of sign-ups. The route is a mostly flat and fast trot around and through beautiful Central Park. All proceeds benefit Ellis Medicine. Visit: ellismedicinefoundation.org.

The Saratoga Springs version, the 24th annual Christopher Dailey Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk, is all about honoring family. Established to commemorate the brief life of Christopher Dailey, who passed away shortly before Thanksgiving, the original goal was to build a recreation center in memory of the sports-loving boy. It has since become so much more, supporting organizations that work with disabled children to help them live joy-filled, active lives and aiding local nonprofits helping families in Saratoga County meet their basic needs. When I line up at the starting line where Chris’ brother, Brendan Dailey, sings The Star-Spangled Banner, I am proud that my donations are helping our local flock. Flocks will appreciate the family plan discount for families of four and there is a virtual option. The challenging route around Skidmore College will be more enjoyable if you tackle some basic hill training beforehand. The campus is always open and available for training, so you can become familiar with every rise and fall of the route. Many folks wear costumes, and I like to amuse myself by taking an informal survey of the most popular outfits. After this challenging run, you will have truly earned your feast! Visit: zippyreg.com.

Also on the 27th, the fourth annual Glens Falls Gobble Wobble 5K Run/Walk circles beautiful downtown Glens Falls with a flat and fast course guaranteed to encourage wobblers and speedsters alike. It begins and ends at the Open Door Mission, with proceeds supporting their worthy goals of providing food and temporary housing for families in need. 

Late-comers can feel good knowing that when the guaranteed stack of 800 tees are handed out, there will be a second printing to accommodate late-comers. This is something that rarely happens at a race and speaks highly of the charity we are supporting. I haven’t run it yet, but I’ve seen many kids visit the Saratoga Library wearing their shirts and wished I had one too! Visit: opendoor-ny.org.

As you approach the fall classics and then head into the holiday racing season, be grateful that, no matter how fast or how slow, you can run or jog or walk. Remember that it is not something you have to do, but that you are lucky enough to get to do. Take a cue from our feathered friends and flock together!

Laura Clark (snowshoegal133@gmail.com) of Saratoga Springs is an avid trail runner, ultramarathoner, snowshoer and cross-country skier. She is a children’s librarian at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.