Energetic and Fun Spring Races

By Mona Kulkarni Caron

March is the start of Upstate NY’s road racing season. Races registrations are opening and it’s time to start planning for your spring season. Let these upcoming races energize your training and see how your winter running, snowshoeing, or cross-training has helped you! If you’ve been inactive, restart with the run-walk approach. Focus on efficiency over distance and incorporate strength training and rest days.

The first major race of the Capital Region road racing season is the fifth annual Electric City 10K at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady on Saturday, March 8. This ARE Event Productions race is staged in front of the new M&T Bank Center Arena between Rivers Casino and the harbor. Enjoy the mix of road and paved trail along the Mohawk River, Scotia, and downtown Schenectady. Afterwards enjoy post-race gathering and refreshments with welcoming runners eager for spring.

If you’d like to give yourself a spring goal, with AREEP’s 29.3 Challenge to take on ARE’s spring races: Electric City 10K, Helderberg to Hudson 13.1M on April 11, and Miles on the Mohawk 10M on May 24. Those registering for the challenge receive a discount and a cool medal for completing it: areep.com.

It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day without this pair of long-time races. The HMRRC spring classic, Runnin’ of the Green 5K is at Schalmont High School in Rotterdam on Saturday, March 14. Enjoy the relatively fast, safe course on newer roads with good pavement and zero net elevation drop. 

Awards include a mixed team competition with $1,675 in cash prizes, where the teams consist of one open female, one open male, and two age-graded runners. There’s discounted registration for HMRRC and USATF members and youth runners: hmrrc.com.

You can run, sweat, and be Irish at the Shamrock Shuffle at Glens Falls High School on Sunday, March 15. The five-mile loop is a flat, fast course with awesome volunteers guiding you through neighborhoods in the city of Glens Falls. All registrants by 2/27 are guaranteed a performance shirt. There are awards for top three male/female, 10-year ages groups, and wheelchair top three. Stay for the awards and post-race snacks and refreshments. 

If you have kids 12 and under, show up early for the Leprechaun Leap Fun Run, a doable 7/8-mile distance. This Adirondack Runners event benefits Project: Cameron’s Story, to support the bonding of parents with premature babies in the NICU: zippyreg.com.

On either Saturday or Sunday, March 14-15, please also join us at our 20th annual Upstate Sports Summer Expo at the Saratoga Springs City Center. With 200 outdoor sports, recreation and travel exhibitors and 12,000 attendees expected from a two-hour radius, it brings our Upstate Sports and Vermont Sports magazines to life to plan for spring and summer adventures. The free, family-friendly gathering of run, bike, tri, paddle, hike, recreation, health, fitness, and travel enthusiasts will have great deals, clubs, events, races, activities, films, prizes – all the information and inspiration you need to make it a great year! 

New exhibitors, Neighbor Running in Hudson and Mizuno, will also be hosting a free shakeout run/walk and shoe demo from the City Center on Sunday at 9am, then stay for the expo opening. We’ll have an attendee guide in the March issue. For updates, including a list of exhibitors so far, visit: upstatesports.fun/summer-expo.

Are you looking for group training or a training plan to help you get started? For the ladies, lace up for the 16th annual Delightful Run for Women Training Challenge which starts on Monday, March 23. Now through April 5, you can register for the Training Challenge and be well-prepared to run, jog or walk the 48th annual Delightful Run for Women 5K at the State Capitol in Albany on Saturday, May 30 – and cross the finish line with a smile!

Train alongside other women and experienced running and walking mentors. On Mondays and Wednesdays, groups meet for a workout at many convenient Capital-Saratoga Region locations like your local Y, University at Albany, town and state parks, and other venues. On Saturday mornings, the third group workout is centrally located at the Halfmoon Town Park in Halfmoon. 

Whether you’re a seasoned runner or have never run a 5K, there’s a training group for every ability level and pace. There are four levels of training: speed walking, run/walk, beginner walk to run, and the intermediate to advanced run program. Each location will have a progressive training plan and mentors for every level to guide you through 11 weeks of training. There’s also a pre-race course preview in mid-May.

Each week of training builds your endurance and you’ll get expert advice on nutrition, stretching, injury prevention, clothing, and cross-training. The Training Challenge fee includes coached workouts to run or walk the Run for Women 5K, a custom Training Challenge performance T-shirt, and on race day the exclusive use of the Training Challenge tent with tables, chairs and refreshments! For details and to register now, visit: runsignup.com.

The next weekend, two area organizations will be supporting great community causes, which you can support by doing their 5K races. 

On Saturday, March 28, the 16th annual Ice Breaker Challenge 5K takes place at the Albany Rowing Center’s boathouse/launch on the Hudson River. It’s a unique race against rowing sculls on the Hudson River as runners and walkers travel out and back along the Corning Preserve bike path. It’s like having a pacer while you run! Race organizers have also lined up great prizes from local vendors for all age category winners and overall event winners. Be one of the first 250 registered to receive a race T-shirt. For ages 10 and under, a free Half-Mile Kids’ Run kicks off race day, followed by the 5K: runsignup.com.

The Ice Breaker Challenge is an important fundraiser to support Albany Rowing Center’s mission of fostering the sport of rowing in the Capital Region. The ARC has a new indoor four-week program called Get Fit to Row, plus their popular programs: Adult Learn to Row, Rowing Summer Camps for ages 12-18, and other programs for experienced rowers. Registration is open for all programs: albanyrowingcenter.org.

Also on Saturday, March 28, the 17th annual Run 4 Your Life 5K will be at beautiful Central Park in Schenectady for a morning of fun, family and fitness. The run and walk is the main source of fundraising for the Schenectady Firefighters Cancer Foundation. The 5K helps address an issue in the firefighting community where firefighters are up to 200% more likely to contract upwards of 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 tackle this problem through education and advocacy, and to lend financial assistance to those afflicted with the terrible disease. Learn more: neverfightalone.org.

Both an in-person and virtual option are available, so that anyone can participate and support this important cause. Podium prizes are available for the top male/female finishers, ages groups, and teams with open and first responder teams (first responders must have members all in the same category: fire, LEO, EMS, military, dispatchers). Runners and walkers with dogs or strollers are welcome. A Superhero Kids Fun Run starts prior to the 5K. As part of the post-race festivities, participants can enjoy ChowderFest: zippyreg.com.

Since it’s held the first weekend of the month, let’s include the 45th annual Salem April Fool’s Race at Salem High School on Saturday, April 4. This is another super community run, held in scenic, historic Salem – in southeastern Washington County, so it’s close to the Capital-Saratoga Region and worth the drive. There’s a 10K race at 9am, 1M children’s race (14-under) at 10am, and 5K race at 10:30am. This presents an ideal opportunity for go-getter runners to run both the 10K and 5K – if you register by 3/20 it’s only $35 ($40 after). 

There are prizes for runners of all levels, and if you register by 3/20 you’ll save and be guaranteed an April Fool’s Race shirt! Proceeds support the Historic Salem Courthouse and Salem Central School Class of 2027 and 2028: aprilfoolsrace.com.

With training programs, mileage challenges, worthy causes and road races back on the calendar, there’s plenty to look forward to this spring. Gather your family and friends, sign up, and we’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 Run for Women Training Challenge, and enjoys running and training for races. She works full-time as the Director of Trails & Stewardship at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.