Running | Hiking | Biking | Paddling Triathlon | Skiing | Fitness | Travel FREE! SEPTEMBER 20,000 CIRCULATION COVERING UPSTATE NEW YORK SINCE 2000 2014 NYCROSS MASTERS RACER BRET YOUNG LEADS TEAMMATE CHRISTOPHER DELISLE THROUGH A HAIRPIN TURN AT SARATOGA SPA:CX CYCLOCROSS RACE IN 2013. PHOTO BY ANDREW FRANCIOSA/ ANDREWFRANCIOSA.COM Visit Us on the Web! AdkSports.com Facebook.com/AdirondackSports Cyclocross Races to Watch CONTENTS 1 Bicycling 2014 Season Preview By Dave Beals Cyclocross Races to Watch ere in the Northeast and upstate New York in particu- Park. This clinic is geared towards beginners and intermedi- 3 Running & Walking lar, summer means swimming, camping, hiking, bik- ate riders alike. Those with some cyclocross race experience Hing, paddling, running, and a host of other fun outdoor can use the clinic to sharpen their skills and learn from more Spice Up Your Fall Racing Colors activities during the warm sunny days. Summer is a beautiful experienced racers. The clinic teaches the rules of the sport, time but many would say it’s too short. We are in the month proper technique for mounting/dismounting the bike during a 5 Around the Region News Briefs of August now and already the days are getting shorter and race, avoiding and curing the stutter step, shouldering a bike the nights cooler. The calendar says it’s also time to gear up and running over or up a course obstacle, training, bike set- 5 From the Publisher & Editor for the cyclocross season. up, and other skills that are critical to master. Attendance is If you don’t have a cyclocross specific bike and are think- limited so that small group and individual instruction can be 6-11 CALENDAR OF EVENTS ing about getting into the sport, talk to your local bike shop to provided. For more info: nycross.com see what’s available. Cross bikes are quite reasonably priced, If just riding that cyclocross bike isn’t fun enough, there September - November Events are very versatile, and can be used all year-round. The bike will are scores of races scheduled for this season. One of the best have a wider tire than a road bike and offer more stability on ways to seek out a race is to use bikereg.com. The recently 13 Hiking & Backpacking poorer roads, chewed up shoulders, and even gravel roads. revised site allows you search for cross races within a speci- Crane Mountain They typically have lower gearing, which make them ideal fied travel distance from your zip code, as well as a variety of for newbies and even make fine touring bikes. If you have a other search criteria. 15 Athlete Profile cyclocross bike, and are not already riding it on the back roads The NYCROSS Cyclocross Race Series is back for 2014. and trails, get out and do it now. Get that cross bike tuned up This popular series, consisting of six races, are all within a Double Ironman Mac Rand at your local bike shop or better yet, look at selling the old, short drive of the greater Capital Region and provide a great and getting a new bike. opportunity to race against others of similar age or expertise. 17 Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP If you are interested in learning about the sport of cyclo- Each race follows a standard time schedule and a standard cross racing or just want to freshen up your skills, seek out a set of categories. There are races for several age groups as Paddling the Essex Chain Lakes clinic. It’s a good way to enjoy the sport rather than struggling well as men, women and junior categories. Series points are to learn by trial and error. For example, so many beginners tallied from all the races and can be tracked on crossresults. 19-24 RACE RESULTS complain about that dreaded “stutter step.” A clinic will pro- com. Details on races can be found on nycross.com and folks vide you an easy to learn, step by step method to eliminate can register for all the races on bikereg.com. Top Finishers in 25 Events the extra hop, and a step that many people rely on to remount The first in the series isKirkland Cyclocross in Clinton 25 Triathlon & Duathlon their bike during a race. The stutter step robs you of precious (near Utica) on Sunday, September 14. The Mohawk Valley time and momentum, and requires you to expend way more Bicycle Club puts on a fun yet challenging race. The venue Finish Strong with Fall Duathlons energy to get back up to race speed. That time adds up, and is Kirkland Town Park, which provides some interesting and the energy you save will reward you in the results sheet. You’ll varied terrain including rolling grassy areas, some tricky off- 27 Bicycling look good when you remount too! camber turns, a trip into the woods with a tough little climb, In the Capital Region, the NYCROSS Cyclocross Clinic and a slog across a deep sand volleyball court every lap – just Mass-Start Riding: Advice & Events is scheduled for Saturday, September 6 at Troy’s Prospect to remind you how much you love the sport. If the weather See CYCLOCROSS, 19 ▶ 2 Adirondack Sports & Fitness September 27, 2014 Run Walk ssic for C Saturday, September 27, 2014 la ha l C r l it a Est. 1994 y 10:00 Race Starts - Cobleskill Fairgrounds F 30 minutes from the Capital Region Schoharie County ARC (2014 Charity) 8:15 - 9:30 Race Day Registration or Cobleskill, NY “ F k un al REGISTER ONLINE! d” /W Run Visit FAM5K.com Awards | Kids’ Run | Music | Brooks BBQ | Refreshments | Massage Therapists The FAM 5K is sanctioned by the Adirondack Association of USA Track and Field. USATF Certified Course Host of the 2014: USATF Adirondack 5K Open Men’s Road Race Championship Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival Half Marathon On the 21st of September, let’s all be on active duty. The Melanie Foundation presents Around Crystal Clear Schroon Lake : Marathon • Half • 2 & 4 Person Relays THE SARATOGA PALIO September 28, 2014 MELANIE MEROLA O'DONNELL MEMORIAL RACE Schroon Lake, New York 5K & 10K Races Kids Fun Run Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk September 27, 2014 September 27, 2014 Sun., Sept. 21, 2014 at 7:15 Chestertown, New York Schroon Lake, New Run, walk, pledge, or volunteer www.thesaratogapalio.com Visit Our Website adirondackmarathon.org roceeds from the race support The PMelanie Foundation’s scholarship fund for Probably the most graduate students in the mental health eld and, also this year, the Saratoga WarHorse beautiful 26 miles, 385 yards Foundation, which helps veterans coping you will ever run! with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PALIO Date: 6.2.14 • Client: Palio • Adirondack Sports File Name: 20109_ncpssp_SarPalio_ad_2014_AdSprts_vert_ .indd & Fitness Trim: 4.875” x 10” • Bleed: None www.AdkSports.com SEPTEMBER 2014 3 RUNNING & WALKING Spice Up Your Fall Racing Colors bitterly frustrated? Any race with a logo of a By Laura Clark runner bearing a cup of coffee is bound not admit it, I once was a racing snob, regard- to disappoint. And while a few might question ing 5Ks as mere gateway events, some- running for donuts, for many of us, especially I thing to check off the bucket list on the Saratoga Stryders who top off their Saturday road to longer distances. But really, how far Recreation Runs with coffee and Dunkin’, the (TOP) START OF THE can you go before you are slogging rather combo is the equivalent of dangling a carrot SARATOGA PALIO HALF than running, completing rather than com- in front of the mule. Front runners who navi- MARATHON IN 2013. peting? While it is liberating not to worry gate the flat, fast race courses can supple- (LEFT) ADIRONDACK about speed in a longer event, it is similarly ment their donut with generous monetary MARATHONERS ALONG freeing to run in style without fuel belts bog- prizes. Just remember to register in advance SCHROON LAKE. ging you down. Marathon calamities are as there is no race day entry, except for the (INSET) 2013 LAKE PLACID CLASSIC START ON MAIN disastrous; a comparable experience in a fun run. In an understanding nod to parents, STREET. shorter event means you can simply have onsite $5 per child babysitting for two to ten another go the following week. Colorful fall year olds is available. Details: albanyjcc.org. races come in a variety of flavors. Mix and You can take another turn on the following a mostly flat route with the excep- few opportunities for age groupers to receive match from some of the selections below to Freihofer’s Run and Workforce Team tion of the bike trail portion. But as race direc- monetary recognition. Also, FAM 5K is one of extend your athletic experience. Challenge course at the 20th annual Susan tor Randy Rath points out, “Most folks that the few events to acknowledge preregistered First on the docket is the flat and fast G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K Run on ran last year said that they didn’t realize they families with a special discount rate. Go to: fifth annualMalta 5K Run & Walk on Saturday, September 13. It’s a good opportu- were running up the hill because it was dark. fam5k.com. Saturday, September 6, the second leg of the nity to test your 5K pace improvement after They couldn’t “see” they were running up a Join the leaf-peepers the week- Turner Triple Crown series, and a Saratoga a summer of running. Want to move beyond hill and therefore didn’t really slow down.” end of September 27 & 28, and head to Stryders grand prix event.