Running | Hiking | Biking | Paddling Triathlon | Skiing | Fitness | Travel FREE! JULY 22,000 CIRCULATION COVERING UPSTATE NEW YORK SINCE 2000 2013 ● KATIE PIEROTTI AND KEN ECKSTROM OF CHATHAM RETURN TO CAMP AFTER A DAY OF EXPLORATION BY CANOE. PHOTO BY RICH MACHA Visit Us on the Web! AdkSports.com Facebook.com/AdirondackSports CONTENTS Paddling Adirondack 1 Kayaking, Canoeing & Paddleboarding NYSDEC Adirondack Campgrounds NYSDEC Campgrounds 3 Running & Walking By Rich Macha Paradox of Long Distance Running lthough my preference is for more primitive wilderness Harris Lake – With its 5.3 miles of shoreline, Harris Lake 5 Around the Region News Briefs camping, sometimes it is more convenient to spend lies north of NY Route 28N in Newcomb. Motors are allowed Aa night or two at a campground with its additional on the lake and you might hear some road noise from the 5 From the Publisher & Editor creature comforts such as rest rooms and showers. Here’s a campground. The south shore has some development plus 6-11 CALENDAR OF EVENTS sampling of some NYSDEC campgrounds in the Adirondacks a very nice town beach. Fishermen would be interested in July to September Things to Do within a two and a half hour drive of Albany and what they northern pike, smallmouth, and largemouth bass. As a pad- might offer the canoeist, kayaker or standup paddleboarder. dler, what appeals to me most here is access to the nearby 13 Bicycling & Mountain Biking Advance reservations (newyorkstateparks.reserveameri- Hudson River. From the east end of the lake a shallow channel Cycling Cooperstown ca.com) are a good idea especially on weekends and around leads to the river where someone with a sense of humor has 15 Athlete Profile holidays. Non-camping day-trippers pay a day use fee that is erected signs pointing upstream to “Mt. Marcy” and down- worth the price of admission to access some of these beauti- stream to “NY City.” Turning left and paddling upstream you Multisport with Jim & Eileen Trainor ful waterways. feel that you’ve escaped civilization on this scenic stretch of 17 Hiking & Backpacking Putnam Pond – Putnam Pond lies well enough south of river. After less than a mile rocky rapids under a bridge pre- Nine Corner Lake: Favorite Family Hike NY Route 74 between Schroon Lake and Ticonderoga so that vent further exploration in that direction. Going downstream you won’t be hearing traffic noise from your campsite. Most you can paddle under the Route 28N bridge, watching out 18 Triathlon & Duathlon drive-in sites in the campground are not on the water, but there for shallow rocks in a quickening current, and continue for a Mid-Season Motivation & are a few on-water primitive sites (with fire-ring, picnic table mile – Vanderwhacker Mountain stands out to the southeast – Late-Season Events and outhouse), which you must paddle a short distance to get before reaching the top of Long Falls Rapids. Turn back here 19-24 RACE RESULTS to. Other than the campground, there is no other development unless you are committed to a whitewater run where upstream on the “pond,” which is about two miles long with 6.4 miles paddling would be impossible. Heading back upstream you Top Finishers in 20 Events of shoreline. Loons nest here and beaver are often seen. The have a nice view of Marcy, Algonquin, and other Adirondack 25 Non-Medicated Life Pharaoh Lake Wilderness area stretches out to the west and High Peaks. Reducing Health Care Costs, Part 2 there are great hiking opportunities to small ponds as well Nearby, Rich Lake makes for a wonderful paddling destina- as to the open summit of Treadway Mountain where you’ll tion, with a sandy beach and mostly undeveloped shoreline. 27 Community find impressive views. Those who are interested in fishing will You can also paddle a couple of miles up its inlet, Fishing Brook, Seneca7: 77.7 Miles, 7 Runners find tiger muskie, bass and panfish. Swimmers and picnickers as long as you don’t mind going over a couple of beaver dams. & Eco Biking enjoy the small beach near the dam. Motorboats and personal Goodnow Mountain and its fire tower stand out to the south. watercraft are allowed but seldom seen. See PADDLING, 26 ▶ 2 Adirondack Sports & Fitness 5TH ANNUAL Chrissy ’s Chair Auction Saturday, August 17 • 4:30-8pm Conservation Park, Bolton Landing 20-plus chairs and other items will be auctioned Enjoy wonderful food Dance to live music by Bobby Dick & Suzy Q Auctioneer Martin Seeyle This year’s proceeds will go to Hannah’s Hope Fund (hannahshopefund.org) For a sneak peak: ChrissysFund.com Information: (518) 644-3020 10k3 Open Track Meet July 20 @ Niskayuna High School More information: S P A C I T Y fl eetfeetalbany.com 37T H ANNUA L RUNAGR OUND TR I ATHLON Serving Cycling Daily Located in the Beekman St. Arts District We service all makes and models of bikes. Scott, Look, Turner Sunday, September 15, 2013 Garneau, Sram Bike, Canoe/Kayak/ Mavic, Reynolds, Zipp Paddleboard, Run Triathlon Selle Italia, Craft, Primal Sales Service Rentals 79 Beekman St. Saratoga Springs, NY 43 Team & Iron Categories 27 mile bike • 5 mile paddle • 6 mile run 518.587.0071 active.com bikereg.com spacitybicycleworks.com joshbillings.com Service and a smile. No stinky attitude Hiking Boots and Footwear, New York’s Largest Canoe, Kayak Outdoor Clothing, Outerwear, and Paddleboard Dealer Casual Wear Over 500 Canoes, Kayaks and Paddleboards in Stock! Everything you need for the outdoors! Try before you buy! Locally owned! 490 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 251 County Rt. 67 at Fish Creek Marina www.MountainmanOutdoors.com • (518) 584-3500 www.MountainmanOutdoors.com • (518) 584-0600 www.AdkSports.com JULY 2013 3 The Adirondack Marathon Distance RUNNING & WALKING Festival marathon, half marathon and two/ four person relays circle the picture-perfect vistas of Schroon Lake and promise options for all levels of distance adventuring. While the half was voted “Best of Competitor” among half marathons in the Northeast, there are mul- Are You Having Fun Yet? ▲ Carved WOODEN BEARS ARE tiple ways to experience this festival. Sign up awarded TO TOP THREE OVERALL at THE for the two-person marathon relay and chose The Paradox of Long Distance Running ADIRONDACK MARATHON AND HALF. your specialty, either challenging ups with no- By Laura Clark holds barred downs or a scenic lake tour. If you are new to distance, or perhaps inspired by the recent popularity of Ragnar Relay events, join a four-person relay team and pick whatever is a doable stretch for you: 4.4, 8.7, 5.1 or 8.0 miles. Worried about the challenge of an entire full? Then join a “pace bear” group, where you can leave the thinking and calculating to the more experienced pacers. Military members receive free admission on a first-come, first- served basis, and 50 Boston Marathoners who were unable to complete their April journey will be offered free registration. Go to: adirondack- marathon.org. ▲ THE PACE BEARS pace 3:30 The Ragnar Relay Adirondacks, on RUNNERS at THE 2012 ADIRONDACK PHOTOS COURTESY ADIRONDACK Sept. 27-28, stays fresh by providing differ- MARATHON IN SCHROON LAKE. MARATHON DISTANCE FESTIVAL ent options for repeat customers. Saratoga Stryders members, Mary Whittredge and Jen his is the time of year when a runner’s in being able to spell it correctly, the free bus at the Olympic Speedskating Oval, circling Ferriss, both elected to repeat their previous fancy turns to thoughts of longer dis- to start the half at Lake George Elementary is downtown and Mirror Lake, and then connect- experience by choosing a different team, run- tances. Whether you are powering up the true double-edged sword. While you get to ing with the original course at Route 73 pass- T ning different legs, and tackling the challenge for a half marathon, marathon or ultra event, preview the course, albeit backwards, try not ing the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex. The of ultra mileage. Launching from the Saratoga chances are you have already explored to focus on the duration of that 13-mile ride. challenge here will be to remember that the Spa State Park, continuing through the rolling various online training schedules, and have It will seem much longer and more intimidat- hilly second half will prove a “not fun” expe- hills of the Lake George and Lake Champlain selected one that fits your experience and ing than the actual run over the rolling hills on rience, if you go out too fast during the flat region, and finishing on the twisty Adirondack lifestyle. Hopefully you will not fall victim to a Lake George’s scenic east shore. And know business district excursion. During your taper roads to Lake Placid, locals who choose this number-crunching mindset, but remain open that you can tough it out with lots of gradual period, view Miracle on Ice, the incredible relay also garner support of friends and neigh- to tweaking mileage or intensity should life time-catching downhills, a special Centennial story of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team’s bors who can intersect the van parade merely intervene. Camp finisher’s medal, and an awesome post- underdog victory to remind yourself that any- by stepping off their front porch. Moving up to longer distances, however, race lakeside bash awaiting you! There’s also thing is possible when you, too, toe the line Since legs range from three to eight miles, entails more than just sticking to a plan and a 10K race that starts and finishes at camp. at in Lake Placid. New this year is a concur- a team could contain a mix of beginners and putting in the miles.