Reward Yourself with a Fall Trail Race

By Laura Clark

Dappled light on colorful leaves, no bugs, cool temperatures, no bugs… who can resist the siren call of the woods on a sharp-edged fall morning? This is your reward season. Your compensation for all those July and August hours spent battling heat, blackflies, and the urge to holler “Uncle.” For a few weeks, you have the opportunity to dance in the woods in the best shape you have been in all year. To satisfy this primal urge, the race calendar offers a harvest of autumn races – from cross-country to gnarly trail races.

First up is the Muddy Sneakers 5K Trail Run/Walk on Saturday, Sept. 22 at the beautiful Indian Meadows Park in Glenville. A terrific introduction to playing in the dirt, this family-friendly event is perfect for beginners as well as experienced hunting down a fast time. Sponsored by the Glenville YMCA, the 5K route was designed as an Eagle Scout project utilizing existing trails and constructing others for a woodsy, cross-country feel. Additionally, this event is part of the Capital District YMCA’s 2019 Healthy Community Race Series, presented by BlueShield of Northeastern New York. Take some time afterwards to enjoy the park’s elaborate playground with your family and then take a free dip in the YMCA’s pool. And remember to bring along a dry pair of socks and sneakers! (zippyreg.com)

For a unique experience, do consider the Beebe Farm Trail Runs on Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 26-29 in East Dorset, Vt., produced by Nor’east Trail Runs – an organization known for its festival format. Multiple races include 48-hour, 24-hour, 12-hour and 6-hour options, as well as a Marathon and 50K in a “go-as-you-please” format. Accommodating nontraditional work schedules, marathoners and 50Kers can begin their trek anytime Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Saturday night, with the possibility of a Dean Karnazes-style quadzilla. Runners are free to stop, nap, eat, with the clock ticking relentlessly forward. According to director Eliza Hamm, “The course is a short loop, about 0.87 miles long, that runs along the packed dirt and limestone work roads of the farm.” There is ample space for camping, as well as a warming tent for 24- and 48-hour runners. Friends who have run loop formats tell me it is not as boring as it sounds, as there are plenty of runners to chat with, and no possibility of getting lost.

Part of the fun of this event is that the extensive website enables you to view the aid station menu. Yes! An actual menu including standard snacks and seasonal Vermont specialties.  There are ample gluten-free and vegan choices, with runners encouraged to email with any special dietary needs. Sounds like you’ll need a long run a to balance out the tempting calories. The directors are determined to go cupless, so please bring your own containers for hot/cold drinks, and place them on the special table provided. I have run other races directed by the Nor’easters and am totally impressed with their organizational skills. (netrailruns.com)

Experience a hillier challenge at the third annual Amy’s Adventure: Race for the Lake, a 4.5-Mile Trail Run on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Bolton Landing. Located at Amy’s Park, a Lake George Land Conservancy Preserve, the route consists of mostly narrow single-track trail, steep gradients and lots of rocks and roots hidden by falling leaves. It is always well-marked, but since there are twists and turns you need to pay attention. Still, I have never gotten lost, which as my friends will tell you, is a reliable litmus test. And while you need to pay attention to the trails, it is short enough to serve as a wonderful introduction to the more challenging aspects of trail running. At the finish, enjoy samples from Bolton Landing Brewing, goodies and music – and then join the after party and raffles at the brewery. (lglc.org) 

For a family-friendly experience, try the third annual Brookhaven Oktoberfest 5K Trail Run on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Brookhaven Golf Course in Porter Corners. This is a comfortable event to share with your elementary-aged children, as the doable distance covers a mix of trail, paths and roads circling the golf course. Younger kids can try the 1K Fun Run. Funds raised are for improving Brookhaven’s free groomed cross-country skiing trails with the hopes of attracting more high school and citizen ski races – encouraging all to enjoy a winter outdoors. At 1,000 feet elevation, just 10 miles north of Saratoga Springs, Brookfield is a magical Brigadoon which attracts and retains snowfall when other nearby areas are sketchy. Afterwards, stay with the family to enjoy the town of Greenfield’s Oktoberfest party for food, drink and entertainment. (skireg.com)

Gearing up for Halloween is the Troy Trick-or-Trek 5K Run/Walk on October 26 at Troy’s historic Oakwood Cemetery. Founded in 1898, Oakwood is one of New York’s most distinguished rural cemeteries, and is known for its panoramic views of the Hudson Valley – and the fact that it serves double-duty as a local park. Participants ages 14 and up will wander its dense foliage and open grassways, viewing sculptured gravestones and gargoyles, tall obelisks – and perhaps even spotting a wily ghost or two. Visit oakwoodcemetery.org to explore this landmark and spot the grave sites of Uncle Sam and Emma Willard. This event is also part of the Capital District YMCA’s 2019 Healthy Community Race Series, presented by BlueShield. (zippyreg.com)

Follow up with the Saratoga Cross Country Classic on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Saratoga Spa State Park, a traditional event that is now coming into its own as a cross-country racing festival, with 2K and 3K Youth Races, the 5K Classic on the time-honored high school course, and a new 8K Open and Grand Prix Race. Do plan on arriving early (and perhaps volunteering) for the youth events – it is truly inspirational to see the numbers of excited kids who participate. While both the 5K and 8K contain several hills and a few narrow stretches, all sections are runnable – so novice/road runners welcome. The 8K is this year’s USATF Adirondack Championship and Long-Distance Running Grand Prix event, welcoming numerous individuals and club teams competing for prizes. Do visit saratogaxcclassic.com for detailed maps and schedules. (zippyreg.com)

For a longer distance and trickier terrain, tackle Albany Running Exchange’s Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon & Squirrelly Six Mile at Thacher State Park on Sunday, Oct 27. The race is a roaming costume parade with participants sporting silly or scary costumes. Trails are festooned with seasonal decorations and bananas to bribe hungry gorillas. You might even spot a grave with your name on it! Each year I am hopeful, but never successful… Both races begin at the same time and journey along sections of the Long Path Trail. At the split, the half marathoners are treated to selfie-worthy scenic mountain/valley views along the Helderberg Escarpment. After dodging gorillas and graves, you will arrive at the pavilion for the huge potluck feasts for which ARE is famous, and, if you are lucky, an age-group cookie medal. Family members can have fun hiking and riding the zipline while they are waiting for you. (hairygorillahalf.com)

What to do with that extra hour of fall back sleep? Get rested for the Fall Back 5 Trail Race on Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Saratoga Spa State Park. This is a different experience from the Saratoga XC Classic as many of the park’s narrower, rockier and steeper trails and ridges are utilized. The first 150 to enter will receive a coveted FB5 running hat. Register early as the event maxes out at 200 participants. Make sure you periodically check out the Facebook site as race director Don Proulx, with his penchant for both history and photography, makes sure you know exactly where you are running and what makes that spot in time significant. (zippyreg.com)

With so many different types of trail races to choose from this fall, there are adventures in the dirt waiting for everyone!

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.