Running Towards Spring

By Laura Clark

This year’s winter presented us with a mixed bag. At first, it was great for road runners and ice skaters, with little snow to hamper conditions. I was happy for the skaters as it has been a while since they’ve been able to skate for miles across a frozen lake. And then the real snow came… gifting Saratoga Winterfest and Camp Saratoga snowshoe races with the best conditions we have had in years. And because we live in the Northeast, this was followed by the inevitable ice storm, encasing parked cars, mailboxes and former snow banks. After the first storm, I headed out on Kalabus Perry Trail in Wilton, punching through 17” of snow. Yes, I did have snowshoes, but when the tips caught under the ice, the inevitable fall was painful. After that, I stuck to the packed trails of Saratoga Spa State Park or Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. 

I spotted a cartoon which pretty much summed up the situation. Two snowmen were talking to each other and one commented, “You know, I never thought I would say this, but even I am getting tired of snow.” When the snow eventually melts, roadies are home free, but trail runners will be contending with layers of newly liberated mud. Enjoy the following April events but remember to be mindful in your training. It is better to take it a bit easier than risk an ankle sprain on an errant patch of ice or a muscle pull from trying to match last fall’s previous times.

Headlining the spring season is the 44th annual Salem April Fools’ 5K & 10K on Saturday, April 5, a great opportunity to run over Washington County’s rural roads in historic Salem. The runs begin/end at Salem Washington Academy (Salem Central School). The 10K (9am) and 5K (10:30am) are staggered, with a 1M kids race in between, so it’s possible to run both the 10K and 5K if you hustle. Doublers pay $35 while singletons pay $30 for either race. The 10K is a hilly scenic tour of farm country and the 5K is blessedly flatter for those who are doubling. This is a down-home family event, with child-sized tees available. Look for enthusiastic students and residents as it supports Salem Central School classes of 2027-28 and the historic Salem Courthouse. Best of all, the age group prizes are homemade cookies, which never make it home! Visit aprilfoolsrace.com.

Make a weekend of it with the 35th anniversary HMRRC Delmar Dash five-miler at Bethlehem Middle School in Delmar on Sunday, April 6. The flat course is perfect for a PR or a spring return to racing. The route circles the neighborhood, with residents cheering the runners. There are not that many five-milers out there so be sure to take advantage. There are technical T-shirts for the first 300 finishers, plus discounts for HMRRC members and youth runners. There’s also the popular Captain Timothy Moshier Kids’ Runs of 0.5M and 0.25M with day-of registration – just bring a nonperishable food item for The Food Pantries. Visit hmrrc.com.

The Glens Falls Rotary Harrison Freer Community 5K Run/Walk is at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury on Saturday, April 12. Recently renamed, this event honors Harrison Freer, a Queensbury community environmental activist, pilot, politician, and outdoor sports enthusiast, who died this past August in a bike accident. The flat, fast course skirts the campus, and offers a youth registration discount. This year’s event features three great community beneficiaries: Glens Falls Y, Glens Falls Hospital, and Feeder Canal Alliance. A post-race celebration and refreshments will follow. There is also a virtual race for those who wish to participate but can’t make the actual event. Visit runsignup.com.

For those of you who’ve been doing long-distance training, the seventh annual Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon, directed by AREEP, is also on Saturday, April 12. It’s a major event with 2,000 registrants and is part of the USATF Adirondack’s Grand Prix Series. This is a point-to-point course so you must do some pre-race planning but are rewarded by the opportunity to feel like you are actually running somewhere. The start is at Wallace Town Park in Voorheesville and it finishes at Jennings Landing in Albany by the Hudson River. The first two miles are on the streets of Voorheesville, the next nine miles are on the flat to gently descending paved path of the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, and the final two miles are on the rail trail connector to the Hudson River bike path, with inspirational views of the Hudson and USS Slater warship.

In addition to the race experience, amenities include a bus ride to the start, finisher’s medal, post-run meal, Fort Orange beer, and live music. The website has a great overview with a detailed participant handbook, spectator’s guide, and videos of the route. The charity of choice is South End Children’s Café, a nonprofit that provides free healthy meals, homework help and activities for Albany youngsters. Visit: helderbergtohudson.com.

Or, on the same day, choose RunVermont’s Half Marathon Unplugged offering “chill frills, no hills” on Saturday, April 12. If you’d like to run the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon on May 25, this is an excellent race for training and motivation. Sign up for their Unplugged+ marathon special and save. It’s a flat point-to-point course from Airport Park in Colchester, mostly on the Burlington bike path overlooking the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, to Switchback Brewing in Burlington. It can be completed solo, as a two-person relay, or virtually. Perks include a bus ride, finisher’s medal, food trucks and Switchback beer. Visit runvermont.org.

There is no excuse not to choose a race on the weekend of April 26-27 with no less than six events on the calendar, including the opportunity to double-dip.

April is Autism Acceptance Month and this is your opportunity to don your superhero gear as costumes are encouraged. Join the Hero 5K Run/Walk for Autism at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady on Saturday, April 26 to support the Greater Hudson Region Autism Society in their mission to enable all individuals on the autism spectrum to become fully participating members of our community. No one is too fast or too slow and walking the beautiful course around Schenectady’s Mohawk Harbor is a delight. You may also invite your fellow workers to join a corporate team. Participants are encouraged to relax and socialize at the scenic harbor setting. Visit asghr.org.

A down-home favorite is the 13th annual Bacon Hill Bonanza 5K & 10K near Schuylerville on Saturday, April 26. The USATF certified races start simultaneously, with the 5K being fairly flat and the 10K – a part of the USATF Adirondack 2025 Grand Prix Series – features some challenging hills. Both travel through farm country, with cows and chickens cheering you on. Children 12 or under may do the Kids Fun Run for free if another family member is participating in the 5K or 10K, making this an affordable family outing. The first 300 to register will receive a race shirt, so make sure you sign up early as the handsome shirts are always eagerly anticipated. Age group winners receive a farm-fresh pie and all are invited to refuel with King’s Dairy chocolate milk and homemade cookies. Bonus: stop by the nearby dairy on the way home to enjoy an ice cream cone and take home a few quarts for later. Ten percent of proceeds benefit the Hudson Crossing Park, with the remainder going to Bacon Hill Church, an historic landmark built in 1818. Visit baconhillbonanza.com.

HMRRC’s 45th annual Bill Robinson 10K & Masters 10K Championship will also be held at Guilderland High School on Saturday, April 26. The 10K is open for runners of all ages. The race honors the Bill Robinson, a member of the USATF HMRRC masters team which won a 10K national title. There’s a commemorative gift to the first 100 registered runners. This event attracts a wide variety of adult and youth runners, so challenge yourself and enjoy the atmosphere of this high-quality race. Visit: hmrrc.com.

The 17th annual Furry Fun Run: 5K for People & Dogs at beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park will also take place on Saturday, April 26. This was the first 5K in the area to welcome dogs, so bring your pooch, friends and family for a really fun and unique event that benefits Peppertree Rescue – a volunteer run organization that finds homes for good tempered dogs in need, regardless of breed, age or health. Visit: peppertree.org.

The following day, Sunday, April 27, sample the 45th annual Doc Lopez Run for Health: Half Marathon & 5K Trail Run in Elizabethtown, on the eastern edge of the Adirondack High Peaks. The run honors prolific runner and race director, Dr. Robert “Doc” Lopez, who carried the torch for the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics up and over the Adirondack hills. He shared his love of running with his 14 children and today his daughter, Sue, carries on the family tradition. There will be busses in Elizabethtown to transport you to the start of the half in Keene Valley, where you will make a challenging two-mile trek up Spruce Hill and towards the Cobble Hill Golf Course in Elizabethtown, for another point-to point experience. One of the attractions for older or slower runners is there’s no cut-off time so the course is open until the last person crosses the finish. The 5K trail loop starts alongside the golf course before entering the woods. The route has some hills and offers rewarding views. The finish area will have booths offering info on nutrition and exercise, as well as physical exams by volunteer physicians, with race proceeds benefiting the UVM Health Network’s Elizabethtown Community Hospital. Visit: runsignup.com.

Also, on April 27, is the AdironDUCK 5K Trail Run, Walk & Bike Ride at Oswegatchie Educational Center in Croghan (Lewis County). It’s an event without timers or T-shirts and meant to be a fun time for all ages. The magnificent Long Pond Loop is a setting with at least six different trail terrains, including double wide truck trails, pavement, dirt roads, singletrack, and a suspension bridge. Mud puddles may be along the way, but so could ice, snow, boulders, or wildlife. A free pancake breakfast is included with the $15 registration. In addition to the run and walk, you can also bike the course. If needed, showers are available in Berkey Bath House. The 5K is on the same day as the popular AdironDUCK Duck Race, a huge rubber duck race held at Oswegatchie. Learn more and register: adironduckrace.com.

With all these opportunities, there is no reason not to joyously spring ahead!

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.