Adirondack Sports November 2020

COVERING 

UPSTATE NY 

SINCE 2000 

Saratoga 

Shredders 

FREE! 

NOVEMBER 

2020 

Celebrating 

20 

Years! 

THE FINAL RIDE OF THE SEASON 

WAS A COSTUME PARADE AND 

SCAVENGER HUNT IN SPA PARK. 

PHOTO BY NORTH COUNTRY MTB 

CONTENTS 

1 Mountain Biking 

Saratoga Shredders 

Girls Mountain Bike Club 

3 Running & Walking 

Thanksgiving Reimagined 

5 News Briefs & 

From the Publisher 

7 Hiking & Snowshoeing 

The Secret Views of 

Eleventh Mountain 

9 Athlete Profile 

Skiing with 

Jack & Cathy Hay 

12-14 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

Find Races, Events 

& Things to Do! 

15 Hiking, XC Skiing 

& Snowshoeing 

Prepare for Late Fall 

Adventures 

16 Alpine Skiing 

Willard: The Little 

Mountain That Could 

17 Bicycling 

Winter Riding Options 

19 Run, Walk & Snowshoe 

Best Bets for 

Winter Running 

AdkSports.com 

Facebook.com/AdirondackSports 

Girls Mountain Bike Club 

By Anna Laloë 

If you haven’t heard of us, you’ve been isolated from the 

world, and need to get out. Oh wait, that is the situation for 

ALL of us right now! All kidding aside, our group of girls on 

bikes has been a wonderful source of levity and excitement for 

over 100 families in the Saratoga area throughout the pandemic. 

The Saratoga Shredders are an all-girls mountain bike group 

led entirely by volunteer female ride mentors. I started this group 

two years ago for purely selfish reasons to enable my own two 

daughters, Anne-Sophie and Zoe, now 10 and eight, to have other 

friends to ride with on trails. I made little business card-sized pieces 

of paper for them to distribute to their friends in school saying 

‘We’re riding bikes in the Saratoga Spa State Park every Friday 

after school at 4pm, please join us!’ We had about 15-17 girls that 

would join us each week from spring through fall. 

Fast forward to spring 2020, when Governor Cuomo issued 

guidelines for how to operate summer camps and sports during 

the pandemic. After consulting with the Saratoga County Dept. of 

Health, I decided it was time to start up again. Luckily, biking is 

one of those sports where social distance is inherent to the sport 

– as long as the girls are staying on the bikes, they are already at 

least a few feet apart! 

Although we have 40-70 girls showing up for every ride, they’re 

never congregating in one space, and are split off into their small 

groups – pods of five to 10 riders. You can imagine with that number 

of kids and parents that we’ve had to be extremely vigilant. 

There is a roster distributed before each ride so that the girls know 

which of the six groups they’re assigned to, and we can keep exact 

tabs on who is in attendance at each practice. Upon arrival, they 

have their temperatures checked, parents sign a Covid attestation 

form declaring they do not have symptoms, and have not 

traveled to high-risk states. Mentors and kids wear masks and all 

are asked to stay ON their bikes at all times to naturally maintain 

social distance. 

SHREDDERS SHREDDING. 

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Family owned/operated for 41 years 

2020virtual 

Featuring Real-Time 

Remote Racing ! 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! 

For more information and to register, visit 

TroyTurkeyTrot.com 

PRESENTED 

BY 

Keep the Proud Annual Tradition Alive! 

Sign up today for the 2020 virtual edition of the Troy Turkey Trot, 

the nation’s 12th oldest road race. 

This year’s Trot will feature four virtual events (5K, 10K, Turkey Walk 

and Grade School Mile) using our custom Troy Turkey Trot app, which allows 

families and friends to run “together” regardless of where they live. 

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 

9 Multiple registration price points 

9 Run real time at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving morning or anytime through 

Saturday, Nov. 28 at 11 p.m. to be included in event results 

9 Awards for families, individuals and teams 

9 A virtual costume contest with prizes for “Best Thanksgiving Day Costume” 

and “Best Non-Thanksgiving Costume” 

9 Commemorative face masks, t-shirts and hoodies as event giveaways 

9 Fundraising for Regional Food Bank of NENY and Joseph’s House & Shelter 

(Both have experienced a tremendous increase in requests for their services) 

TTT-1001-ASF-HalfPage-Horiz.indd 1 

10/26/20 1:56 PM

RUNNING & WALKING 

NOVEMBER 2020 3 

Thanksgiving 

By Laura Clark 

With the finish line nowhere 

in sight, planning for even 

the most basic 5K race has 

taken on the complexity of an ultra, 

involving meticulously orchestrated 

logistics. Trail runs, with typically less 

entrants, fewer spectators and natural 

obstacle-enforced spacing, have proven 

the most adaptable, with the Capital 

Region’s ARE Event Productions leading 

the way. But huge, mass start road 

events, like your typical turkey trots 

are another matter. Across the table, 

Thanksgiving is the most popular racing 

day in the country, both for the turkeys 

for whom it is a matter of life and death, 

and human runners and walkers who 

simply want to justify overstuffing. 

But deep down, there is more to it 

than that. Thanksgiving is all about tradition, 

and besides family, green bean 

casserole and tag football, that often 

means a trip to the old neighborhood to 

run and socialize with friends you see 

perhaps once a year. You have probably 

resigned yourself to a Zoomed-in meal, 

but are reluctant to sacrifice your appetizer, 

especially since many of us are 

extra-fit, having exchanged our commute 

for bonus sneaker time. Turkeys, 

too, are in better shape now that they 

have been forced to dodge all that extra 

traffic on their home trails! 

Fortunately, our “biggest two trotters” 

are up to the challenge with virtual 

variations encompassing a number of 

days. With virtual races, this may be the 

only time that overachievers can brag 

that they have run all area turkey trots 

Reimagined 

in a single year! Leading the way is the Please note that participation on the 

73rd annual Troy Turkey Trot, one of actual route is discouraged as the Collar 

the oldest and largest Thanksgiving Day City Bridge will not be closed to traffic. 

events in the United States – with a flock Continuing the tradition, fancy feathers 

are encouraged with the photo cos- 

of 6,000 runners and walkers. 

As befitting its stature, Troy has partnered 

with Real-Time Remote Racing, addition – a Best Finish Line contest for 

tume contest, team categories, and a new 

pioneered by the powerhouse New York your own version of Thanksgiving fun. 

Road Runners, to take your virtual experience 

to the next level. Once registered, poults 14-and-under can run with their 

As family flocks are the norm at the trots, 

their custom app can be downloaded family group for a $5 discount. If you elect 

whether you choose to run the 5K, 10K, to forgo the long-sleeved shirt, you may 

Grade School Mile or Turkey Walk Mile. deduct $5 from your fee. Conversely, if 

With this technology, no matter what dry feathers are a consideration, you may 

hometown route you choose to run, upgrade to a hoodie for an additional $5. 

you’ll be able to track your progress – To register, for packet pickup times, and 

and see yourself in real time running the instructions for having your swag mailed 

“real” course. You can run with your isolation 

pod of sports buddies while at the And honoring the giving compo- 

to you, visit: troyturkeytrot.com. 

same time tracking the progress of your nent of the holiday, Mark Quandt of the 

schoolmates or friends in other states. Regional Food Bank of Northeastern 

Our feathered friends, too, are particularly 

appreciative of this feature – no that every Trotter dollar will provide 

New York would like you to know 

more red-eye flights to join you from farflung 

destinations. 

O’Connor at Joseph’s House & Shelter, 

four meals for those in need. Kevin 

To make this even more exciting, 

opening ceremonies will kick off requirement for Covid-19 supplies and 

another beneficiary, emphasizes their 

Thanksgiving morning on Facebook increased staffing have put increased 

Live, prior to the 10am takeoff, when pressure on their organization. 

folks scattered across the globe will The 19th annual Christopher Dailey 

have the opportunity to coordinate Turkey Trot, based out of Saratoga 

their efforts. Those who prefer to sleep Springs, and normally attracting a flock 

in, or perhaps engage in some serious of 3,500 has also gone virtual, giving 

meal prep, have from Thursday, Nov. athletes a free-range opportunity from 

26 through Saturday, Nov. 28 at 11pm Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, 

to complete their run. While the technology-challenged 

can simply add their While any 5K course will do, the tra- 

Nov. 29 to complete their 5K. 

time on the results page, only Strava or ditional Skidmore College route, with 

app results will count towards awards. its challenging hills and downhill to 

the finish is still an option, provided 

you keep an eye out for local traffic and 

follow face covering protocols. Another 

unique alternative, and one which the 

Dailey family has chosen to do, is to 

journey back to the past to run the original 

route in their neighborhood. 

Memorial T-shirts are available to 

the first 1,000 registrants, but those 

not desiring a shirt may subtract $7 

from their registration fee or donate it 

to the cause. Proceeds will support the 

Christopher Dailey Foundation, whose 

aim is to fund sponsorships and donations 

to youth organizations, especially 

those serving children with economic 

risks and physical challenges. Register 

and learn more at: zippyreg.com/cdtt. 

While we’ve been forced to adapt our 

lifestyles to the virus, it’s a tribute to the 

running community that we’re afforded 

a smorgasbord of events, reimagined to 

keep things fresh and interesting. Our 

strongest, earliest memories are tied 

to our sense of smell, so it shouldn’t be 

surprising that this holiday, relying as it 

does on traditional kitchen aromas is so 

difficult for us to reconcile to our altered 

lifestyle. It’s a tribute to the resilience of 

our community that we’re able to do so 

with fortitude and gratefulness. Happy 

Thanksgiving! 

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.


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Gifts, Outdoor Gear and 

Winterwear for Kids of All Ages 

Running Changes Everything! 

We have the apparel and gifts to 

make your holiday season 

Cold-weather apparel makes a great gift. It's technical and 

performance qualities will keep your loved ones comfortable 

outdoors, while fashion-forward styles will make everyone 

look good this season. 

Accessories and recovery gear also make great gifts. Want to 

keep the runner or walker in your life safe? Try the new USBrechargable 

clip-on lights by Nathan. Is it time to really tackle 

the soreness that results from running? Try our collection of 

percussion massagers from Hyperice and TriggerPoint. 

This is also the time of year for hats, gloves, and socks. 

Don't forget GPS watches by Garmin and bone conduction 

headphones by AfterShokz that allow you to be aware of 

your surroundings while listening to music. These are fun and 

useful technology gifts perfect for the holidays. 

Make an appointment to visit Fleet Feet Albany & Malta today 

and we will help you with your holiday shopping. You can 

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Make an appointment at 

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News News Briefs Briefs 

Virtual Tri Across America: 

Join CDTC and Their Club Team 

ALBANY – USA Triathlon is hosting its Power Within 

Virtual Tri Across America, which is a team-based event 

challenging USAT members and clubs to log 3,312 miles 

swimming, biking or running – the equivalent distance of 

San Francisco to New York City – between now and Nov. 

29. All Capital District Triathlon Club members have to do 

is log their miles to reach the goal – and because you can 

choose to just do one discipline, it’s a great opportunity to 

introduce our sport and CDTC to newbies or friends and 

family who we keep urging to take up the sport with us. 

If you’re a CDTC member, or planning to join the Capital District Triathlon Club for 

2021, register now to join their team: cdtriclub.com. Let’s do this! To join the Power Within 

Virtual Tri Across America: 1) Register for the event here: https://www.fitrankings.com/ 

challenge;id=tri-across-america-1601324604, 2) Click the Teams tab, then search by name 

for the team, Capital District Triathlon Club, 3) Click the team and then click the green 

‘Join Team’ button, and 4) You’re all set and will be contributing to your CDTC’s cumulative 

results! If questions, contact CDTC president, Jim Gazzale (gazzaljp@gmail.com). 

Warren Miller’s “Future Retro” 

Ski Movie and Prize Giveaways 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – This ski season Alpine Sport Shop turns 80. It’s not the year they 

had imagined to celebrate this milestone, though they’re grateful to serve their customers. 

Hosting Warren Miller’s newest ski movie in November has always been the kickoff 

to another ski season at the shop. This year, Warren Miller’s movie “Future Retro” will 

be held as a live stream movie event from Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7pm to Monday, Nov. 9 at 

11:59pm. You can be in your own home watching, but we will be watching it together. 

With every streaming pass purchased through the link on alpinesportshop.com, $3 will 

be donated to Double H Ranch Winter Adaptive Program. 

Alpine’s gift giveaway just got better as it includes four pair of skis from K2, Rossignol, 

Nordica and Volkl. With your $15 in-store donation to Double H, you’ll receive a “take 

home Double H raffle pack” that includes popcorn, chocolate, and raffle tickets for your 

chance to win $4,000 in skis, helmets, googles and more. With only 100 gift packs there are 

many chances to win. The winners will be chosen on Nov. 7, in conjunction with Warren 

Miller’s movie launch. 

Amigos Cantina: 

Open for Takeout Only 

SCHUYLERVILLE – The Amigos Cantina restaurant, 

who’s been refueling athletes since 2007, is now open 

for takeout only from late fall until early spring – for 

the safety of their customers and staff – due to the 

virus. Amigos has been voted best Mexican restaurant 

in Saratoga for five years in a row. They’re open 

Wednesday to Sunday from 4-9pm with easy ordering online at: amigos2go.com. Choose 

your items, pickup time, pay online and apply promo/cards, with no busy phone lines. 

Their outdoor dining will return in the spring. Please support Amigos, and all our advertisers, 

locally-based small businesses and organizations who need your support at this 

challenging time. Make the drive and keep them alive! 

FROM THE PUBLISHER 

Chris Nikic, 

You Are an Ironman! 


Empire State Winter 

Games Canceled 

LAKE PLACID – According to Molly Mayer, 

executive director of the ESWG, “After careful 

consultation with our sponsors, sport coordinators, 

and local/state officials regarding the 

health and safety of everyone in our industry 

– our athletes, coaches, volunteers, spectators, 

and our longtime partners – we have made the 

difficult decision to postpone the 41st annual 

Empire State Winter Games in the North 

Country. The Empire State Winter Games events originally scheduled for January 28-31, 

2021 will not take place. The challenges and uncertainty that Covid-19 has presented, 

prevent the organization from appropriately planning, organizing, and producing events 

safely in 30 different sports. ESWG remains hopeful to host a virtual or social media event 

for 2021 participants. 

Founded in 1980, the ESWG are a multiday winter athletic competition headquartered 

in Lake Placid. Amateur athletes of all ages and from all over the Northeast and 

Canada compete in more than 30 winter sports competitions over three days every winter. 

The Games are a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the 

Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST); the towns of North Elba, Wilmington, 

Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, Malone and Brighton; the villages of Lake Placid, Tupper 

Lake, Paul Smiths, Malone, Wilmington and Saranac Lake; the counties of Essex and 

Franklin; the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA); and 

New York State Senator Betty Little. For more info, visit: empirestatewintergames.com. 

Chris Nikic, a 21-year-old from Maitland, Fla., on 

November 7th became the first person with Down syndrome 

to finish an Ironman. “You have shattered barriers 

while proving without a doubt that Anything is Possible!,” 

Ironman Florida posted on its Facebook page. Chris completed 

the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2- 

mile run in 16:46:09, within the required 17-hour time frame to take home the title of 

Ironman. 

“The doctors and experts said I couldn’t do anything,” Chris said in the days leading 

up to the race, which was held in Panama City, Fla., “So I said, ‘Doctor! Experts! You need 

to stop doing this to me. You’re wrong!’” 

The Ironman Florida Facebook page followed Chris’ progress throughout the day 

and night, with hundreds of visitors leaving messages cheering him on. “We are beyond 

inspired, and your accomplishment is a defining moment in Ironman history that can 

never be taken away from you,” they said, “Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your 

remarkable life story and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next.” 

I’m posting this in memory of my sister-in-law, Mita Kulkarni, who also had Down 

syndrome and passed away on Nov. 8, 2008. Mita would have had no interest in doing an 

Ironman, but she was a special person who was full of life, and is deeply 

missed. I’m thankful she was a part of my life. Have a safe and 

happy Thanksgiving. 

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ISSUE 

#239 

Publisher/Editor/Founder: Darryl Caron 

Art Director: Karen Chapman 

Consulting Editor: Mona Caron 

Adirondack Sports is published 12 times per year with a 

monthly circulation of 18,000 copies. © 2020 Adirondack 

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Plan your next adventure ... 

A collection of 

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images by eight photographers, 

this year’s calendar also includes 

illustrations that combine, often 

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HIKING & SNOWSHOEING 

VIEW FROM ELEVENTH MOUNTAIN. 


PHOTOS & MAP BY BILL INGERSOLL 

THE Secret Views 

of Eleventh 

Mountain 

By Bill Ingersoll 

The Eleventh Mountain trailhead on 

NY Route 8 is one of the most popular 

access points for the Siamese Ponds 

Wilderness, and it is used by hikers almost 

every week of the year. Although this is not 

a region with many routes to choose from, 

the one excellent route that begins here – 

leading over the shoulder of the mountain, 

along the East Branch of the Sacandaga 

River, and up to the Siamese Ponds – is one 

of the most enjoyable backcountry hikes in 

all of the Adirondack Park, at any time of 

year. Within just a few hours of walking, it 

transports you from the side of a busy state 

highway into the wilderness core. 

However, despite the official name of the 

trailhead, there is no trail to the mountain 

itself. This is an important point that has been 

known to confuse some first-time visitors! 

Eleventh Mountain is a sprawling ridge 

bearing multiple summits, with a peak elevation 

of 3,290 feet. Its name derives from 

the fact that it is located in Township 11 of 

the Totten & Crossfield Purchase, one of the 

original great land transactions dating to 

1771. (It has alternately been called Cataract 

Mountain due to the high-elevation waterfall 

on the east side of the mountain, visible 

from Route 8 near Bakers Mills.) It is an 

enormous mountain – if not in height, then 

in pure geographic sprawl – and even I cannot 

claim to have explored the whole thing. 

However, the bushwhack suggested here 

is not to the mountain’s main summit, but 

to its southwesternmost bump. This is the 

portion of the mountain that dominates the 

view from the trail to the Sacandaga Lean- 

To. For a while as you hike that trail, you are 

passing very near the foot of its cliffs, and 

if you venture out to the banks of the East 

Branch Sacandaga River north of Diamond 

Brook you’re sure to find an enticing view 

of the mountain. 

This outermost shoulder of the mountain 

has a maximum elevation of about 

2,500 feet, but my favorite views are well 

below that point. They overlook the interior 

wilderness valley of the East Branch 

Sacandaga, all the way to a distant Snowy 

Mountain. 

Diamond Brook 

East Branch Sacandaga River 

But lest you think I’m about to describe 

an easy hike to the shoulder of a shoulder of 

a mountain – not even the main summit! – 

let’s be clear: getting to the ledges requires 

some basic off-trail navigation skills, and 

there are places where the slopes are steep. 

But as wilderness bushwhacks go, this one is 

comparatively short, and it makes for a fine 

snowshoe outing. 

Getting There 

You will find the Eleventh Mountain 

Trailhead prominently located on Route 8 

Eleventh Mountain 

P 

EAST BRANCH 

SACANDAGA RIVER. 

about 3.7 miles from the hamlet of Bakers 

Mills and 13.5 miles from NY Route 30 near 

the town of Wells. The trailhead can easily 

accommodate a dozen cars, and it is maintained 

all year long. 

The Trail 

There are several ways to approach these 

ledges, but unfortunately all of the most 

direct routes are very steep. The shortest 

way to the top is to bushwhack right from the 

trailhead. This entails a 730-foot climb in the 

space of just 0.5 mile – an exceedingly steep 

8 

slope that will seem all the more daunting 

if the rocks are at all icy. I’ve never tried this 

approach, but a friend who did came back 

with a less-than-glowing recommendation. 

My preferred approach is to follow the 

main DEC hiking trail over the height-ofland 

and down toward Diamond Brook, 

the first major stream crossing on the trek 

to Siamese Ponds. As the trail wanders 

away from the foot of the cliffs, leave it and 

contour around the westernmost corner of 

the mountain, well above Diamond Brook. 

From this angle you can then bushwhack up 

the ridgeline to the summit, exploring each 

of the ledges that you encounter. 

With that in mind, begin the same way 

everybody else does: hiking the state trail 

as far as Diamond Brook. Following blue 

markers, the trail begins at the far end of 

the trailhead parking area and begins to 

ascend the shoulder of the mountain within 

minutes. Steep, rocky slopes rise to your 

right, and these are often covered in icefalls 

in the winter. Parts of the old roadbed have 

become eroded from water runoff. This 

may not be a new development, because 

as observant hikers will note there are multiple 

parallel roadbeds ascending the hillside, 

suggesting that the road builders were 

quick to cut a new route whenever the old 

one became unsatisfactory. 

At 0.5-mile you reach the height-ofland, 

having ascended 260 feet from the 

trailhead. After a brief level stretch, the trail 

gradually begins to descend. During the 

cold half of the year, you can see the ledges 

on the southwest side of Eleventh Mountain 

to your right. Assuming that your sole destination 

are the tops of those ledges, then this 

is a good point to begin your bushwhack; 

as the trail veers away from the mountain, 

stray in the other direction, following the 

foot of the slopes. 

The idea is not to go straight up the 

mountain – most people would agree that 

way is too steep. Instead, you want to round 

its corner, seeking out the somewhat more 

moderate slopes closer to Diamond Brook. 

Then double-back up the mountain, parallel 

to the ledge tops. 

There are two openings you want to 

find, both with open views to the west – 

the panorama is astonishing! The views 

extend southwest through the Square Falls 

gorge and northwest across the heart of 

the Siamese Ponds Wilderness. You cannot 

see the ponds themselves, but you can 

guess their location in relation to the nearby 

landmarks County Line, Puffer and Siamese 

mountains. Humphrey Mountain is visible 

through the gap between County Line and 

Puffer, and beyond it you can see the distinctive 

profile of Snowy Mountain on the 

horizon, over 16 miles away. 

The recommended descent is essentially 

the same. However, since you no longer 

need to hug the edge of the mountain to be 

sure you’ve found the best views, you can 

keep a short distance to the east and enjoy 

the open hardwood forest that extends 

much of the way to Diamond Brook. 

Bill Ingersoll of Barneveld is publisher of 

the Discover the Adirondacks guidebook 

series: hiketheadirondacks.com. For more 

info, consult Discover the South Central 

Adirondacks or his recently-published 

50 Hikes in the Adirondack Mountains 

(Countryman Press).


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ATHLETE PROFILE 

VAIL, 1997. 


Jack and 

Cathy Hay 

SUN VALLEY, 2017. 

TERRI-LYNN PELLEGRI 

By Jeff Farbaniec 

After nearly a half century of working 

in the ski business, you’d think Jack 

and Cathy Hay might be ready for a 

break. You’d be wrong. Jack explains, “We’re 

both healthy and active and love what we 

do. We work hard from mid-July to mid-May 

every year, but then we get a taste of retirement 

for about two months. It’s the best of 

both worlds.” 

As owners of the Alpine Sport Shop in 

Saratoga Springs, Jack and Cathy work side 

by side, assisting customers, ordering products, 

and stocking the shelves. They must be 

doing something right as Alpine is celebrating 

its 80th anniversary as an independently-owned 

ski shop this winter – a milestone 

very few other ski shops have achieved. As 

anyone who owns their own business will 

tell you, it’s a tremendous amount of work, 

and “sometimes a little more work-life balance 

would be nice,” says Cathy. “But looking 

back, I wouldn’t change a thing.” 

The couple met in 1968. “I was a senior 

and Cathy was a junior, and we were both on 

the Saratoga Springs High School ski team,” 

Jack explains. Cathy’s parents, Thurlow and 

Dorothy Woodcock, had purchased the 

Alpine Sport Shop in 1966 from its founders, 

ski pioneer Ed Taylor and his wife Jo. They 

relocated the business from Spring Street to 

its present location, a chalet style building 

that Thurlow designed and built himself. Jack 

and Cathy got married in 1971 and he began 

working in the shop while taking classes at 

RPI, and later Skidmore. Cathy went to business 

school and worked in banking for seven 

years before joining Jack and her parents in 

the shop. 

Despite their high school ski team background, 

Jack and Cathy never considered 

themselves competitive skiers. “Back then,” 

Cathy explains, “high school ski teams 

were much more of a social activity. We’re 

still friends with some of our teammates.” 

Athletes on the team were required to compete 

in slalom, giant slalom and cross country 

(Nordic), and that balanced approach led 

AGES: 69 (Jack) and 68 (Cathy) 

RESIDENCE: Saratoga Springs 

FAMILY: Two daughters and four 

grandchildren 

PROFESSION: Owners of the Alpine Sport Shop 

SPORTS: Skiing, of course! 

FAVORITE 

SKI AREAS: Big Sky (Jack), 

Taos and Telluride (Cathy) 

to well-rounded skiers. Nowadays, as recreational 

skiers, Jack and Cathy stay in shape 

by swimming, walking or running, hiking 

and cycling. Jack enjoys volleyball and sets 

up a court behind the shop most summers. 

Although their interests have evolved over 

the years, they’ve always been focused on 

“training for life” as Cathy likes to say. 

With the shop taking up so much of their 

time, Jack and Cathy never had an opportunity 

to ski out West. That changed in 1994, 

when they were asked to lead a group of skiers 

on a trip to Europe. “We ended up with 84 

skiers on that trip, and had such a great time, 

we went back for four years straight,” Jack 

recalls. That trip was the start of an annual 

tradition. “We’re up to 42 trips now, we’ve 

been all around the world on Alpine Sport 

Shop trips” says Cathy, bringing literally 

thousands of local skiers with them. 

Owning a ski shop comes with a few other 

perks too. Jack and Cathy have met many 

inspiring athletes and ski personalities over 

the years, like Warren Miller, Picabo Street 

and Klaus Obermeyer. Cathy talks fondly 

about a magical day at the Yellowstone Club, 

perhaps the most exclusive private mountain 

ski resort in the world. “A customer and 

friend invited us to come over for the day. We 

skied over from Big Sky, making figure eights 

through fields of untracked powder. When 

we got to the lift, the attendant started it up 

for us. It was like skiing in a dream.” 

If you’re wondering how a ski shop can 

not only survive but thrive in today’s internet 

economy, it’s all about evolving, innovating 

and personal service. “We’re constantly 

reinventing ourselves,” says Jack, “but personal 

service is at the core of everything we 

do. After all, you can’t get your skis tuned or 

your boots fitted online.” 

Alpine Sport Shop has a history of innovating. 

In 1976, Jack worked with Cathy’s dad 

to install a unique indoor ski deck to teach 

beginners to make parallel turns. By Jack’s 

estimate, more than 600 local skiers learned 

to ski using the ski deck before they had to 

tear it down in the early ‘80s to create more 

retail space. When snowboarding came 

along in the mid ‘80s, Alpine was among the 

early adopters. “We picked up Burton in the 

second year that they were marketing snowboards,” 

recalls Jack. Before long, Jack built 

an addition to the shop for the additional 

space they needed for snowboarding gear. 

Today the shop stocks a full line of downhill 

and cross-country skis, snowshoes, and an 

expanded range of backcountry equipment. 

Other shops carry bikes, boats, patio furniture 

or tennis gear in the summer. For a 

few years in the ‘90s Alpine Sport Shop carried 

bikes, but Jack’s and Cathy’s philosophy 

has always been to focus on snow sports. 

“Without that focus,” says Jack, “it’s hard to 

do either one well.” The numbers don’t lie, 

by Jack’s count more than 25 ski shops in 

the greater Capital Region have gone out of 

business in the 49 years he’s been at Alpine. 

Jack and Cathy both feel it’s important 

to give back to the community. The shop 

has sponsored the annual Warren Miller ski 

▲ TAOS WITH JOINT TRIP LEADER 

TERRI-LYNN PELLEGRI, 2019. 

◀ THURLOW WOODCOCK AND 

CLIF TAYLOR, GRADUATED LENGTH 

METHOD OF SKI INSTRUCTION 

FOUNDER, ON ALPINE SKI DECK, 1976. 

movie for more than 20 years as a fundraiser 

for the Saratoga Springs High School ski 

teams and the Double H Ranch adaptive 

ski program. This year’s event will be livestreamed, 

with a portion of the proceeds 

from tickets purchased through Alpine going 

to Double H. 

Nowadays, there’s nothing Jack and 

Cathy enjoy more than skiing with their 

grandchildren. Like the rest of the family, the 

grandkids have all learned to ski at an early 

age. “I was four when I learned to ski and Jack 

was nine. There’s something magical about 

being out in the fresh air in winter, the snow 

and the cold,” says Cathy. “It doesn’t matter 

if you’re 7 or 70, there’s nothing better!” 

Jeff Farbaniec of Saratoga Springs is an 

avid telemark skier: saratogaskier@gmail. 

com. You can find him with his wife, Beth, 

and kids, Daniel and Sylvie, on the slopes of 

Gore, Whiteface, and Killington all winter.


MOUNTAIN BIKING continued from 1 

● GRACE LAZZARI TRIES 

THE MANUAL MACHINE AT 

A SHREDDER SKILLS DAY. 

ANNA LALOË 

● VOLUNTEER FEMALE MENTORS 

AT ONE OF THREE SKILLS DAYS 

THIS FALL. PHOTO BY SHERAY TARIO 


● THE AUTHOR LEADING 

HER GROUP IN THE 

COSTUME BIKE PARADE 

IN SPA PARK. 

The attendance and support have been 

unprecedented. Along with the 40-70 girls 

that ride together each week, we’re supported 

by more than 20 volunteer female 

mentors, ride leaders, and general volunteers 

who enable us to maintain small group 

sizes – and allow for two female mentors per 

group. We meet two evenings per week at one 

of three rotating trail locations: Saratoga Spa 

State Park in Saratoga Springs, Luther Forest 

in Malta, and Kalabus Perry County Forest in 

Wilton. Each of these trail systems require a 

range of technical skills, as the terrain can 

vary from fairly flat with few rocks or roots 

in Spa Park, to hilly with many features such 

as log rolls, roots, skinny bridges in Kalabus 

Perry. We also ran two bike mechanic sessions 

(sponsored by Bikeatoga) and three 

skills sessions for the girls, and three ride 

and skills sessions for the mentors. 

Most girls that start with us are ‘neighborhood 

riders’ – they are comfortable riding 

a bike on paved streets, but haven’t had 

much or any trail experience. We divide up 

the group by age and ability so all riders are 

comfortable. Before each ride the mentors 

do bike safety checks, provide trail etiquette 

guidelines, and some basic mountain bike 

● BIKEATOGA OFFERED TWO 

BIKE MECHANIC SESSIONS 

THIS FALL AND DONATED 

FOUR BIKES TO THE GROUP. 

ANGIE NAVEREZ 

● WATCH THE SHREDDERS IN ACTION: 

YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=JANWNMX-GYW&T=127S


● SHREDDERS SHREDDING. 


● SOME OLDER 

SHREDDERS HAD AN 

OPPORTUNITY TO RACE 

THIS FALL. ANNA LALOË 

● MENTORS SPOTTING A SHREDDER 

IN KALABUS PERRY TRAILS. 

● THE AUTHOR’S 

DAUGHTERS, 

ANNE-SOPHIE AND 

ZOE. ANNA LALOË 

handling tips. During the ride, the groups 

will stop and ‘session’ features, which could 

mean anything from learning how to roll 

over a log on the trail for the beginner riders, 

how to pedal up and down a small ‘gravity 

cavity,’ to bunny hopping and track stands 

for our more advanced riders. 

Our goal is simple: get more girls on bikes. 

As part of our diversity and inclusion initiative, 

we have bikes available for those that 

don’t have the means to buy one. Providing 

an opportunity and a platform for girls to 

feel empowered by riding their bikes in the 

woods with other girls has proved, time and 

time again this season, that confidence 

on the bike translates to confidence off 

the bike. The girls are proud to be part 

of this movement to get more girls on bikes, 

and their parents and other adults in the 

community have been incredibly supportive 

of this mission. A couple of dads asked if they 

could accompany their daughters early on 

in the season and I kindly declined. We are 

not anti-boys/dads, but we exist to provide a 

unique opportunity for girls in our community, 

and will remain as such. 

After a hugely successful summer and 

fall riding season, we’re transitioning into 


off-the-bike activities for 

these Shredders. We began our shoulder 

season sessions on November 2. This is a 

six-week, once per week series for Shredders 

aged seven to 12 to be exposed to skills 

and conversations that are inherent to and 

important in all sports: respect, team building, 

anti-bullying, balance, agility, strength 

and flexibility. 

These sessions are run in the Spa Park, 

and will mostly be conducted in the dark! 

Each child has a headlamp and we will set 

up stations in the pavilion areas and the 

woods where they learn the various facets 

of sport and sportsmanship. The theme is 

that small positive behaviors by many girls 

can make a BIG impact – we are helping to 

grow kind humans. In addition, we will be 

teaching a bit of outdoor science as we have 

mentors with PhDs in ornithology, botany 

and geology! Every session will start and end 

with a mini hike through the woods. 

In the winter, we will do a webinar series 

where we will invite inspirational female 

adventurers every week to speak with the 

Shredders virtually – elite mountain bike 

racers, mountaineers, Ironman athletes, 

polar scientists and more. The girls will be 

able to chat with these inspiring role models 

and ask them questions about their adventures 

and their careers. 

And in the spring, we will return to our 

focus of getting #moregirlsonbikes! If you’d 

like to find out more about our organization, 

or have a potential new Shredder in your family, 

visit: saratogashredders.com. Sponsors 

include Grey Ghost Bicycles, The Form 

Collaborative, Adirondack Multisport Club, 

Trek Bicycles of Saratoga, Bikeatoga, Capital 

Bike Racing Club, and Farmer’s Daughter 

Gravel Grinder. 

Anna Laloë, PhD (annaelizabethlaloe@ 

gmail.com) is proud mama to Shredders 

Anne-Sophie and Zoe, a polar geologist, 

environmental consultant, mountain 

bike racer for North American Velo, and 

founder/CEO of ecoFête and Saratoga 

Shredders. 


● SHREDDERS IN 

KINGDOM TRAILS, 

VERMONT.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

NOVEMBER 2020 TO JANUARY 2021 

ALPINE & BACKCOUNTRY SKIING 

ONGOING 

Sat-Sun Used Ski Equipment Sale. 11/14-15, 11/21- 

22 from 10am-4pm. Benefits Willard Mountain 

Race Team. Willard Mountain, Greenwich. 

518-692-7337. willardmountain.com. 

TBD Intro to Ski Mountaineering Clinics. Call for 

dates/details: 518-523-3764. ADK Adirondak 

Loj, Lake Placid. highpeakscyclery.com. 

NOVEMBER 

6-8 Northeast Ski & Craft Beer Showcase. 

Canceled. Albany Capital Center, Albany. 

northeastskishow.com. 

7-9 Warren Miller movie, Future Retro. Live stream 

movie event on 11/7, 7pm to 11/9, 11:59pm. 

With every live stream ticket purchased on 

alpinesportshop.com, $3 will be donated to 

Double H Ranch winter adaptive program. 

Alpine Sport Shop, Saratoga Springs. 

alpinesportshop.com. 

14 West Mountain School’s Ski & Sports Gear 

Swap. 9am-5pm. Drop off: 11/13, 4-7pm. West 

Mountain, Queensbury. westmountain.com. 

DECEMBER 

13 Alpine Touring & Telemark Demo Day w/High 

Peaks Cyclery. 9am-4pm. Weather day: 12/20. 

Whiteface, Wilmington. HPC: 518-523-3764. 

highpeakscyclery.com. 

BICYCLING 

ONGOING 

TBD Fat Biking & XC Skiing Programs. Call for dates/ 

details: 518-523-3764. Paul Smth’s College 

Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), Paul Smiths. 


NOVEMBER 

7 Virtual Gravel Gobbler Rides. 25M/31M/41M 

for Regional Food Bank of NENY. S&S 

Farm Brewery, Nassau or anywhere. 

mohawkhudsoncyclingclub.org. 

8 Rivers & Lakes Century. 104M/81M/31M. 

8am. Adirondack Ultra Cycling Bike Shop, 

Schuylerville. 518-583-3708. adkultracycling. 

com. 

21 Bikeatoga Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway. 

10am-2pm. St. Peter’s Church, Saratoga 

Springs. 518-290-0746. bikeatoga.org. 

DECEMBER 

6 Last Century Bike Ride. 100M/52M/30M. 

8am. Adirondack Ultra Cycling Bike Shop, 

Schuylerville. John Ceceri: 518-583-3708. 

adkultracycling.com. 

JANUARY 

12-2/16 Gore 5K Citizen Races. Tuesday eves: 

6pm. XC skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking. 

Gore Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek. 

goremountain.com. 

23 Gurney Lane Snowshoe Hike/Race & Fat Bike 

Rides/Races. 5K snowshoe: 10am. Fun group 

bike ride: 12pm. 10M & 5M bike races: 1pm. 

Frozen Ring Donut Bike Race: 2:30pm. Gurney 

Lane Recreation Area, Queensbury. runreg.com 

& bikereg.com. 

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING & NORDIC SPORTS 

ONGOING 

Tue Bill Koch Youth Ski League. 4-5:30pm. 11/3- 

3/30. Outdoor fun (XC skiing & winter activities, 

with or without snow) for children ages 4-12. 

Parents welcome. Collins Park (locations will 

vary), Clifton Park. Eric Hamilton: 518-810-4853. 

Shenendehowa Nordic Club: shennordic.org. 

TBD Fat Biking & XC Skiing Programs. Call for dates/ 

details: 518-523-3764. Paul Smth’s College 

Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), Paul Smiths. 


JANUARY 





28-31 Empire State Winter Games. Canceled. Lake 

Placid. empirestatewintergames.com. 

ADIRONDACK 

ULTRA CYCLING 

BIKE SHOP 

Sales • Service • Fits • Wheel Building 

Long-Distance Rides & Races 

adkultracycling.com | 518.583.3708 

160 BROAD STREET • SCHUYLERVILLE 

BIKING 

RUNNING 

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EVENT SUPPLIES TOO! We Can Outfit Your Club! 

643 Upper Glen St. 

Queensbury 

(518) 793-5676 

insideedge.biz 

STAY UP TO DATE 

WITH ADK SPORTS 

Enjoy everything 

you love about 

the magazine 

• anytime • 

on any device 

adksports.com 

ITR 

Technology 

Integrated 

Resources 

We Can Fix Your Computer Problems! 

Old Computers Need Replacing? 

Computer Servers Need Updating? 

Virus/Spyware Removal • Data Backup/Recovery 

Your Business or Home IT Department at Affordable Prices! 

Contact Mike Kaplan at 

518.796.6951 or Mike@ITRNY.com 

SERVING THE ALBANY, SARATOGA, GLENS FALLS 

AND ADIRONDACK REGION 

OPEN 

FOR SERVICE 

& CYCLING 

NEEDS 

SPECIALIZED • GIANT • FELT • BIANCHI • LOOK • CERVELO • DAY 6 • CO-MOTION • ELLIPTIGO 

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TRIATHLON – TANDEM 

BMX – KIDS – E BIKES 

• Bike/tri clothing, Louis Garneau 

• Yakima racks & accessories 

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Graphic Design Services 

ads • banners • postcards 

flyers • rack cards • brochures 

Reasonable rates 

Service with a smile 

3149 Route 7, Pittstown 

10 min east of Troy 

(518) 663-0083 

TomhannockBicycles.com 

Tu/W/F 10-6, Th 10-7, Sat 10-5, Closed Sun/Mon 

adksports.com/graphic-design-services 

For the warmth of 

an Irish Christmas 

visit 

Celtic 

Treasures 

Imported Jewelry, 

Woolens, Crystal, 

China & More! 

456 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 

CelticTreasures.com 

800.583.9452 

Extended Holiday Hours

HEALTH & FITNESS 

ONGOING 

M-F Rock Your Fitness: Total Body Training. 

Outdoor Boot Camp: MWF 5:15am, 6:30am & 

9:30am. Tue 5:30pm. Malta Community Center, 

Malta. First class free (text): 518-522-9765. 

facebook.com/rockyourfitnessllc. 

HIKING, SNOWSHOEING & CLIMBING 

ONGOING 

Thru 12/31 Champlain Area Trails Grand Challenge. 

Hike any or all three challenge trail loops for 

patch. Fundraiser for CATS. Westport & Essex. 

Info & maps: champlainareatrails.com. 

DECEMBER 

5 Trail Walk. 9:30am-12:30pm. Anchor Diamond 

Park, Ballston Spa. David Fiske: 518-577-4997. 

adk.albany.org. 

21 Seymour Mountain Hike. 13M. Claudia Warren: 

518-764-2460. adk.albany.org. 

JANUARY 

9 Winter Survival 101. 9am-5pm. Heart Lake 

Program Center, Lake Placid. Adirondack 

Mountain Club: 518-523-3480. adk.org. 

16 Winter Survival 101. 9am-5pm. Heart Lake 

Program Center, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


17 Backcountry Snowshoeing for Beginners. Heart 

Lake Program Center, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


23 Esther Mountain Winter Trailless Hike. 6.6M. 

8am. Adirondack Mountain Club: 

518-523-3480. adk.org. 

24 Tabletop Mountain Winter Trailless Hike. 9.8M. 

8am. Adirondak Loj, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


30 Street & Nye Trailless Winter Hike. 9M. 8am. 

Adirondak Loj, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


31 Phelps Mountain Winter Hike. 8.2M. 8am. 

Adirondak Loj, Lake Placid. Adirondack 


MULTISPORT: TRIATHLON & SWIMMING 

DECEMBER 

6 Greenbush Indoor Triathlon. Canceled. 

Greenbush YMCA, East Greenbush. cdymca. 

org/race/2020. 

OTHER EVENTS 

NOVEMBER 

27-29 20th Adirondack Christmas on Main Street. 

Start your holiday shopping. Inlet. inletny.com. 

DECEMBER 

11-13 Snodeo. Kickoff snowmobile season. 

Hiltebrant Recreation Center, Old Forge. 

oldforgeny.com. 

RUNNING, SNOWSHOEING & WALKING 

ONGOING 

Thru 11/13 Apple Run/Walk 5K. Virtual. Supports 

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Rotary projects. 

Burnt Hills or anywhere. zippyreg.com. 


Thru 11/15 MVP Stockade-athon 15K. Free virtual 

race. Run 15K, 5K or both. Individual, 

corporate & team. Schenectady or anywhere. 

stockadeathon.com. 

Thru 11/30 Great Cow Harbor Race 10K: Virtual 

Run. Run anywhere in the world. Northport. 

cowharborrace.com. 

Thru 12/31 American Trail Running Association’s 

Virtual Challenge. Celebrate ATRA’s 25th 

anniversary w/three trail running challenges. 

Anywhere. trailrunner.com. 

NOVEMBER 

1-30 Family of New Paltz Turkey Trot 5K. Virtual. 

New Paltz or anywhere. newpaltzturkeytrot.com. 

7 Rogers Rangers Ramble 5K XC Run. 10:30am. 

Ticonderoga Golf Course, Ticonderoga. lachute.us. 

7 Revolutionary Run for Veterans 5K. Canceled. 

Fort Hardy Park, Schuylerville. runsignup.com. 

7 Strides Against Sarcoma. Canceled. 3.5M. Rush 

Pond Trail to Queensbury School, Queensbury. 

itsyourrace.com. 

11 Shenendehowa Veterans Day Dash 5K. 

Canceled. Shenendehowa High School, Clifton 

Park. shenrunners.com. 

14 1st Moreau Half Marathon 14M Trail Race. 

8am. Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort. 

ultrasignup.com. 

14 Falling Leaves 5K & 1K Run/Walk. 5K: 9am. 1K 

(12-under): 9:30am. 5K run to base of Sugarloaf 

Mtn on roads/trails. 6.8K option: choose your 

own adventure. Pok-O-MacCready Camp, 

Willsboro. pokomac.com. 

continued 

Dr. Brad Elliott 

CHIROPRACTOR 

Cost Effective 

Care for the 

Entire Family 

677 Plank Rd, Clifton Park 

(518) 383-4889 

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Anthony’s Real Estate 

SERVING THE CAPITAL REGION FOR 20 YEARS 

Specializing in Residential 

and Rental Listings 

◾ Reasonable Listing Rates 

◾ Short Term Contracts 

◾ Flexible Terms 

Anthony Lee Potolski 

Broker/Owner 

518-434-8682 or 

potolskial@gmail.com 

340 Second Ave, Albany, NY 

Rick’s 

BIKE 

SHOP 

Mountain, Road, Hybrid, E-Bikes, Kids, BMX 

TREK • SPECIALIZED 

ELECTRA • STOLEN 

Expert Repair Work on All Brands 

Corner of Quaker Rd and Ridge Rd 

Queensbury 

ricksbikeshop.com • 518-793-8986 

CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER 

Online Sales! 

NEW: 

cascadeski.com 

THE AREA’S ONLY EXCLUSIVE NORDIC SHOP 

42nd Annual 

Thanksgiving 10-Day 

Ski & Snowshoe Sale! 

Friday, Nov. 27 – Sunday, Dec. 6 

20-50% Off Selected Items! 

Free Season Passes! 

Great Prices, Selection and Service 

Backcountry ❆ Telemark ❆ Racing ❆ Snowshoes 

Lake Placid’s Complete Nordic Lodge 

20k+ Groomed Trails ❆ Nordic Shop ❆ Rentals 

Lessons ❆ Restaurant & Bar ❆ Trailside Bunkhouse $40 on Airbnb 

4833 Cascade Rd (Rt. 73) • Lake Placid 

518-523-1111 • cascadeski.com 

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS CONT. 

FROM 

PG 13 

14-15 1st Not Your Average Mother Runner 

Virtual Half-Marathon & 5K Run/Walk. 

Portion of proceeds to YWCA. Run road/ 

trail anywhere. Lisa DeLugo: 518-209-5571. 

notyouraveragemotherrunner.com. 

15 1st Upstate Classic. Half & Full Marathon: 

8:30am. 5K: 9:15am. Virtual option. Altamont 

Fairgrounds, Altamont. upstateclassic.com. 

20-22 Girls on the Run: Virtual 5K. Run, walk or roll 

your way. Albany or anywhere. gotrcr.org. 

21-29 Ellis Medicine Cardiac Classic Virtual 5K. 

Schenectady or anywhere. ellismedicine.org/ 

cardiac-classic. 

22 Turkey Raffle Run. Canceled. Tawasentha Park, 

Guilderland. hmrrc.com. 

22-28 Running of the Turkeys. Virtual 5K run/walk. 

Fisher Elementary School, Arlington, VT or 

anywhere. itsyourrace.com. 

24-28 Cohoes Turkey Trot. Virtual. 3.5M run/walk. 

Cohoes or anywhere. zippyreg.com. 

25-29 Christopher Dailey Turkey Trot 5K Virtual 

Race. 5K run/walk when/where it works 

for your Thanksgiving. Proceeds benefit 

Christopher Dailey Foundation. Saratoga 

Springs or anywhere. zippyreg.com/cdtt. 

26-28 Virtual Troy Turkey Trot. Virtual 5K, 10K, 

Turkey Walk & Grade School Mile. Run real 

time at 10am Thanksgiving or anytime 11/26-28 

to be in results. Use TTT app to run “together” 

from anywhere. Individual, family, team & 

costume awards. Proceeds benefit Regional 

Food Bank of NENY & St. Joseph’s House/ 

Shelter. troyturkeytrot.com. 

26 Clifton Park Beer Runners Turkey Trot 10K. 9am. 

Clifton Common, Clifton Park. facebook.com. 

26 OurTowne Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk. 

Virtual. Run/walk marked course from 

8am-6pm. Bethlehem Middle School, Delmar. 

ourtownebethlehem.com. 

26 St George’s Turkey Trot 5K. Canceled. St. 

George’s School, Clifton Park. 

stgeorgeschoolcp.org. 

28 Run Off That Turkey Trot 5K. Canceled. 

Altamont. facebook.com. 

DECEMBER 

1-31 Albany Last Run 5K. Virtual. Albany or 

anywhere. zippyreg.com. 

6 ARE Adventure Race. 11am. 4-8M. An insane, 

natural adventure in the Adirondacks. Dippikill 

Wilderness Retreat, Warrensburg. zippyreg.com. 

6 Reindeer Run 4-Mile Road Race. Canceled. 

SUNY Adirondack, Queensbury. 

adirondackrunners.org. 

12 Gore Ski Bowl 5K Snowshoe Race. 2pm. Gore 

Mountain Nordic Center, North Creek. 


13 Doug Bowden Winter Series. Canceled. 3M/15K. 

University at Albany, Albany. hmrrc.com. 

19 Holiday Classic 5K Run. Canceled. Altamont. 

facebook.com. 

31 Saratoga Arts’ First Night 5K. Canceled. 

Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs. 

saratoga-arts.org. 

JANUARY 





12 Grafton Trails 10K Snowshoe Race. Grafton 

Trails & Outdoor Center, VT. Mike Owens: 

802-843-2350. graftonponds.com. 

17 Cock-A-Doodle-Shoe 5K & 10K Snowshoe 

Races. 10:30am. Kids’ 0.5M Snowshoe Scramble: 

10am. New Land Trust, Town of Saranac. 

cockadoodleshoe.com. 

23 Gurney Lane Snowshoe Hike/Race & Fat Bike 

Rides/Races. 5K snowshoe: 10am. Fun group 

bike ride: 12pm. 10M & 5M bike races: 1pm. 

Frozen Ring Donut Bike Race: 2:30pm. Gurney 

Lane Recreation Area, Queensbury. runreg.com 

& bikereg.com. ■ 

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Paddle Safety Course 

Fall Adir Sport and Fitness AD.indd 1 

3/27/15 10:34 AM

HIKING, XC SKIING & SNOWSHOEING 


Prepare for 

Late Fall 

Adventures 

By Rich Macha 

PHOTOS BY RICH MACHA 

PICK A NICE WEATHER DAY, PROPERLY 

OUTFITTED, AND YOU’LL BE REWARDED. 

SPIKES GIVE YOU BETTER TRACTION 

AND ARE RECOMMENDED IN 

SLIPPERY OR ICY CONDITIONS. 

YOU AND YOUR BEST FRIEND 

SHOULD WEAR BRIGHT COLORS 

DURING HUNTING SEASON. 

AN INSULATED 

PAD, WHETHER 

SHORT OR LONG, 

CAN MAKE FOR 

A COMFORTABLE 

BREAK. 

A NOVEMBER PADDLE ON LAKE PLACID. 

The fall foliage season has ended and we are 

now in the fall “it’s beginning to feel a lot 

like winter” season, but there is no reason 

we have to curtail our outdoor activities as long as 

we prepare ourselves accordingly. Weatherwise, 

November can be all over the place, with the possibility 

of some warm sunny days but some brisk 

and breezy days are also highly likely. December 

weather, especially in the Adirondacks, takes a 

big step toward winter. So, whether you plan to 

hike, paddle or ski, now is the time to plan and 

prepare for the possibilities. 

In Albany last year, 45% (27.9”) of the seasonal 

snowfall fell in December, most of it at 

the beginning of the month. Whereas, in the 

central Adirondacks, Indian Lake received 

close to average snowfalls, with 22” in December, 30” in 

January, and 29” in February. This year, winter has already 

fired off some early warning shots with a coating of snow in 

late October, which quickly melted in lower elevations, but 

hung around at higher elevations. 

With over two months to go, there has already been a yearly 

record of rescues by NYS DEC Forest Rangers in Regions 5 

and 6, which encompass the Adirondack Park and surrounding 

areas. This corresponds to an increase in the number of 

folks participating in outdoor recreation. Most commonly, 

the rescues involved injured hikers or lost hikers – many of 

these incidents were preventable had the hikers planned and 

prepared appropriately. With colder weather, the margin for 

error becomes greater and the consequences more dire. 

Keep in mind that fall is also hunting season. Northern 

Zone (basically, north of Saratoga Springs and NY Route 29) 

deer hunting season has begun and lasts through December 

6, and Southern Zone season goes from November 21 through 

December 13. During this time, it is best to wear bright colors, 

preferably blaze orange – the same goes for your dog too. 

Note also that snowmobiles are not allowed on state land 

until these hunting seasons are over. 

You should avoid wearing cotton clothing whenever perspiration 

or any other kind of water is involved since cotton 

has no insulative properties when wet and consequently it 

can suck the heat right out of you. Dressing in layers gives you 

the ability to minimize sweating and regulate your body heat. 

Gaiters keep snow and debris from entering your boots, plus 

they keep the legs of your pants from getting wet. I seldom 

go out without at least four pairs of gloves and mittens – they 

can be mixed and matched to keep my fingers warm and I 

will have some backups if a pair gets wet. 

There are several items that should be in your pack yearround, 

often referred to as the “10 Essentials” – a whistle, map, 

compass, water, food/snacks, extra socks and warm clothing, 

rain/wind gear, headlamp plus extra batteries, first aid kit, 

knife (utility tool or Swiss Army have useful extras), toilet 

paper, a zip bag for trash (including used toilet paper), space 

blanket, fire-starting kit, and some duct tape for repairs in the 

field (I also bring some wire and a couple of hose clamps). A 

GPS can be beneficial but you should still bring a paper map 

and compass. Cellphones can be helpful in an emergency 

but service is spotty in the backcountry and batteries do run 

down, so a phone should not be depended upon as a substitute 

for poor planning and preparation. Until things change, 

bring some hand sanitizer and a mask to wear whenever you 

can’t maintain a good distance from others. 

A vacuum flask of hot chocolate or tea can be just the ticket 

with lunch in cool weather. When you stop for a break, you 

will be more comfortable if you throw on some warmer clothing 

before you get cold – don’t wait until you are cold before 

doing so. Chemical hand and toe warmers are inexpensive 

and come in handy to warm up the extremities – most will 

last for six or more hours – that’s cheap insurance. Bring an 

insulated pad to sit on during breaks. 

Newly-fallen leaves or snow can obscure the foot tread on 

trails and make the way less obvious – you need to pay more 

overall attention en route. The leaves can also be slippery, 

especially when wet. Hiking poles are recommended for stability, 

plus they will help save your knees in the long term, 

especially when going downhill. If temperatures have recently 

dropped below freezing, ice could have formed in the trail, 

so the use of trail crampons, not quite as aggressive as fullon 

ice crampons – and often referred to as microspikes these 

days – are highly recommended for those times. Kahtoola 

MICROspikes started this trend, Hillsound Trail Crampons 

have become favorites of many High Peaks hikers, and Black 

Diamond has also come forth with some offerings in this vein. 

The better informed you are, the better the experience. 

Check guidebooks for route descriptions and what to look out 

for before you head out. For the price of a restaurant dinner, a 

guidebook, written by someone who has done more research 

on the subject than most anyone, provides a great long-term 

investment – and still outdoes most everything you can find 

online. For the Adirondacks, there are two series of guidebooks: 

the ‘Discover the Adirondacks’ series by Bill Ingersoll 

and the series by the Adirondack Mountain Club. Both are 

great for hiking information, but the Discover books do add 

more off-trail and paddling destinations. The NYSDEC website 

is the best online resource for what to bring and for the 

rules and regulations that pertain to the area you plan to visit. 

Backcountry conditions for the Adirondacks: dec.ny.gov/ 

outdoor/7865.html. Backcountry conditions for the Catskills: 

dec.ny.gov/outdoor/108207.html. These websites are updated 

by Thursday evening on a weekly basis. According to a 

recent survey, the alltrails.com website and app have become 

the most popular source of info for many Adirondack hikers 

these days but I find it often has errors and lacks detail, so I 

tend to think of it as a supplementary source rather than a 

primary source of information. 

Check your gear for wear and tear before leaving the 

house. Look over your boots to make sure the soles are not 

delaminating, check the straps on your snowshoes, and look 

over your skis for any weaknesses. You certainly don’t want to 

be five miles out and have something break on you. 

Late fall can still be attractive to some paddlers but I only 

recommend it for those who have advanced self and assisted 

rescue skills, a good comprehension of cold water survival, 

and to those who wear a dry or wet suit. I have a thinking 

process which I call “Three Good Reasons” that I go through 

before deciding to paddle: if I can think of three good reasons 

not to paddle, then I should do something land-based. For 

example, I once went to Cedar River Flow in early December 

and started out from Wakely Dam in my solo canoe. When I 

got out into the main part of the flow the wind was blowing 

fairly hard and was not making things easy. The water was 

very cold, I was paddling by myself, and the wind was a problem: 

three good reasons not to continue, so I turned around 

and went for a hike instead. 

It’s not a good thing to spend too much time on your butt 

so do your homework, assemble the proper gear and clothing, 

and get out and enjoy some fresh air. 

A lover of wild places, Rich Macha has led many trips for the 

Adirondack Mountain Club, and has spent 20 years in the 

paddlesport/snowsport business. More of Rich’s adventures 

can be found at northeastwild.blogspot.com.


ALPINE SKIING 

WILLARD’S FREESTYLE TEAM AT 2020 EMPIRE STATE 

WINTER GAMES: KEIRA KIRK 1ST, MAEVE KELLEHER 3RD, 

OLIVEAH REISZEL 1ST F13, CONNOR KIRK 1ST M11, 

MARCUS LITTELL 5TH, ANTONIA LEVITAS 6TH, 

DECLAN KELLEHER 7TH, GARRIT LUNDBERG 28TH. 

By Linda Waxman Finkle 

Here’s a David and Goliath story 

if there ever was one, girls from 

Willard Mountain’s Freestyle Team 

crush the competition from Killington and 

Stratton at the 2020 Empire State Winter 

Games, taking 1st, 3rd, 6th and 7th place 

overall. That’s right, Willard Mountain in 

Easton, “New York’s Coolest Little Ski Area.” 

I first heard about Willard more than 20 

years ago when a cousin had her kids take 

lessons here. My kids were at a much bigger, 

well-known place in Massachusetts, but her 

kids became much better skiers. Spend just 

a few short hours here and you’ll see why. 

Maryann and Tim Kelleher have been 

coming to Willard for many years. This is 

where he learned to ski and worked as a 

teen. “I couldn’t afford it, so the deal was that 

I could ski for free, and would help in the cafeteria 

when they needed me,” said Tim. These 

days, their four kids spend several nights a 

week and weekends here, perfecting their 

skills, among friends and family – Willard’s 

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size allows for that familiarity. Everyone 

knows each other, and kids have many 

adults and teens looking out for them – on 

the mountain, in the lodge, and when they’re 

away on trips. Many of the instructors learned 

here and return to teach year after year, Tim 

and his nephew are just two examples. 

Named after Stephen Willard, a 

Revolutionary War scout, the mountain continues 

to be affordable for families. While 

the cost of an adult lift ticket hovers around 

$100 at other nearby areas, Willard’s half that 

rate, a true bargain. It’s part of the mission of 

making skiing accessible to all. Owners Chic 

and Kris Wilson, who purchased Willard in 

1994, work hard to keep prices down with 

many discounts, season passes, early bird 

specials and family plans. Maryann, who 

grew up skiing at Hunter and Windham 

mountains, concurs: “We both work but with 

four kids we still couldn’t afford to do this 

at the prices other places charge. Here, we 

know everyone, it’s reasonably-priced, and 

they’re accommodating to all of the other 

activities in our lives.” 

Willard 

The Little Mountain That Could 

And all the 

Beauty That 

Surrounds Us 

For maps & more: 

INLET AREA INFORMATION OFFICE 

1-866-GO-INLET 

www.inletny.com 

As a smaller mountain, Willard doesn’t 

typically get those who travel a big distance 

to ski. That translates to fewer lift lines, and 

more time skiing down the mountain for 

everyone. Although the runs may not be as 

long, they’re certainly challenging enough to 

produce champions, year after year. Bruce 

Bolesky, who competed in the 1988 Winter 

Olympics in Calgary, credits Willard with his 

success: “The coaches were exceptional. The 

staff and management at Willard made it so 

easy for me to progress in the sport.” 

Willard’s teaching reputation is no 

mystery in the Capital-Saratoga Region. In 

the afternoons, its parking lot is filled with 

school buses from around the area, bringing 

in kids for afterschool ski programs. But 

what is it that turns these kids into such great 

skiers? Everyone will tell you that it’s the 

STAR Program, their progressive program 

for five to 12-year-olds. Participants commit 

to 14 Saturdays, and two holiday weeks, and 

can’t move into more advanced programs 

before completing designated tasks in each 

STAR level. After this, they can go on to the 

Mountain Masters and All Mountain programs, 

and the freestyle and race teams. 

When Dave Vanderzee, Chet Hack, and 

Joe McGrath looked at what was originally a 

farm, and started cutting trails and a lift-line 

for a rope tow in 1954, they couldn’t have 

envisioned what Willard has become today. 

With two chair lifts, multiple learning tows, 

a tubing park, 16 trails, and a welcoming 

lodge, complete with rental shop, cafeteria, 

and bar and restaurant, it’s a place where 

families spend many of their winter hours. 

Like their parents before them, the youngest 

ones may start in the Little Colonel group 

program at four, before moving on to STAR. 

Sometimes exceptions are made for age if 

kids are really ready. “If the parents are skiers, 

the kids will be skiers. My twins started at 

two-and-a-half!” said Maryann. According 

to Chic, these lessons almost always sell out. 

The Wilsons are responsible for much 

of what you see at Willard Mountain today. 

Their greatest joys, though, seem to be 

watching people of all ages learn to love 

skiing, sharing stories with everyone there, 

and taking tremendous pride in what the 

Willard teams have accomplished over the 

years. Chic recalled how, after one competition, 

the kids continued to ski until things 

shut down for the night. That’s just one small 

sign of the special feelings that so many have 

for this very special place! Learn more at willardmountain.com. 

Linda Waxman Finkle (lwf518@gmail. 

com) is a writer, kayaking instructor, and 

event coordinator in Albany. She also 

enjoys hiking and cycling, and learning 

something new each day. 

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BICYCLING 


Winter 

By Dave Kraus 

It doesn’t take a professional meteorologist 

to see that the traditional cycling 

season is over in upstate New York. 

The golds and reds of autumn have turned 

brown and the mercury is plunging. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still 

pedal your way to cardio fitness, or hold 

onto those gains you’ve made with the bike 

you bought, or the one you pulled out of 

the basement to cope with Covid lockdown 

induced stress. There are still plenty of 

options to ride outdoors, at home, or at the 

gym with others or by yourself. Let’s take a 

look at some of them. 

Keep riding outdoors. Yes, it can get 

cold and dark and messy. But there are still 

plenty of ways to take your ride outside. 

Ride the bike you already have with proper 

preparation and clothing. For tips on how to 

do that, see our story in the October issue 

at adksports.com/2020-10-bicycling. Keep 

in mind that safety and visibility are more 

important in the winter months with more 

hours of darkness and drivers who may not 

be expecting to see cyclists on the road. 

There’s no such thing as too many lights or 

too much reflective clothing when riding 

outdoors in winter. 

Fat biking can also be a great way to enjoy 

the outdoors in the cold season. A “fat” bike 

is a mountain bike with tires at least 3.5” 

wide. The huge, low-pressure tires let you 

“float” over the snow, mud, sand and many 

obstacles. 

Want to try it out without buying a bike? 

Grey Ghost Bicycles in Glens Falls and High 

Peaks Cyclery in Lake Placid offer fat bike 

rentals and can give you advice on where to 

go for a great ride. Or attend one of the fat 

bike events in the Capital Region. Gurney 

Lane Snowshoe & Fat Bike Day at the Gurney 

Lane Trails in Queensbury is scheduled the 

weekend of January 23-24 (@churneygurney 

on Facebook). The Saratoga Fat Bike Rally in 

Saratoga Spa State Park is still in the planning 

stages, but usually takes place in early February 

(@saratogafatbikerally on Facebook). 

Do your pedaling indoors at the gym. 

This popular option is still available at the 

YMCAs, fitness clubs and other facilities, 

both with “spinning” type bikes in classes, 

or more traditional upright bikes that let you 

pedal, but don’t offer a cycling experience 

that is equally realistic. Keep in mind that 

many classes have gone to virtual options, 

and in-person classes are socially distanced 

and have reduced capacity, making it 

important to reserve your spot early. Check 

with your local fitness facility for details and 

remember that Covid conditions can lead to 

sudden changes in class availability. 

Riding Options 

Pedal indoors at home. It’s warm. 

It’s dry. No mask. Jump right off the bike 

and into the shower. What’s not to like? 

Unfortunately, not everybody has the 

self-discipline to get on a bike in the basement 

and pedal hard for an hour when 

there’s laundry to be done, Facebook a click 

away, or cold beer in the fridge. 

The good news is that there are more 

ways than ever to bring the cycling experience 

into your home with the realism to 

keep you working out, improving fitness, 

and even “ride” and talk with your friends 

while doing it. 

The easiest way is with one of the several 

types of “dumb” cycling trainers that don’t 

require a computer hookup or subscription 

fees. Buy the trainer, put your bike on 

it, and pedal away. You will probably also 

want a fan to keep you cool, a block to put 

under your front wheel, and a mat to keep 

the sweat from reaching the floor, but those 

are the basics. 

The simplest and cheapest kind is a 

wheel-on trainer that attaches directly to 

your rear wheel. A roller presses against the 

rear tire to provide resistance produced by a 

small fan (noisy), magnets (less noisy), or a 

fan inside a fluid filled chamber (generally 

the quietest). You have to supply your own 

entertainment via TV or music, and you may 

need a new rear tire when spring arrives. 

On a direct drive trainer, you remove 

the rear wheel and mount your bike on the 

trainer that has gears replacing the ones on 

your bike. This type generally a more realistic 

experience and doesn’t wear out your 

wheel or tire. Smart trainers range from sub- 

$500 to $1000-plus. Visit your local bike shop 

for recommendations and support them by 

buying local. 

Also available, but less often used 

except by advanced cyclists, are rollers. 

The bike is not attached at all so it’s most 

like riding outside. You literally ride the 

bike on rotating tubes that are mounted 

to a frame sitting on the floor. It’s like 

a treadmill for your bike. Rollers help you 

develop balance, coordination and cardio 

fitness, especially if you use a resistance fan 

– that can also cool you. For safety, it’s best 

to place them in a doorway, near a wall or 

railing, or have raised steps on either side of 

you. Our publisher has been using upsidedown 

milkcrates for years. 

Many of these training devices can be 

turned into “smart” trainers that provide 

online or app connectivity that lets you read 

and record data such as speed, rpm, heart 

rate and more. There are a large variety of 

options in both how to read and view the performance 

data. Some have direct displays, 

while others connect to smart phone apps. 

Some manufacturers offer both “dumb” and 

“smart” versions of the same trainer and yes, 

the smart trainer will cost more in order to 

get the extra electronic features. Are they 

worth it? Only you can decide what’s right 

for your fitness needs after looking at the 

wide variety of manufacturers, features and 

price points. 

You can also take your own bike, plus 

one of these trainers with a minimum level 

of smart features and use them with an 

online, interactive training and racing platform 

such as Zwift, which is currently the 

most popular of the 20 different apps. Zwift 

offers users the ability to ride on the roads of 

eight different virtual worlds via an avatar. 

There’s also the option of racing or just riding, 

plus sharing the course with every other 

Zwift user, or in a “meetup” with a group of 

your friends who are also riding at the same 

time. There are also “pace partners” – virtual 

bots that ride at a predetermined pace 

at different times of day so you can ride 

with someone, but not in a group. A Zwift 

account costs $14.99 per month, in addition 

to the cost of whatever smart trainer hardware 

you elect to use. 

The next step up the ladder of features, 

complexity – and cost – are specially-built 

◀ 2020 SARATOGA FAT BIKE RALLY. 

BOB RAINVILLE/FOCAL BLUE PHOTOGRAPHY 

▲ DARREN FRIOT AND EDWARD 

ROSENBERG, BOTH OF GLENVILLE, ON A 

RECENT 40-DEGREE DAY. ED SAYS “I’LL RIDE 

OUTSIDE ALL WINTER AS LONG AS 

THE ROADS ARE DRY.” DAVE KRAUS 

◀ DOUG GOGLIA OF HALFMOON 

WITH HIS TRAINING SETUP THAT 

INCLUDES A COMPUTRAINER, 

FAN, AND LAPTOP FOR ZWIFT. 

DAVE KRAUS / KRAUSGRAFIK.COM 

◀ SCREEN SHOT 

OF A TYPICAL 

ZWIFT RIDE. 

ZWIFT 

indoor home bikes, such as the Peloton or 

alternatives such as NordicTrack, Echelon 

or MYX Fitness, that are designed to duplicate 

the experience of a live indoor cycling 

class. Bikes from Bowflex or Schwinn can 

link up the fitness app of your choosing 

(Peloton, Zwift or others). The Peloton is 

a high-end indoor bicycle with an integral 

Wi-Fi-enabled, 22-inch touchscreen tablet 

that streams live and on-demand classes. 

You can compete with other participants, 

comparing your total wattage produced 

with theirs, and get a cardio workout in the 

process. 

The Peloton is not cheap, with a price 

tag starting at $1,895 for the bike, and the 

required $39 per month subscription cost 

to participate in unlimited cycling and fitness 

classes. Some alternatives are half the 

price, but with over 550,000 Pelotons sold, 

its popularity in undeniable. But again, only 

you can decide if your fitness is worth the 

investment. 

Dave Kraus (dbkgrafik@gmail) is a 

longtime area cyclist, photographer, and 

writer who is always looking for new, 

interesting ways to experience the outdoors 

in upstate New York. Visit his website at 

KrausGrafik.com.


Your Journey Home 

begins with Beth Gryzboski 

✔ Selling and buying single family homes 

✔ Homes in transition: divorce, downsizing, 

estates, relocations 

✔ Preparing home improvement plans for 

selling your home 

✔ Social media sales strategies executed to 

sell homes to today’s tech savvy buyers 

Beth Gryzboski, 

MBA 

Associate Broker 

Accredited Buyer Representative 

Senior Real Estate Specialist 

Your resident realtor ® proud to call Clifton Park “home!” 

www.GoSeeBethG.com | 518-877-5929 | GoSeeBethG@kw.com 

Snowshoe racing season is here! 

Get the best & the lightest! 

Put Off Your Invasive Knee Surgery, Not Your Vacation. 

Put Off Your Invasive Knee Surgery, Not Your Vacation. 

I refused to let my chronic knee symptoms spoil the trip we’ve been planning 

all year. So when an MRI showed a bone defect - also known as a bone marrow 

I lesion refused - in the to let bone my near chronic my knee, my symptoms doctor recommended spoil the trip The we’ve Subchondroplasty been planning 

® 

all Procedure. year. So when This minimally-invasive an MRI showed a bone surgery defect fills these - also defects known as with a bone a biomimetic marrow 

lesion bone substitute - in the bone that near is my replaced knee, my with doctor new recommended bone during The the Subchondroplasty healing process. 

® 

Procedure. Best part? Back This minimally-invasive on my feet time surgery to explore fills these Grand defects Canyon. with a biomimetic 

bone substitute that is replaced with new bone during the healing process. 

Best Visit part? subchondroplasty.com Back my feet in time to explore to learn the Grand more Canyon. about The Subchondroplasty ® Procedure 

and find a surgeon in your area. 

Visit subchondroplasty.com to learn more about The Subchondroplasty ® Procedure 

and find a surgeon in your area. 

As with every surgical procedure, there are risks and potential complications. Individual results will vary. 

As with Success every surgical depends procedure, on there factors are risks such and potential as age, complications. weight and Individual activity results level. will vary. Only Success your depends health on care factors team such as can age, deter- 

weight and 

activity level. Only your health care team can determine if you are healthy enough for surgery. Consult your doctor for a complete assessment of possible before 

mine if are healthy enough for surgery. Consult your doctor for a complete assessment of possible risks 

deciding to have surgery. See the package insert on subchondroplasty.com for full information. 

before deciding to have surgery. See the package insert on subchondroplasty.com for full information. 

As with every surgical procedure, there are risks and potential complications. Individual results will vary. Success depends on factors such as age, weight and 

activity level. Only your health care team can determine if you are healthy enough for surgery. Consult your doctor for a complete assessment of possible risks before 

deciding to have surgery. See the package insert on subchondroplasty.com for full information. 

2020virtual 

Copyright © 2016 Zimmer Knee Creations, Inc. 

903.126 Rev A 

Copyright © 2016 Zimmer Knee Creations, Inc. 

903.126 Rev A 

Featuring Real-Time 

Remote Racing ! 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! 

For more information and to register, visit 

TroyTurkeyTrot.com 

PRESENTED 

BY 

Keep the Proud Annual Tradition Alive! 

Sign up today for the 2020 virtual edition of the Troy Turkey Trot, 

the nation’s 12th oldest road race. 

This year’s Trot will feature four virtual events (5K, 10K, Turkey Walk 

and Grade School Mile) using our custom Troy Turkey Trot app, which allows 

families and friends to run “together” regardless of where they live. 

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 

9 Multiple registration price points 

9 Run real time at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving morning or anytime through 

Saturday, Nov. 28 at 11 p.m. to be included in event results 

9 Awards for families, individuals and teams 

9 A virtual costume contest with prizes for “Best Thanksgiving Day Costume” 

and “Best Non-Thanksgiving Costume” 

9 Commemorative face masks, t-shirts and hoodies as event giveaways 

9 Fundraising for Regional Food Bank of NENY and Joseph’s House & Shelter 

(Both have experienced a tremendous increase in requests for their services) 

TTT-1001-ASF-HalfPage-Horiz.indd 1 

10/26/20 1:56 PM

RUN, WALK & SNOWSHOE 


Best Bets 

for Winter Running 

By John Williams-Searle 

TRIGGER POINT MASSAGE 

BALLS, FOAM ROLLERS, 

PERCUSSION MASSAGER, 

ROLL RECOVERY R8, AND 

ADDADAY C STICK ROLLER. 

MUSTAFA ABDULHUSIN WEARS 

SAUCONY’S DRIZZLE JACKET. 

It’s important this winter to head outdoors 

to exercise, and when you’re 

properly outfitted, it’s safer and more 

enjoyable! This is a great time to acquire the 

gear you need to navigate the cold-weather 

conditions, and with the holidays coming 

up they’re great holiday gifts that support 

our locally-owned businesses – especially 

those that advertise in Adirondack Sports! If 

you are new to the sport of running, or even 

if you have been doing it for years, there are 

several considerations to keep in mind to 

make yourself more comfortable while running, 

walking or snowshoeing. 

CRAFT FUSEKNIT AND MIZUNO 

BREATH THERMO BASE LAYERS. 

First, you’ll need a comfortable base 

layer that fits snugly and wicks moisture to 

keep you dry. The Fleet Feet stores in Albany 

and Malta have several technical base layers 

to keep you comfortable. The Craft Fuseknit 

Comfort layer is seamless for superior comfort 

and is body mapped to provide warmth 

and breathability where you need it. Mizuno 

makes a base layer that incorporates their 

Breath Thermo technology for increased 

comfort. Breath Thermo uses a fiber that 

captures vapor molecules and converts 

them to heat. This means that you’ll stay 

warm, rather than get chilled as you sweat 

in colder conditions. 

CRAFT’S CORE GAIN MID- 

LAYER, SAUCONY RAMBLE 

LONG-SLEEVE, AND NEW 

BALANCE IMPACT RUN 

GRID HALF-ZIP. 

ERIC YOUNG IN THE SUGOI 

FIREWALL 180 JACKET. 

Zip features NB Heat grid fleece that helps 

warm captured air between layers and effectively 

wicks moisture. Saucony uses an ideal 

blend of 91% recycled polyester and 9% soft 

merino wool in their versatile Ramble longsleeve 

shirt. The Jacquard fabric allows this 

shirt to function as a base layer, as well as 

a fashionable wear around town shirt. Craft 

provides an 80/20 blend of poly to wool in 

their SUBZ long-sleeve if you require a bit 

more warmth. 

When the weather gets wet, windy and 

even colder, it’s time for a great running 

jacket. Saucony has released their Drizzle 

Jacket which is waterproof, yet breathable. 

Saucony is all about useful details, such as 

taped zipper seams and waterproof front 

pockets. If you need more warmth, check out 

Craft’s SUBZ Jacket, which dispenses with 

stitching in favor of heat bonding to preserve 

warmth. Do you foresee even colder 

conditions? Sugoi makes a premium jacket, 

the Firewall 180, which incorporates a lightweight 

thermal knit laminate for maximum 

wind and rain protection. It also looks great. 

MIZUNO RUNNING 

HATS, CRAFT 

HEADBANDS 

AND SAUCONY 

ULTI-MITT GLOVES. 

tight. Look for 

soft fleece interiors for more warmth. 

Remember, when dressing for cold 

weather, make sure that you dress for 10-20 

degrees warmer than what the outside thermometer 

reads. Why this discrepancy? As 

you run, you will warm up. If you feel comfortable 

when you start, you might overheat, 

get sweaty, and experience some chilling (as 

this excess moisture gets cold or freezes) that 

could lead to hypothermia. By starting out 

slightly cooler, you shouldn’t warm up too 

much, and will avoid overheating and generating 

excess moisture. It’s all about staying 

dry. Luckily, by dressing in layers and using 

technical materials designed to wick moisture, 

you will stay dry and comfortable. 

Great gifts for runners and walkers are 

hats and gloves. Saucony makes a wonderful 

glove-mitten hybrid called the Ulti-Mitt 

that allows you to convert to a glove when 

your fingers get warm as you run. Craft has 

a similar design, but they ramp up the visibility 

by making the mitt element extremely 

reflective. As it gets colder it also gets darker. 

Nathan has you covered with an entire line 

of visibility products, including gloves. 

quads, hamstrings, calves, shins, gluteus, 

arms and more, and it self-adjusts for different 

body sizes. This is a compact and powerful 

massager that you can take anywhere. 

We also have traditional foam rollers and 

Trigger Point balls for rolling out persistent 

adhesions. If you want to take your massage 

up to the next level this season and are looking 

for a fantastic gift, check out the new 

percussion massagers. These do all the work 

for you and get deep into muscle tissue for 

wonderful relief. We carry the Trigger Point 

Percussion Massager, as well as Hyperice’s 

Hypervolt. 

AFTERSHOKZ 

HEADPHONES. 

Technology for runners and walkers 

always makes a great gift. We have entry level 

Garmin watches, such as the Forerunner 45, 

that will provide information on pace, distance 

and time. If you want more features, 

try the feature-packed Garmin Forerunner 

245. All of these watches have wrist-based 

heart rate monitors to help keep you in your 

“zones.” Finally, if you are looking for a safe 

way to listen to music as you run, look no further 

than headphones by Aftershoks. These 

allow you to be aware of your surroundings 

by using bone-conduction technology 

– there is nothing actually in your ear – to 

convey sound. They are also impervious to 

moisture so you can confidently wear them 

in all types of conditions. 

This is a great time of year to make a trip 

to Fleet Feet. We have the necessary gear to 

keep you safe and comfortable as you tackle 

more adverse outside conditions – and holiday 

gift ideas for the runners and walkers 

in your life. Remember, as well, that if you 

buy a pair of footwear, you receive 15% off of 

any regularly-priced piece of apparel. If the 

brand of apparel is the same as the footwear 

you can take 20% off the apparel price. We 

want you, your family and friends to be wellequipped 

this winter! 

The next layer, depending on the conditions, 

should be a long-sleeve technical 

running shirt or quarter-zip. These apparel 

items are some of the most versatile pieces 

that you can have in your wardrobe. They 

perform in the outdoors, look great for 

casual wear, and make fantastic gifts. They 

fit more loosely to provide a layer of air that 

will insulate you from colder conditions. 

Craft’s Core Gain mid layer has brushed 

fleece inside to keep you comfortable. 

New Balance’s Impact Run Grid Back Half 

RUNNING TIGHTS 

BY SAUCONY, 

NEW BALANCE, 

NIKE AND SUGOI. 

We have your torso covered, but remember 

bottoms. Nylon wind pants and sweats 

are pretty much a thing of the past. Now, 

running in the cold is all about tights on 

your legs. Every apparel brand makes a great 

NATHAN CLIP-ON LIGHTS 

AND ZEPHYR TRAIL 

RUNNERS’ FLASHLIGHT. 

Safety accessories such as rechargeable 

clip-on lights (new to Fleet Feet this year), 

reflective vests, and headlamps make useful 

gifts for the runners and walkers in your life. 

It’s important to keep flexible and limber 

to avoid injury when it gets cold. We have 

all types of massage products to help you 

address sore muscles. The Roll Recovery 

R8 deep tissue massager targets IT-bands, 

John Williams-Searle is the marketing 

director and assistant manager at the 

Albany location of Fleet Feet Albany & 

Malta. He misses non-virtual racing, but 

has reacquainted himself over the past 

months with the joy of just running. 

PERFORMANCE SOCKS FROM 

BALEGA, FEETURES, SAUCONY, 

INJINJI AND SMARTWOOL.


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Family owned/operated for 41 years

Adirondack Sports November 2020

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