Adirondack Sports December 2023

RUNNING & WALKING
Winter Races
By Mona Kulkarni Caron
Winter running in the Northeast can be
tough and training can get sidelined
by the shorter days, holiday frenzy, smaller
race calendar, then add weather and/
or road conditions, and you have the right
combination for losing your momentum.
While the temperatures hover around
freezing and your regular running routes
are covered in snow and ice, it’s understandable
to not be excited about getting
out for a run or getting on the treadmill. If
you want to run well in the spring, you need
to do some running over the winter. Register
for a few races this winter to stay motivated,
have fun with others, and maintain or
build a base. Consider changing it up with
a few snowshoeing races this winter. See the
Calendar of Events for a full schedule.
Here are a few events this month and
over the holidays to get you through to 2024.
Snowshoeing is a fun way to play in
the snow and get a great workout. One
of the first races of the season is the Gore
Mountain Snowshoe Race on Sunday,
Dec. 17 at the Gore Mountain Nordic
HANGOVER HALF MARATHON 2023. HMRRC
Center (Ski Bowl) in North Creek. The
start time is 2pm and registration at the Ski
Bowl Lodge. The 5K timed race will be two
2.5K laps on the groomed trails and the
untimed fun run/walk/hike is one 2.5K
lap. The course will depend on conditions:
natural or manmade snow or a mix. Great
prizes are given to the top finishers plus all
participants will be entered into the raffle
prize drawings. Dion Snowshoes will be
available to rent for $5 a pair but only a
limited number will be available so arrive
early! Learn more: goremountain.com/
nordic-center-events.
The Hudson Mohawk Road Runners
Club kicks off their Winter Series with
Race #1 on Sunday, Dec. 10 with a threemile
and 15K race. The series runs every
other Sunday (except on Monday, January
2023 SARATOGA FIRST DAY 5K. TIMES UNION
1) through Feb. 11 at the University at
Albany’s Physical Education building.
The series offers a casual atmosphere
around the campus and outer loops of
the Harriman Office Campus. Each race in
the series has two or three distances from
which to choose. The long runs are great
for spring marathon and half marathon
training, and camaraderie of the hearty
group of winter runners.
Races are free for HMRRC members
and $5 for non-members – a good incentive
to join the club! If you race and/or
volunteer for all five in the series, you’ll
receive Survivor status. Awards are given
to age group winners and runners-up
and cookies and hot beverages are served
afterwards. On New Year’s Day, Race #2 in
the series is the Hangover Half Marathon
DECEMBER 2023 29
& Bill Hogan 3.5 Miler. It starts at 12pm
so you can watch the ball drop the night
before, and still get a good night’s sleep!
Sign up: hmrrc.com.
The second annual Saratoga First
Day 5K Run/Walk is back with a family-friendly
New Year’s run or walk in
downtown Saratoga Springs. This 3.1-mile
loop is similar to the Firecracker 4 route
and starts at 11am. Runners start at the
Saratoga Springs City Center on Broadway
and quickly turn onto Lake Avenue for
the first three-quarters of a mile. With a
turn onto Patricia Lane, the route quickly
follows the Firecracker 4 course with a
trek on the Spring Run Trail (if conditions
are safe). Pre- and post-race atmosphere
keeps the holiday festivities going when
you have family, friends and the running
community gathered for the first day of
the year. Register: zippyreg.com.
The goal: striding into your personal
success in 2024!
Mona Kulkarni Caron is a consulting
editor of Adirondack Sports, race director
of the Good Karma 5K, and a program
manager for the NYS Canalway Water Trail
at the Erie Canalway National Heritage
Corridor. She enjoys running, bicycling,
paddling and all outdoor activities.
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