So I am new to the area (just began my freshman year at Skidmore) and I am looking for people to train with. Are there any recommended groups up here that I should check out? I am a fairly competitive racer, i.e. FOP at most races, just did IMNYC ect. I have been exploring the roads up here, but I would love to learn some of the better routes. Any training advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Aaron
Cycling:
http://www.blueskybicycles.com/community/events.asp
http://webmhcc.org/rn/index.php
http://cbrc.cc/
Running:
http://www.hmrrc.com/...cfm?method=Main.Home\
www.saratogastryders.org/
www.albanyrunningexchange.org/
Between these groups and their connections you can find group runs/rides are pretty much any pace you need. How’d the ADK marathon go?
You can also check out / connect with the Adirondack Triathlon Club - good group of athletes (“peeps”) to connect with:
They’re just up the road a few exits from you (Queensbury / Glens Falls / Lake George & surrounding areas).
Enjoy !
My wife is a Skiddy-Kiddy, class of 83. When did they go co-ed (or are you a girl with a boy name)?
30 years ago the place to go run (and do other things) was up Clinton going North. After you left the college grounds it became a dirt road with various fire roads crossing. There was another dirt road up there (Daniels or Braum maybe) that went out to the Boy Scout camp. Very challenging run. Very empty and secluded.
Neither of us have been up there in 25 years so those may not exist anymore, or knowing that area, are now big fancy housing areas.
That’s all paved now, but skidmore has stables at the corner of Daniels and Clinton. There are lots of trails to run behind there which are pretty techinical
I’m sure this is obvious. But it’s very nice to run in Spa park
There is the saratoga triathlon club.
http://www.saratogatriclub.com/open-water-swims/
there’s a ton of good riding. i’d check out strava. riding up to Lake Desolation is a pretty good climb and should be fairly convenient for you. Most of the big hills are going to be in the direction of Desolation/Sacandaga. You also have great mountain bike trails off daniels road. you have to be a member of SMBA (or you’re supposed to be). http://saratogamtb.org/
there’s lots of good racing in the area. you can have a pretty full summer without driving more than 90’ minutes or so…depending on what distance races you’re looking for. American Zofingen duathlon, North Country Triathlon, Tupper Lake, Hudson Crossing, Pine Bush Tri, Anyone-Can-tri, Grafton Lakes Xterra, Crystal Lake Triathlon, Fronhoffer Tri, Lake George Tri. There’s some spring and summer duathlons as well…i think a couple right in saratoga.
there’s also some small event in Lake Placid every summer from what i hear 
Awesome. Thanks for all the info. My one issue with many of these groups is that I don’t have a car and therefore need meet-ups that are within a bikeable distance from campus without showing up for the actual workout shot.
And thanks for asking about the marathon, but unfortunately I didn’t race because I wasn’t able to get a ride up there (the downfall of not having a car).
Thanks for the info! I don’t have a car though so may not be possible…
Very cool regarding your wife. I am a guy. The campus has been co-ed for I believe 20+ years.
I have done a ton of rides/runs on the roads that you mentioned, albeit now they are nicely paved! Indeed there are plenty of gorgeous homes up here.
I did a run on those trails last week and had a blast. Felt like I could run forever back there! They are actually owned by Skidmore now because of a donation.
I did the Palio Half Marathon that goes through Spa. Really nice. Thanks!
I contacted the Saratoga Tri group and haven’t heard back yet. Maybe its worth me sending another message.
I did the ride up to Lake Desolation last week. Wow! Great road/climb. Totally not what I am used to coming from Long Island.
Didn’t realize how many races were up this way! I’ll start checking them out as I begin to plan for next season.
I did the ride up to Lake Desolation last week. Wow! Great road/climb. Totally not what I am used to coming from Long Island.
On the topics of bigger climbs, here’s a list of my favorites w/in riding distance of skidmore
Antioch Road (http://goo.gl/maps/BUlRw) Start at south end and ride up towards Lake Nancy
W. Mountain Road (http://goo.gl/maps/ATfQ1) Start in Corinth and ride to Sacanadaga
Corinth Mountain Road (http://goo.gl/maps/j9Iwm) from from 9 up over and along the river. You may end up walking some of it. The climb out on spire falls road back to 9 road is also legit back.
and because I think you’re cool here’s a link to some awesome rides in saratoga (I’ve done most of them and they are all nice)
http://home.roadrunner.com/~bcurtiss/nw-saratogacountyrides.htm Bruce also has some great fast pace group rides
Too bad about the marathon but I head that half is a nice race.
Wow! Thanks a ton for all of the rides. I look forward to trying all of the roads out over the next few weeks. I rode Corinth mtn road this past weekend after randomly stumbling across it. Wow was it steep, but I didn’t walk any of it!
I contacted the Saratoga Tri group and haven’t heard back yet. Maybe its worth me sending another message.
I did the ride up to Lake Desolation last week. Wow! Great road/climb. Totally not what I am used to coming from Long Island.
Didn’t realize how many races were up this way! I’ll start checking them out as I begin to plan for next season.
BTW - we’ve changed the name of Lake Desolation (which sounds so completely badass) to Lake Hello Kitty.
Just thought that, as a newly minted local, you should know this. Makes it sound a lot less intimidating, no?
Haha. I can’t wait to once again CONQUER THE HELLO KITTY :))