Cycling Along the River Run in South Glens Falls
On Saturday, I rose early for a race, though not to run but volunteer. Last week, I signed up to be bike support for the Common Root’s River Run for the Roots 5K, helping to bookend the race entrants in the back. Given the race’s proximity to our home, I cycled from Feeder Bend, through the Feeder Canal Trail and Betar Byway, to Common Roots Brewing Company in South Glens Falls, New York. The weather was brisk and windy though warming rapidly in the afternoon; a sign that autumn is upon us.
When I arrived at nine o’clock in the morning, there was already a crowd of runners and volunteers outside Common Roots Bierhall, a fairly new facility across from their flagship building. It is open every day in the morning, serving coffee, breakfast, and tea, featuring a large room with tables, benches, and a fireplace. In the evenings, it has featured wedding receptions, business meetings, and large celebrations for the community. I procured a cup of their single-origin, Guatemalan dark roast coffee as I ventured back outside to check-in with one of the volunteer coordinators, Melanie Weber.
Melanie is the wife of Christian Weber, who co-owns Commons Roots with his father, Bert. The company began in 2014 and has grown to a gargantuan enterprise, with two locations in the Capital Region and their beer distributed to multiple states. I first learned about them when I moved into the area in 2017, eventually joining their cycling group, Gears and Beers. When I saw Christian in the crowd, I relayed a memory from 2018 when he helped guide me through a group ride, as I had been slow to keep up the pace.
Even though the company has grown in size, the local community focus remains strong. In fact, since their devasting building fire in 2019, Christian and Bert have created the Common Roots Foundation, which has raised and donated over $250,000 to incredible organizations in the area. One of the beneficiaries is the Wait House, whom I talked about from my last post at a local event, but there are dozens more beneficiaries. Along with the race entry, there were gift baskets for raffle, featuring coffee beans, beer packs, and wine bottles, that support the Common Roots Foundation.
Once I snagged a complimentary shirt, beer ticket, and high-visibility vest from Melanie and confirmed my spot as the bike support sweeper, I found Tyler Truax, who I had known from the Glens Falls Run Club a few years ago. He has since moved to Vermont, but I learned that he had a nearly ten-month newborn. After reconnecting, Tyler ventured off for a warmup run, and I ventured over to the Fountain Square Outfitters table manned by Matt Fuller and Keenan Brennan. They had dozens of shoes from a supplier for prospective runners the opportunity to try new shoes for the race.
After chatting with Matt about the pending construction on their second store at the Lake George Outlets, I noticed Michael Ventimiglia at the registration table, sweat dripping from his shirt. He had run from his home in Queensbury to the race. Less than a week ago, he completed the Adirondack Marathon by Schroon Lake. His running prowess is legendary, as another friend, Raymond Ruby, had commented about Michael’s non-stop energy on social media. Michael told me that after the marathon, he had to sit down for ten minutes and found it difficult to get up afterward. But the next day, he loosened up his muscles by cycling for a long, 29-mile ride. As Raymond eloquently stated online, “hashtag stud".
Speaking of Raymond, I caught up with him and his wife when I walked back inside the bierhall. He is tentatively nervous and excited about running at the Mohawk Half-Marathon next Sunday. My neighbor, Carissa O’Rourke, is also training for the event. I have run with her during a training session a few weeks ago as well as showing her the incredible work the city has done completing the new Pruyn’s Path. Checking my watch, the time was nearly ten o’clock, so we all started to walk toward the starting line in the parking lot. I put on my bike helmet and walked with my bike toward the back of the crowd.
I recognized two women sporting strollers, and repping Run Mom Run pink shirts, that I had met at the Glens Falls Collaborative’s Fit Fest. Their local franchise of FIT4MOM had been holding training runs leading up to this race as well as offering fitness classes for all stages of motherhood. Their young kids looked excited, eyes wide open at the crowd in front of them, as they sat in the strollers. The sea of pink shirts was certainly an inspiration for all spectating mothers.
With a shout from the race organizer, the race began and everyone marched forward, as I kicked my bike into gear. The course began behind and around the Village of South Glens Falls administration building before turning north on Saratoga Road. Passing by the town cemetery, the pace picked up speed, as cars whisked by on the busy road, eventually turning left onto Newton Street. The building on the left had been the temporary location of Common Roots after the tragic building fire back in 2019.
After a speeding downhill on Newton Street, the course zigzagged through the neighborhood on Fairview, Riverview, Second, and Grant Streets before circling toward the beginning of the Betar Byway. I saw Kathy Pfeiffer directing runners on one of the roads, where she snapped some pictures and picked up cones as I passed.
The paved trail features a 3.4-mile course along the Hudson River and leads to Sandbar Beach. The beach sits directly across the river in South Glens Falls from Haviland’s Cove in Glens Falls. As I rode along, I stopped at various points to pick up trash, feeling proud to keep up my streak of cleaning up the neighborhood. Since May, I have picked up over one hundreds bag of trash as well as inspired many others to help.
At the halfway mark, a runner named Javid Seecharran, who recruited his coworkers from the Saratoga Eagle Beverage Distribution to participate in the run, had slowed his pace considerably. He said that he was experiencing painful cramping and needed to slow to a walk. We kept each other company, moving steadily through the course. I learned that he lived in Albany and was the lead night shift warehouse selector at the company. As we neared the South Glens Falls Water Treatment Plant, runners up ahead were ascending the steep hill toward the main road.
Once we made it to the top, we recovered our breath from the steep incline as the course veered right toward a forested path. It led to a short out-and-back, with obscured views of the Hudson River through the trees. When we exited the forest, the South Glens Falls Department of Public Works building glowed in the morning sun, with lots of heavy-duty trucks parked outside. The course veered north onto the main road, passing by a variety of buildings like O’Reily’s Auto Parts, Dollar General, Giavano’s Pizzeria, Dunkin’, and Saint Michael’s Church. The flags and cones by Common Roots were getting closer as Javid and I picked up speed.
Turning into the parking light, the finish line banner and time clock were up ahead along with a cheering crowd. I parked my bike close by, cheering on Javid and depositing my full trash bag into a trashcan. Near the finish, I chatted briefly with Christian Weber, asking about his experience as a father of three boys. He said that it has been an adventure and that he wouldn’t have it any other way, as he helped clean up the finish line.
The after party was in full swing outside the biergarten with a table full of finisher mugs for age winners and raffle gift baskets. I chatted with Mark Sager and Lee Pollock of the Adirondack Runners. I told Lee that I would be open to volunteer at the Glens Falls Goblin Gallop 5K that was coming up on October 25th, noting that I was going to attend the October Adirondack Runners monthly meeting on Wednesday. Nearby, I found Michael Ventimiglia, Tyler Truax, and Raymond Ruby, enjoying some refreshing beers and sitting on the red, Adirondack chairs by a firepit. I learned that Michael and Tyler finished in first and second place, with Michael’s time averaging a blisteringly fast six-minute mile pace.
During the award ceremony, Michael and Tyler received beautifully crafted mugs and a gift card to the brewery. Raymond had also secured an award for third place in his age group. Once all the mugs and gift baskets were handed out, I wished everyone congratulations again and started riding my bike back home. Later in the afternoon, I attended a Glens Falls Democrats fundraiser at Beamer’s Pub, watched the first playoff game between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, and enjoyed a horror film at Jade Eddy’s backyard movie theater.
The first weekend of October was chalk full of other local races as well. Up north, Anna, Alex, Travis, Heather, and a host of other runners from the Glens Falls Run Club triumphantly finished the Lake George Land Conservatory’s Amy’s Adventure Race for the Lake. I have participated in that race in past years, and I can attest to the grueling, 4.5-mile trail that features intense inclines. Westward in Hartford, New York, some members of the Adirondack Runners competed in Spud Run 5K, which features “rolling hills and scenic views of Hartford” and supports the graduating class of the town’s high school. The following week, Carissa O’Rourke and Raymond Rub will be competing at the Mohawk Hudson River Half-Marathon.
The cool weather of autumn elicits many traditions and local running competitions is among them. Wherever you race this month, remember to enjoy the moment, feel the energy, and conquer the course with pride, no matter the outcome. Whether you run, walk, bike, or roll, enjoy the cool, brisk autumn air and the community around you.
The Common Roots River Run for the Roots 5K encompasses the spirit of community with a worthwhile cause. I highly recommend running next year, though the race might be scheduled during its original date in June. It had moved to October this year due to National Grid construction work along the Betar Byway. I’ll see you on the trails!
