Race to the Lakes: A Reflection on the Journey

CORRECTION: On a recent group run with the Adirondack Runners, Christine alluded to me that the Race to the Lakes 7-Miler only started in 2018. There was a race that preceded it, called the Adirondack Distance Race, which stretched ten miles. I found a review of the race from 2012 from Laura; her review was beautifully thorough if anyone is interested in reading.

On Saturday, I rose from my slumber in the early morning to prepare to head over to Queensbury for a local race. Race to the Lakes, as it is known, has been around for decades [CORRECTION ABOVE], though as I learned, the course had changed since its inception. While the race this year is seven miles, spanning the distance from SUNY Adirondack to the Lake George Battlefield, it had been slightly longer at over nine miles. That extra distance encompassed a steeper incline, so I am happy that the current course omits that section.

After eating a light breakfast, getting dressed, and lacing up my running shoes, I drove to the finish line in Lake George, where I had been tasked to pick up two runners helping with the race setup. Since the course does not circle back to the start, it creates logistical challenges for ensuring runners and volunteers are able have transportation after the race. While the race director, Jane Labombard, ensured that there were buses at the finish line to bring people back to SUNY Adirondack at the end, race day setup volunteers needed transportation back prior to the start of the race. I was one of the volunteers to help with that endeavor.

When all of us arrived at the college, we headed to the registration tables to retrieve our race bibs. I was delighted to see lovingly crafted chalk on the sidewalks, as all of us walked to the start afterward. The chalked writing provided directions, motivational messages, and even volunteer standing spots. One of the motivational messages included colored bubbled letters that spelled out, “the world needs you”. I teared up as I walked by, my mind reminiscing about my own mental health journey from the past nine months.

As the race time neared, the crowd of runners (and a few walkers) began to grow at the starting line. Two groups, the Adirondack Runners and the Glens Falls Run Club, gathered separately to take group photos, with Jill of the Adirondack Runners voicing her opinion that they should all join forces. The Adirondack Runners has been in existence since 1973, helping to organize dozens of yearly races, weekend group runs, and competitions. The Glens Falls Run Club, started by Alexadra Barbieri in 2021, meets weekly on Tuesday evenings for a short run and socializing at a local brewery. In my opinion, two run clubs in a town is perfect to stir competition, create options, and diversify recreational runners in the area.

Moments later with a blow of a horn, the race begins as we moved down Haviland Road toward Blind Rock Road. As I passed the first mile, I notice that the crowd of runners has dissipated, with distance growing between everyone. The hot temperatures began to beat down on everyone, especially on the asphalt roads. Thankfully, the course navigated toward the Warren County Bikeway, where it will follow all the way to the finish line and has long stretches of trees covering the trail. My heartrate was increasing as the miles wore on, but I persevered, keeping my head held high and my stride consistent.

My mind began to wander, reminiscing over memories of bike rides with my husband on this trail when I first visited. I have been living in the Glens Falls area for eight years, moving into an apartment with Michael in 2017. I remembered the first time I rode from Glens Falls to Lake George on the bikeway, unsure about what to expect. The trail zigzags around three cities, over major roads, through campsites, near amusement parks, and finishes by Lake George. Spanning nine miles, it has an elevation of over 500 feet, challenging cyclists, runners, and walkers on the historical journey along the old Delaware and Hudson Railroad line. Warren County, with which the trail resides, has placed several signs that illuminate travelers to its history.

As I neared the giant dinosaur sculpture overlooking Lake George Expedition Park, I knew that the course has reached its highest elevation, meaning that the final two miles were all downhill. I slowly picked up my pace, my legs feeling wobbly and unsteady, as the race neared its conclusion. At the final half mile mark, I caught up with a teenager, Griffin, audibly challenging him to increase our speed. Given his youth, he easily picked up his speed, leaving me in the dust. But I continued to increase my stride as I narrowed toward the finish. Crossing the finish line at one hour, six minutes, and forty seconds, I felt elated, exhausted, and very thirsty. Thankfully, there was a smorgasbord of healthy fruits, delicious baked goods, and gallons of water and Gatorade for all the racers.

About 23 minutes prior to my arrival at the finish, my friends, Michael Venjtimigli and Emily McCarthy, were in lock step with one another as Emily finished just two seconds faster than Michael. Her final time was forty-three minutes and forty-eight seconds, solidifying her first-place win. (If anyone has a video or photo of their nail-bitingly close finish, be sure to share it) The pace overall was faster than I expected for a long-distance race, especially with the steadily increasing terrain for more than half of the course. I know next year’s race, if my body is healthy, I will be vying to run under an hour.

After refueling myself, chatting with friends, and taking finisher group photos, I walked toward the buses across the field, which were ready to move runners back to SUNY Adirondack. Sitting on the school bus and drenched in sweat, I was reminded of high school cross-country races, especially when we were headed home from another school competition. Memories flooded my brain from those nostalgic times as I smiled and chatted with folks sitting near me. It was a great start to a hot and humid weekend, and the fun was only just beginning.

Arriving home shortly afterward, I took a cool shower and got dressed to meet with friends at the Capital District Renaissance Fair. I’ll write about my wonderful experience soon, but in a few words, it was lovely.