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BETHEADVENTURE Vol 2 | Issue 3 | June - August 2016
WWW.BUFFALOTREK.COM
Western New York’s Outdoor Adventure and Fitness Guide
A note from our editor Welcome to the June edition of Buffalo Trek. In this issue, we have included a couple of stories related to places in WNY that are great spots to explore and improve your fitness. Our featured story is all about the burgeoning array of activities happening at RiverWorks. We encourage you to visit this downtown location and take advantage of the many unique offerings taking place there this summer. Another story features a new activity at one of WNY’s oldest treasures, Olmsted’s Delaware Park. A self-guided, audio walking tour of the park is a great way to get outdoors, get in some exercise and learn more about this WNY gem. Happy reading!
Attn. Advertisers - The ad submission deadline for the August edition of Buffalo Trek is Wednesday, July 27th. Thank you.
P. O. Box 1765 Buffalo, NY 14226 (716) 508-7350 Info@BuffaloTrek.com www.BuffaloTrek.com Facebook.com/BuffaloTrek Twitter.com/BuffaloTrek Buffalo Trek is published six times a year. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. Buffalo Trek makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the absolute accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this magazine.
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FEATURE
RiverWorks Fast Establishing Itself as a Fitness Destination In only its second year of operation, RiverWorks, the behemoth entertainment and sports complex (60,000 feet) located on Ganson Street along the Buffalo River is quickly gaining a reputation as a destination for fitness enthusiasts. For those of you that may have already been to RiverWorks, your visit may have accompanied taking in a hockey game, curling, or possibly watching the Queen City Roller Girls in action. In addition to hockey and roller derby, the complex’s array of sports entertainment includes Pro Wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts, roller skating, box lacrosse and box soccer. When the weather turns cold, the two covered rink pads are home to open ice skating, skate & shoot and curling. The RiverWorks team is also very excited to soon debut kayaks, water bikes, and SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) rentals. Water adventure seekers can simply access the RiverWorks boat dock and begin a tour of the Buffalo River. Recently partnering with Independent Heath and to coincide with the start of summer, RiverWorks will serve as a location for the YMCA/Independent Health collaborative Fitness in the Parks
initiative which offers Yoga and Zumba in various locations through WNY. Weekly sessions at RiverWorks will be held on Saturdays at 10 a.m. from June 19 - August 27. As part of their ongoing mission to become what Athletic Director, Sean Green, refers to as an adult playground for niche sports, RiverWorks will continue striving to offer fun and unique fitness endeavors that cater to every whim. Three grain silos are currently being transformed into rock climbing walls while a fourth will be outfitted with a free fall adventure system. In another location near the river, a beach area is being created to accommodate volleyball. Kan Jam, Pickleball and Cornhole play will be the focus of “Backyard Game Theme Night.” Buffalo’s warm weather also brings the return of Pickleball to RiverWorks. For those unfamiliar with the sport, Pickleball is one of the fast growing sports in the United States. First established in Seattle in 1965, the sport has seen tremendous growth in recent years, particularly among older Americans. Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines various elements associated with tennis, badminton and
ping-pong. The game is played on outdoor badminton-sized courts at RiverWorks with a slightly modified tennis net. Either two or four players (doubles) compete across the court with wooden paddles and a whiffle ball. The rules and scoring are simple to learn and the game is easy for beginners to pick up. As players skills develop, pickleball can turn into a fast-paced, competitive game for more experienced players. So wherever your fitness pursuits may lead you this summer, the Buffalo Trek Adventure Team encourages a visit to Buffalo RiverWorks. By exploring the multitude of activities available, we are fairly certain that one visit may not be enough. Visit BuffaloRiverWorks.com or call 716-3422292 to learn more.
SPOTLIGHT EVENTS Run Jimmy Run Charity 5K (Running)
6 Hours of Power Mountain Bike Race 2016 (Biking)
Sunday, July 31 at 10:00 am Buffalo, NY
Sunday, July 10th at 10:00 am Holiday Valley Mountain Sports Center
st
The Run Jimmy Run, a 5K road race and 1 mile walk through downtown Buffalo was established in 2013 in memory of former Mayor of Buffalo (1978-1994) Jim Griffin. This unique race course highlights some of the beautiful sites in our city and ends in our downtown baseball park with a family oriented post-race lunch, party and ball game. The purpose of this race is to celebrate the life and accomplishments and charitable spirit of Mayor Jim Griffin through a fitness oriented event designed for all ages.
Buffalo Orienteering Club 5-Mile Trail Run (Hiking, Fitness, Running) Thursday, July 14th at 6:30 pm Chestnut Ridge Park This is a real race but no physical awards. $10 entry fee. Race will start at the shelter closest to the Newton Road entrance. Facilities are available at Chestnut Ridge Park casino. The run is over a challenging and beautiful trail terrain. Post-race party with snacks and other refreshments.
6 Hours of Power rolls back into Holiday Valley Resort on Sunday, July 10th 2016 featuring a world class 10-mile course of searing single track and endless mountain bike racing action. Solo and two-person tag-teams compete for awards and prizes in the region’s most demanding white knuckle, lung burning mountain bike race known in these parts. Riders from several surrounding states and Canada vie for bragging rights testing themselves and others at 6HOP. Weekend accommodations are plentiful including many hotels, eateries and year-round attractions in Ellicottville for the entire family.
Nickel City Triathlon (Multisport) Saturday, July 16th at 8:00 am Gallagher Beach Everyone can come and race on the same course that some of the top North American and European multi-sport athletes did. Both Olympic & Sprint distances will be competed on a completely closed course.
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FITNESS
Delaware Park Walking Tour Offers Fitness with Historical Twist Integral members of the team associated with the audio tour project include, Jim Mendola, Olmsted Park’s volunteer Archivist researched and wrote the audio tour scripts. Local television personality, Linda Pellgrino, provided her voice talent for the audio narration and Jordan Lema from Lemur Studios coordinated all aspects of the audio production.
As the crown jewel of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Park System, Delaware Park has long been a destination point for Western New Yorkers. The notoriety of the park has taken on greater significance in recent years with two notable accolades. In 2014, Delaware Park was named one of the Best Places in America. Last year, it had the dubious honor of being designated as one of the Top 10 Places in the World.* The park also serves as a mecca for local fitness enthusiasts. Walkers and runners can be found exercising year around on the 1.8 mile Ring Road loop. In warmer months, bikers and in-line skaters transform the loop into a virtual fitness freeway. In addition to all the folks maneuvering the loop to improve their health, countless others can be found golfing, playing basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer or FootGolf, which was just introduced in the park last summer. One of the park’s newest and unique offerings is a self-guided mobile audio walking tour. The tour offers a great way to get outside, take in some exercise while at the same time providing visitors with some great insights on many notable locations throughout the park. The audio tour first debuted last fall and began its first full season this spring. The tour allows park visitors to walk at their own pace in between stops at 13 designated locations through the North and South quadrants of the 350 acre park. It is at these 13 desig-
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nated points of interest where one can grab a map and listen to discover a great deal of the history associated with Olmsted’s masterpiece. “What’s great about the tour is that there is no mobile app to download or no QR code to scan,” shared Maureen Hanagan, Director of Marketing & Communications for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. Unlike self-guided tours that most of us are familiar with in museums or at art galleries, there is no special listening device required. Tour participants simply type tourwand.com/olmsted into the browser of their mobile phones and pick one of three audio tours available. Visitors then simply click on the icon associated with the spot they are at and listen to its story. The tour can be accomplished in any order at any time, seven days a week. The audio tour was the brain child of Buffalo resident, Ken Kozaczka, a software engineer and Founder of Tourwand.com. A father of three, Kozaczka came up with the idea when taking his kids to the zoo and they kept insisting that he read the exhibit signs to them. Kozaczka developed the concept and approached Hanagan last year. They in turn presented the idea to M&T Bank and with their support, the program was off and running. Nancy Brock from M&T Bank recently shared how the audio tours are a “win/win” for the bank, Olmsted and the community.
Eight destination points are included in the tour of the south area of the park (near Hoyt Lake) and include: The Bridge of the Three Americas, Gala Water, The Statue of David, The McMillian Monument, Marcy Casino, The Rose Garden, Beach Banks Picnic Grounds / Spire Head House and the Ivy Bridge. Five stops are included in the north section of the park (around Ring Road) and include The Quarry Garden, The Mighty Oak, Flint Hill Memorial (the final resting place of 300 soldiers from the War of 1812), the Lily Pond and the Zoo Paddock. If you might prefer walking tours with a guide, the Conservancy also offers tours around Hoyt Lake in July and August, visit bfloparks.org for the dates and pricing. Also new for 2016 and presented by Wegmans, is a six stop tour of the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park located directly behind the Buffalo History Museum. Hanagan is hoping to further expand the audio tour to all six Olmsted parks and is currently seeking sponsors to make that a reality. "The next tour that is currently in the works is an audio tour of Olmsted's West
Side. Presented by Rich Products, park users can learn about one of Olmsted's very first parks in the system. This tour highlights Front Park, near the Peace Bridge, Prospect Park, Columbus Park, Richmond Avenue and the landmark circles. Guided bike ride tours will be available in August and September." For tour goers wishing to make a donation or become members of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, they can simply hit the More button on the audio tour screen. *Named one of the Best Places in America, The American Planning Association (Sept. 2014) One of the Top 10 Parks in the World, the Guardian (Aug. 2015)
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EVENT CALENDAR : JUNE 15 - AUGUST 15
June Larkinville Challenge 2016 Race Series Thursday June 16th 6:00 pm Buffalo, NY Biking Buffalo Orienteering Club 10K Trail Run Thursday June 16th 6:30 pm Glenwood, NY Fitness, Hiking Chase the Sun – Summer Solstice 5K Thursday June 16th 7:30 pm Orchard Park, NY Running St. Gregory The Great - Great Race Friday June 17th 7:00 pm Williamsville, NY Running Relay For Life 5K Glow Run / Walk Friday June 17th 8:00 pm Lockport, NY Fitness, Running Raccoon Rally Cycling Festival Weekend 2016 June 18 - June 19 Salamanca, NY Biking, Fitness Tri-Oswego 2016 Saturday June 18th 8:30 am Oswego, NY Multi-Sport 50 Yard Finish Saturday June 18th 9:00 am Orchard Park, NY Fitness, Running MSMH River Run Saturday June 18th 9:00 am Lewiston, NY Running Red Devil Run For Recovery Saturday June 18th 9:00 am Clarence, NY Fitness, Running Mudslide Obstacle Trail Run Saturday June 18th 10:00 am Ellicottville, NY Fitness, Running, Spotlight Events Third Annual Walk/Run/Roll in Lauren’s Shoes 5K & Family FUN-Raising Event Saturday June 18th 10:00 am Hamburg, NY Fitness, Running Trooper Brinkerhoff 5K/10K Saturday June 18th 10:00 am Boston, NY Fitness, Running
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EVENT CALENDAR : JUNE 15 - AUGUST 15 Delta Lake Triathlon Saturday July 16th 7:30 am Rome, NY Multi-Sport
Tim Frank Memorial Canal Fest Thursday July 21st 7:00 pm Tonawanda, NY Running
Buffalo Paddle Bike Run Sunday July 31st Buffalo, NY Biking, Paddle, Running, Spotlight Events
Mueller Mile Thursday August 11th 6:30 pm Tonawanda, NY Running
Nickel City Triathlon Saturday July 16th 8:00 am Buffalo, NY Multi-Sport
St. Mary’s 5K Chowder Chase Friday July 22nd 7:00 pm East Amherst, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Jenny Kuzma Memorial Bergen 5K Saturday August 13th 8:30 am Bergen, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
MicroMussel Super-Sprint Triathlon Friday July 8th 7:00 pm Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Lake View Field Day 5K Run & Family Fun Walk Saturday July 16th 8:00 am Lakeview, NY Running
Mission Possible 5K Sunday July 24th 8:30 am Tonawanda, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Run Jimmy Run Charity 5K Sunday July 31st 10:00 am Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running, Spotlight Events
Blitz Body at Canalside Tuesday June 28th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Fitness
Tour de Perry Saturday July 9th Perry, NY Biking
Laurel Run Saturday July 16th 8:30 am Silver Creek, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club’s 9th Annual Run in the Mist 5K Run/Walk Wednesday June 29th 7:00 pm Niagara Falls, NY Fitness, Running
Mini-Mussel Sprint Triathlon Saturday July 9th 9:00 am Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Run For Life Saturday July 16th 9:00 am West Seneca, NY Running
Tuscarora Nation 10K Run Saturday July 9th 9:00 am Lewiston, NY Running
Crabapple 5K Run Saturday July 16th 9:30 am Cheektowaga, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 26th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running
Hump Day Mile (Part of Runners Roost 1 Mile Challenge Series) Wednesday July 6th 7:00 pm East Aurora, NY Running
Father Baker Fathers Day 5K Sunday June 19th 9:00 am Buffalo, NY Fitness, Running
Paddle with ADK NFC Tuesday June 28th Location TBD Paddle
Father’s Day 5K – Delaware Park Sunday June 19th 9:00 am Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday June 28th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running
Mussel Kids Triathlon Friday July 8th 6:00 pm Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Dirt Devil Trail Series Tuesday June 28th 6:30 pm Glenwood, NY Fitness, Running
Raccoon Rally XC Mountain Bike Race Sunday June 19th 10:00 am Salamanca, NY Biking Paddle with ADK NFC Tuesday June 21st Location TBD Paddle Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday June 21st 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Dirt Devil Trail Series Tuesday June 21st 6:30 pm Glenwood, NY Fitness, Running
July
EVL-4 & EVL-9 Trail Run 2016 Sunday July 24th 10:00 am Ellicottville, NY Fitness, Running Lindsay Matthews Scholarship Race Sunday July 24th 10:00 am Orchard Park, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running Greg Stang Memorial 5K Run & Fun Walk Sunday July 24th 5:30 pm Williamsville, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Fitness, Running
Blitz Body at Canalside Tuesday June 21st 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Fitness
Finger Lakes Fifties 25K, 50K, 50 Miles Saturday July 2nd 6:30 am Hector, NY Running
St. Amelia Christmas in July 5K Saturday July 9th 9:00 am Tonawanda, NY Running
Character Chase 5K Saturday July 16th 9:30 am Hamburg, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
West Seneca Community 5K Thursday June 23rd 6:30 pm West Seneca, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
The Bubble Run Buffalo Saturday July 2nd 8:00 am Buffalo, NY Running
Musselman Triathlon Sunday July 10th 7:00 am Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Niagara Catholic 5K Saturday July 16th 10:00 am Niagara Falls, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Falconer Track Club Trail Series Wednesday July 27th 6:00 pm Jamestown, NY Fitness, Running
Buffalo J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Thursday June 23rd 6:45 pm Buffalo, NY Running
A Tri in the Buff Triathlon Saturday July 2nd 8:00 am Irving, NY Multi-Sport
6 Hours of Power Mountain Bike Race 2016 Sunday July 10th 10:00 am Ellicottville, NY Biking, Fitness
West Seneca PBA Blue Mile Saturday July 16th 6:00 pm West Seneca, NY Running
Ronald McDonald House Wednesday July 27th 6:30 pm Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Ride For Roswell June 24 - June 25 Buffalo, NY Biking
Marauder Trotter Saturday July 2nd 9:00 am Dunkirk Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 19th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running
Michele’s Ride to Remember July 30 - August 6 Buffalo, NY Biking
Black & Gold 5K Run Friday June 24th 6:30 pm Tonawanda, NY Running
Independence Day 5K Monday July 4th 9:00 am Batavia, NY Running
Down River Run Saturday June 25th 11:00 am Youngstown, NY Running Luna Chix Track Workout Monday June 27th 6:00 pm Amherst, NY Fitness
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 5th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Loughran’s Alumni Cup 5K Run Wednesday July 6th 7:00 pm Snyder, NY Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 12th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Falconer Track Club Trail Series Wednesday July 13th 6:00 pm Jamestown, NY Fitness, Running Buffalo Orienteering Club 5-Mile Trail Run Thursday July 14th 6:30 pm Orchard Park, NY Fitness, Hiking, Running Buffalo 4 Mile Subaru Chase Friday July 15th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Running
Okay 5K Fun Run/Wellness Walk Tuesday July 19th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running ESB Engineering Scholarship Run Wednesday July 20th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Running St. John Vianney Kickoff Run Thursday July 21st 6:30 pm Orchard Park, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Plan2Peak 2 Days of Buffalo July 30 - July 31 Buffalo, NY Biking Wild 5K Saturday July 30th 9:00 am Jamestown, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running Darren Manzella-Lapeira Memorial 5K Run Saturday July 30th 10:00 am Brocton, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Fitness, Running
August Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday August 2nd 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running GBTC 1 Mile Track Race Wednesday August 3rd 6:30 pm Amherst, NY Running Wet and Wild Triathlon Saturday August 6th 9:00 am Wilson, NY Multi-Sport Christine Padasak Memorial – Autism Awareness 5K & Fun Walk Saturday August 6th 9:30 am Springville, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running Jason Raby Memorial 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk Saturday August 6th 11:00 am Youngstown, NY Running St.Christopher Summerfest 5K Saturday August 6th 6:30 pm Tonawanda, NY Running Stephen’s Cross-Country Run Sunday August 7th 9:00 am Bemus Point, NY Running RUT Race Monday August 8th 7:00 pm Lewiston, NY Running
Erie County Fair 5K Saturday August 13th 8:30 am Hamburg, NY Running Beast of Burden 100/50 Ultra Marathon Saturday August 13th 10:00 am Lockport, NY Running Old Forge Triathlon Sunday August 14th 8:00 am Old Forge, NY Multi-Sport The iWacko / Sarah Johnson Memorial 5K Run Sunday August 14th 9:00 am Wilson, NY Running Run For Row Sunday August 14th 9:00 am Lancaster, NY Running Metro 10 Buffalo vs. Rochester Saturday August 20th 8:20 am Albion, NY Running Tough Mudder – Western NY 2016 August 27 - August 28 Andover, NY Fitness
For a complete list of outdoor and fitness events, please visit
www.BuffaloTrek.com.
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday August 9th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Falconer Track Club Trail Series Wednesday August 10th 6:00 pm Jamestown, NY Fitness, Running
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EVENT CALENDAR : JUNE 15 - AUGUST 15
June Larkinville Challenge 2016 Race Series Thursday June 16th 6:00 pm Buffalo, NY Biking Buffalo Orienteering Club 10K Trail Run Thursday June 16th 6:30 pm Glenwood, NY Fitness, Hiking Chase the Sun – Summer Solstice 5K Thursday June 16th 7:30 pm Orchard Park, NY Running St. Gregory The Great - Great Race Friday June 17th 7:00 pm Williamsville, NY Running Relay For Life 5K Glow Run / Walk Friday June 17th 8:00 pm Lockport, NY Fitness, Running Raccoon Rally Cycling Festival Weekend 2016 June 18 - June 19 Salamanca, NY Biking, Fitness Tri-Oswego 2016 Saturday June 18th 8:30 am Oswego, NY Multi-Sport 50 Yard Finish Saturday June 18th 9:00 am Orchard Park, NY Fitness, Running MSMH River Run Saturday June 18th 9:00 am Lewiston, NY Running Red Devil Run For Recovery Saturday June 18th 9:00 am Clarence, NY Fitness, Running Mudslide Obstacle Trail Run Saturday June 18th 10:00 am Ellicottville, NY Fitness, Running, Spotlight Events Third Annual Walk/Run/Roll in Lauren’s Shoes 5K & Family FUN-Raising Event Saturday June 18th 10:00 am Hamburg, NY Fitness, Running Trooper Brinkerhoff 5K/10K Saturday June 18th 10:00 am Boston, NY Fitness, Running
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EVENT CALENDAR : JUNE 15 - AUGUST 15 Delta Lake Triathlon Saturday July 16th 7:30 am Rome, NY Multi-Sport
Tim Frank Memorial Canal Fest Thursday July 21st 7:00 pm Tonawanda, NY Running
Buffalo Paddle Bike Run Sunday July 31st Buffalo, NY Biking, Paddle, Running, Spotlight Events
Mueller Mile Thursday August 11th 6:30 pm Tonawanda, NY Running
Nickel City Triathlon Saturday July 16th 8:00 am Buffalo, NY Multi-Sport
St. Mary’s 5K Chowder Chase Friday July 22nd 7:00 pm East Amherst, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Jenny Kuzma Memorial Bergen 5K Saturday August 13th 8:30 am Bergen, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
MicroMussel Super-Sprint Triathlon Friday July 8th 7:00 pm Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Lake View Field Day 5K Run & Family Fun Walk Saturday July 16th 8:00 am Lakeview, NY Running
Mission Possible 5K Sunday July 24th 8:30 am Tonawanda, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Run Jimmy Run Charity 5K Sunday July 31st 10:00 am Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running, Spotlight Events
Blitz Body at Canalside Tuesday June 28th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Fitness
Tour de Perry Saturday July 9th Perry, NY Biking
Laurel Run Saturday July 16th 8:30 am Silver Creek, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club’s 9th Annual Run in the Mist 5K Run/Walk Wednesday June 29th 7:00 pm Niagara Falls, NY Fitness, Running
Mini-Mussel Sprint Triathlon Saturday July 9th 9:00 am Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Run For Life Saturday July 16th 9:00 am West Seneca, NY Running
Tuscarora Nation 10K Run Saturday July 9th 9:00 am Lewiston, NY Running
Crabapple 5K Run Saturday July 16th 9:30 am Cheektowaga, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 26th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running
Hump Day Mile (Part of Runners Roost 1 Mile Challenge Series) Wednesday July 6th 7:00 pm East Aurora, NY Running
Father Baker Fathers Day 5K Sunday June 19th 9:00 am Buffalo, NY Fitness, Running
Paddle with ADK NFC Tuesday June 28th Location TBD Paddle
Father’s Day 5K – Delaware Park Sunday June 19th 9:00 am Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday June 28th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running
Mussel Kids Triathlon Friday July 8th 6:00 pm Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Dirt Devil Trail Series Tuesday June 28th 6:30 pm Glenwood, NY Fitness, Running
Raccoon Rally XC Mountain Bike Race Sunday June 19th 10:00 am Salamanca, NY Biking Paddle with ADK NFC Tuesday June 21st Location TBD Paddle Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday June 21st 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Dirt Devil Trail Series Tuesday June 21st 6:30 pm Glenwood, NY Fitness, Running
July
EVL-4 & EVL-9 Trail Run 2016 Sunday July 24th 10:00 am Ellicottville, NY Fitness, Running Lindsay Matthews Scholarship Race Sunday July 24th 10:00 am Orchard Park, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running Greg Stang Memorial 5K Run & Fun Walk Sunday July 24th 5:30 pm Williamsville, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Fitness, Running
Blitz Body at Canalside Tuesday June 21st 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Fitness
Finger Lakes Fifties 25K, 50K, 50 Miles Saturday July 2nd 6:30 am Hector, NY Running
St. Amelia Christmas in July 5K Saturday July 9th 9:00 am Tonawanda, NY Running
Character Chase 5K Saturday July 16th 9:30 am Hamburg, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
West Seneca Community 5K Thursday June 23rd 6:30 pm West Seneca, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
The Bubble Run Buffalo Saturday July 2nd 8:00 am Buffalo, NY Running
Musselman Triathlon Sunday July 10th 7:00 am Geneva, NY Multi-Sport
Niagara Catholic 5K Saturday July 16th 10:00 am Niagara Falls, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Falconer Track Club Trail Series Wednesday July 27th 6:00 pm Jamestown, NY Fitness, Running
Buffalo J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Thursday June 23rd 6:45 pm Buffalo, NY Running
A Tri in the Buff Triathlon Saturday July 2nd 8:00 am Irving, NY Multi-Sport
6 Hours of Power Mountain Bike Race 2016 Sunday July 10th 10:00 am Ellicottville, NY Biking, Fitness
West Seneca PBA Blue Mile Saturday July 16th 6:00 pm West Seneca, NY Running
Ronald McDonald House Wednesday July 27th 6:30 pm Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Ride For Roswell June 24 - June 25 Buffalo, NY Biking
Marauder Trotter Saturday July 2nd 9:00 am Dunkirk Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 19th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running
Michele’s Ride to Remember July 30 - August 6 Buffalo, NY Biking
Black & Gold 5K Run Friday June 24th 6:30 pm Tonawanda, NY Running
Independence Day 5K Monday July 4th 9:00 am Batavia, NY Running
Down River Run Saturday June 25th 11:00 am Youngstown, NY Running Luna Chix Track Workout Monday June 27th 6:00 pm Amherst, NY Fitness
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 5th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Loughran’s Alumni Cup 5K Run Wednesday July 6th 7:00 pm Snyder, NY Running
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday July 12th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Falconer Track Club Trail Series Wednesday July 13th 6:00 pm Jamestown, NY Fitness, Running Buffalo Orienteering Club 5-Mile Trail Run Thursday July 14th 6:30 pm Orchard Park, NY Fitness, Hiking, Running Buffalo 4 Mile Subaru Chase Friday July 15th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Running
Okay 5K Fun Run/Wellness Walk Tuesday July 19th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running ESB Engineering Scholarship Run Wednesday July 20th 7:00 pm Buffalo, NY Running St. John Vianney Kickoff Run Thursday July 21st 6:30 pm Orchard Park, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running
Plan2Peak 2 Days of Buffalo July 30 - July 31 Buffalo, NY Biking Wild 5K Saturday July 30th 9:00 am Jamestown, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running Darren Manzella-Lapeira Memorial 5K Run Saturday July 30th 10:00 am Brocton, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Fitness, Running
August Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday August 2nd 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running GBTC 1 Mile Track Race Wednesday August 3rd 6:30 pm Amherst, NY Running Wet and Wild Triathlon Saturday August 6th 9:00 am Wilson, NY Multi-Sport Christine Padasak Memorial – Autism Awareness 5K & Fun Walk Saturday August 6th 9:30 am Springville, NY Family Fun Run/Walk, Running Jason Raby Memorial 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk Saturday August 6th 11:00 am Youngstown, NY Running St.Christopher Summerfest 5K Saturday August 6th 6:30 pm Tonawanda, NY Running Stephen’s Cross-Country Run Sunday August 7th 9:00 am Bemus Point, NY Running RUT Race Monday August 8th 7:00 pm Lewiston, NY Running
Erie County Fair 5K Saturday August 13th 8:30 am Hamburg, NY Running Beast of Burden 100/50 Ultra Marathon Saturday August 13th 10:00 am Lockport, NY Running Old Forge Triathlon Sunday August 14th 8:00 am Old Forge, NY Multi-Sport The iWacko / Sarah Johnson Memorial 5K Run Sunday August 14th 9:00 am Wilson, NY Running Run For Row Sunday August 14th 9:00 am Lancaster, NY Running Metro 10 Buffalo vs. Rochester Saturday August 20th 8:20 am Albion, NY Running Tough Mudder – Western NY 2016 August 27 - August 28 Andover, NY Fitness
For a complete list of outdoor and fitness events, please visit
www.BuffaloTrek.com.
Checkers AC – Zero to 5K Summer Session Tuesday August 9th 5:30 pm Amherst, NY Fitness, Running Falconer Track Club Trail Series Wednesday August 10th 6:00 pm Jamestown, NY Fitness, Running
June 2016
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HIKING - FITNESS - RUNNING
Buffalo Orienteering Club Offers Fitness for Both Mind and Body photographs, maps are then digitized, colored and notated by professional fieldcheckers. For anyone that loves maps, exploring, and the great outdoors, orienteering is something to explore. Although most commonly performed by either running or walking, orienteers can also compete on mountain bikes or cross country skies. The Buffalo Club focuses primarily on “foot powered” events but does offer an annual ski meet. In a traditional course, the goal is to choose a route on or off trail that helps the competitor get to all the designated points on their map and then return to the finish in the shortest possible time. Each point on the course is marked with an orange and white flag. These “control” markers are located on distinct features, such as a stream junction or the top of a knoll, or group of boulders. The object is to locate these orange and white flag controls, in the order shown on your map. Once the control is found, participants scan the control punch electronically proving that they have been at the location and then proceed to the next stop. Other orienteering formats include a Score-O, where the controls are assigned different point values and participants choose which ones to find within a defined time limit.
Orienteering may be best described as the thinking man or woman’s sport. It is an outdoor activity that gets people moving and at the same time challenges their brains. Originated in Scandinavia in the nineteenth century, orienteering was primarily part of military training exercises. The sport was first introduced into the U.S. in 1946. Orienteering is a land-based activity which places a strong emphasis on navigation skills. Participants utilize a map and compass to compete individually or in groups. This sport involves finding your way to various checkpoints across a variety of terrain with the winner being the one finishing the course in the quickest time. Buffalo Orienteering Club President, Rob Reeves emphasizes that the sport can
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challenge people from all ages, including families with young children all the way up to and including the most competitive athletes. Courses typically consist of beginner, intermediate and advanced routes. Each progression up finds courses that are longer and require more off-trail navigation. The sport teaches individuals how to make their way through unfamiliar territory by learning the contour of the land and its unique topographic features. Often referred to as the “thinking sport”, it involves map reading and decision-making skills. Custom maps are designed to depict features such as boulders, cliffs, ditches, fences, elevation, vegetation, and trails. Course maps are most often scaled at a 1 to 10,000 ratio. First configured by aerial
Participants bring a compass and are provided a map of the location. The Buffalo Club holds events in Erie County parks, including Chestnut Ridge, Hunters Creek, Emery and Sprague Brook. Delaware Park, Goat Island, Sardinia Forest, Little Rock City and Schoellkopf Boy Scout Camp also serve as venues for the club. Once each year, Holiday Valley is the site for the club’s Ellicottville Adventure Run & Hike. Here participants can choose from three or six hour events, competing as individuals or multi-person teams. The Buffalo Club holds six to eight meets each year during the spring, summer and fall. The club also maintains seasonal courses, called Map Hikes at some of the aforementioned park locations allowing individuals the chance to explore them at their leisure. Regional and national meets are also held throughout the year under the banner of Orienteering USA. The gear requirements for Orienteering are minimal as participants typically wear whatever the weather may dictate.
Newcomers are encouraged to dress as they would for a hike. Wicking materials are favored over cotton. The most important consideration is what you wear on your feet and that includes a descent pair of socks and comfortable shoes. A baseplate compass is beneficial for navigating between any controls not connected by trails. Most beginner courses however take place entirely on trails and the compass is mainly used to orient the map. Club members provide instruction at all local meets and can share tips on the appropriate type of compass to purchase for future outings. The Buffalo Club currently boasts approximately 100 active members according to Reeves. Annual membership is a nominal $15 for individuals and $20 for families. To learn more, please visit www.buffalo-orienteering.org
HIKING
Reaching for the High Peaks
BY: MIKE DASH Three friends and I decided to do an overnight backpacking trip up Mt. Marcy. Mt. Marcy is part of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks and reaches the highest elevation point in New York State at 5,344’. Rated at a 5/7 difficulty, making it to the top was no easy task. When on the trail, water will be your best friend and your life saver. Becoming dehydrated is definitely not something you want to experience. Our group was a mix of novice and intermediate hikers with our total hiking time coming in at about 15 hours for the entire trip. We started our journey on a Saturday afternoon from the Adirondack Loj just outside of Lake Placid. Taking the Van Hoevenberg trail, we hiked throughout the afternoon and into the evening carrying our backpacks approximately three miles on somewhat easy terrain. When we found a prime camping spot, it was occupied and we thought we would have to move on further. We lucked out as we learned the hikers had just made it back from the peak and were packing up their campsite. Campfires are prohibited at Mt. Marcy, so we resorted to a small propane cooking stove. For dinner, we heated up pre-cooked ground beef and made
softshell tacos which we complemented with peanut butter sandwiches that were leftover from lunch. We finished up dinner and went to bed shortly after. It is also worth mentioning that you are required to carry a bear canister with you. We packed all of our food and smellables into the bear canister and placed it 70 paces away from our campsite and near some rocks; luckily we didn’t encounter any bears. During the night mother nature decided to send us a little bit of rain and we learned the hard way that our tent’s rain fly was no longer 100% waterproof and we got a little wet. We woke up early the next morning and used our stoves again to cook bacon and eggs (which was delicious). We decided not to carry all of our extra backpacking weight for the rest of the trek so we left the tent up and placed everything except food and water inside. We headed off and got back on the trail around 8:30 a.m.
getting down. Finally, we passed by a hiker who told us we were almost there “another 45 minutes or so to the top.” During the final mile to the peak we were essentially rock climbing, needing to be careful, watching every step. Looking ahead, we could see the peak that appeared to be an eternity away. As the treeline vanished, trail markers were identified with large rock piles stacked in pyramid-like shapes. After three and a half hours of hiking, we finally made it to the top. The view is simply breathtaking; you can see 43 of the 44 other high-peaks from atop Mt. Marcy. Unfortunately pictures don't quite capture the full perspective. Make this your next hike and stand on the highest point of New York State.
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Within the next mile, we started up the big ascend. Climbing over many large rocks and other obstacles, we eventually hit snow and ice. There were even several warning signs indicating that severe weather can occur without notice. We watched several hikers come down the snowy trail as if it were a slide. That seemed like the most ideal approach for
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EVENT RECAP
2016 Buffalo Marathon - May 29
VISIT BUFFALOMARATHON.COM FOR RACE RESULTS AND MORE PHOTOS
NEXT RACE SUNDAY MAY 28, 2017 START TIME - 6:30AM Page 10
Buffalo Trek
June 2016
EXPERT ADVICE
Starting an Exercise Program? Here are Five Things to Keep in Mind BY: ERIC SEXTON, BS, EXERCISE AND SPORTS STUDIES Exercise is an important aspect of living a healthy life and maintaining independence as we get older. That being said, it is important for anyone thinking of starting an exercise program to understand the risks that accompany all types of workouts. Before you start a new activity, be sure to follow these steps to ensure that the program is carried out in a safe and effective way. 1. Address any aches, pains, and injuries that may be ailing you prior to beginning any exercise. This can be done by consulting your doctor of physical therapy. He or she can help you prepare your body for a regimented exercise program. Symptoms like back pain, knee pain, and shoulder pain can be accentuated both during and after exercise, so addressing problems like these before beginning a new program will ensure that the condition does not progress – and it will help you avoid any further injury. Pain and injury can both be demotivators for exercise and weight loss. 2. Set goals for yourself. Identifying simple and specific goals can help maximize the effectiveness of the exercise program. Goals should also be progressive in nature to help keep you motivated. Unrealistic goals can cause you to give up or stop the program altogether. So while having a major goal will help steer an exercise program, having minor goals along the way to the major one will help keep you on track.
While your program should be relatively challenging, it should be enjoyable at the same time. Oftentimes the reasons people despise certain workouts or movements are related to pain or discomfort felt while performing them. 4. Seek help when needed. Searching the web for answers to your exercise questions can lead to generalizations, so be sure to consult an expert in the exercise arena. If you are not sure where to start or are a novice, seeking health and exercise expertise or direction from your physical therapist is very important. Often physical therapists refer to a specific network of highly qualified personal trainers who can help you with daily workouts. 5. Finally, make your exercise uniquely your own. What works for your friend may not be effective for you. Tailoring a program to your specific needs and goals will help increase its effectiveness for you. References: American College of Sports Medicine, ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 9th ed., Linda S. Pescatello, ed. (Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Health, 2014).
The Buffalo Trek Challenge First referenced in our last edition, to help encourage WNYers to start or stay active, we invite you to take the Buffalo Trek Challenge. It’s our way to learn more about the different ways our fellow WNYers are keeping fit.
Hiking - (Minimum one mile or more) Visit the Eternal Flame at Chestnut Ridge Park or take an outing near the trails surrounding the Niagara Gorge. The scenery alone will make this an adventure to remember.
Buffalo Trek focuses on seven primary activities including; Running, Biking, Paddling, Hiking, Multi-sport, Fitness and Winter Sports.
Fitness - (Strength training, CrossFit, Yoga, Pilates and Swimming) At Buffalo Trek, we understand that fitness training sometimes means working out indoors. Complimenting your outdoor adventures with inside conditioning is an excellent way to maintain yearround fitness. Tell us how your indoor training compliments your outdoor pursuits.
To successfully complete the challenge and receive a complimentary Buffalo Trek tech shirt we simply ask you to submit a brief written synopsis describing your participation in one of the of these endeavors along with an image. Select submissions will be featured on our Buffalo Trek blog and/or featured in our newspaper. Running - (Minimum one mile or more, on the road or on the trail). Be it a one-mile fun run, your first 5k or your 10th marathon, we want to hear your running stories. For those who have not run since childhood, start a run/walk program, minimally get up to a one-mile run and share your story. Biking - (Road biking, mountain biking or leisure riding) This may include your experience in the annual Tour de Cure or Ride for Roswell, your first attempt at mountain biking or hopping on a bicycle for the first time in years. Paddling - (Kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddle boarding) These endeavors will likely involve getting wet but that’s half the fun. WNY and downtown Buffalo are home to a growing number of water-based adventure activities. Take a lesson, a tour or embark on an all-day paddle.
Multi-sport - By definition, Multi- or Tri-Sport refers to events that include a combination of running, biking and swimming various distances. Let us hear about your adventures. Winter Sports - (Downhill or crosscountry skiing, snowboarding or snow shoeing) Maybe downhill skiing or snowboarding is not your thing? Consider the great aerobic workout obtained when cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. There are a number of places in WNY where you can rent cross-country skis and/or snowshoes for a great winter adventure. Check out the www.buffalotrek.com directory for more ideas the next time the snow flies. How to enter - Simply go to www.buffalotrek.com/buffalo-trekchallenge/ and provide your name along with a brief description and date of your trekking endeavor. Entries may be as brief as a few sentences or as detailed as you wish to make them. Do not to forget to include a picture with your entry.
3. Identify what types of exercise you are willing and able to participate in. Exercise is a broad category, and exercising regularly requires discipline. What makes it even harder is participating in a program that is not enjoyable for you.
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