More Photos Click Here!

What looked to be a nasty forecast of rain and loom this weekend turned out to be one of the largest turn outs for the 9th Annual Allegany Adventure Run. With the forecast of rain came a perfect setting for photography and just getting out and being close to nature.

This year, the organizer Mark Lawrence/ HeartRateUp.com, featured another run with a variety of course distances. If you just wanted to get out for a little fun before heading back to finalize your last minute plans for Mother’s Day, you could have chosen the 6K distance. With a little more time on your hands, you could settle in for a more enjoyable stretch with the 16K or 22K through the beautiful Allegany State Park trails.

The races started at 15 minute intervals at the top of the summit near the ski lodge. With the early morning light clouds and fog, the opportunity to create fill-flash-like photos was prime.

There was just something in the air that made this event very high spirited and exciting. All the runners seemed to be euphoric. Even with the threat of rain, everyone still had smiles. With a turn out of nearly 200 participants, there was not one hesitant soul in the group.  It was more like a college frat party with young and experienced  faces prepared  to be photographed against nature’s canvas. 

With what looked to be an even number of men and women signed up for this adventure, I knew it would be a good colorful photo shoot. The green and brown diffused background colors complimented the ultimate natural physical form of the human body in the foreground. This is what sports photographers thrive for ~ the ability to be out and part of nature capturing subjects in their most natural forms.

- Terry

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2008 Allegany Adventure Run

Another amazing event at Allegany State Park!

The Allegany Adventure Run kicks off another great season of trail running in Western New York.  

Entrants are greeted to a variety of breathtakingly beautiful and challenging wide, rolling trails held within Allegany State Park.  Choose the distance that suits your fitness level and plan for a fun day of heart pounding trail running action.  All courses consist of sections of the Art Roscoe Trail system-a multi-use trail system designed for year round use including XC Skiing, Mountain Biking, Hiking & Trail Running.  Signs at intersections clearly mark course directions for our three distances offered in 2009.  Course distances are approximated due to the measurements in existence by the park for the clearest idea of course length.  Distances are never longer than mentioned however.  

Our centralized start/finish area of the brown gate at the Summit Trailhead makes a great venue for this yearly tradition.  Water stations on the course and a strong canopy of trees create the perfect low-impact trail running event of the year. 

Registration:  From 8:00am at the Summit Ski Cabin in the Red House section of the Park.  

6K: $20, 16K $25, 22K $25 (Add $5 for all race-day registrations)  

T-shirts to all pre-registered entrants and as they last on race-day.

Start Times:
6K 10:00am Start
16K 9:45am Start
22K 9:30am Start

Source: HeartRateUp.com

Click Here for Photos from 2008 Allegany Adventure Run

Secrets Of Off Road Jogging

by External Articles

Jogging is a great classic cardio exercise, popular not just for its health benefits but also because you do it almost anywhere. But for most people, jogging can lose its charm after a while. So how do you make this exercise more interesting?

By taking it off road. Most places in the U.S. have hiking trails nearby, and the dirt paths, rocky roads, and beautiful scenery and just what the doctor ordered to make your jog more stimulating. But jogging off the beaten path comes with its own set of concerns and issues. Here’s what you need to know to jog safely and effectively.

The first time you take your run down a dirt road, don’t go as fast as you would on a flat, paved road. The uneven surfaces and rocks make a tumble not just more likely, but more dangerous as well.

Make note of landmarks and areas that seem particularly dangerous or difficult. Over time, as you familiarize yourself with the trail, you can build up speed, eventually going full tilt.

As in regular running, make sure to keep good posture.

The unfamiliar territory or low hanging tree branches may make you feel like hunching over, but if you do you deprive your lungs of a bit of oxygen. This will make the run more difficult and the exercise less efficient than it could be.

Another major advantage of off road jogging is that you can do certain cardio activities that impossible on flat roads. Jogging uphill will work your legs and build your stamina. Try and find trails that offer uphill challenges for a well-rounded workout.

Of course, what goes up must come down, so you should make certain to keep your balance on those downhill slopes. You don’t necessarily have to slow down while jogging downhill, but you should use you arms to maintain your center of gravity to keep from tumbling over.

You may have to invest in a new pair of running shoes if you want to do your running on rougher terrain. Usually when you buy shoes, you are only looking for one thing: comfort. But the shoes you take off road have to be more durable than your average set of sneakers, plus hopefully easier to clean. It also helps if they are extra snug on your foot to prevent pebbles or burs from hurting you.

Once you know a particular trail like the back of your hand, you might try making it even more interesting by running at night. Get a nice windbreaker and a headlamp and see how different your night running time is from you daytime. Be careful though, since you can’t see as far ahead of you as you can during the daylight hours, you are more likely to stumble over an unseen dirt mound or sapling.

Remember, exercise can and should be fun. If you are getting bored with your routine, ask your personal trainer on ways to make it more interesting to you.

About the Author

Chris McCombs is a Costa Mesa personal trainer with specialty in fat loss and muscle toning. His website www.socalworkout.com contains valuable tips on fitness and “how to” style exercise videos.

Article Source Populate.net