From left, Justin Caron, Mona Kulkarni Caron, Darryl Caron and Meghana Caron on the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in Albany in 2022.
From left, Adirondack Sports and Fitness publisher and editor Darryl Caron, associate editor Mona Kulkarni Caron, and art director Karen Chapman.
Two weeks before he graduated high school, Capital Region native Darryl Caron made a life-changing purchase: a Moto Becane touring bike. At first, he just rode to his part-time job at Saratoga Lake. But soon he was taking trips to Lake George and then up to Canada.
It was the start of a life of active outdoor adventures. He would go on to take bike tour trips across the U.S. and in Europe, as well as spending time as a “ski bum” in Colorado after his graduation from Siena College.
When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
Admission: Free
Info: www.adksports.com
Now, Caron and his wife of 28 years, Mona Kulkarni Caron, operate the monthly magazine, Adirondack Sports and Fitness: Darryl is the publisher/editor and Mona is associate editor. This weekend, they’ll host the annual Adirondack Sports Summer Expo at Saratoga City Center.
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“I’d seen in my travels other regional sports publications across the U.S.,” Darryl said. “We have a great backyard to play in in upstate New York for four seasons. I thought creating a magazine that would focus on those lifelong aerobic sports, whether you enjoy doing it recreationally or competitively, would fill a nice niche.”
The Carons met at a local textbook publishing company — at the photocopier — where a conversation about skiing in Vermont kicked off their romance.
“We both like to hike and ski,” Mona said. “He got me into cycling and I always enjoyed doing some running but got more into it once we got married. So we do a little bit of everything, like downhill skiing, cross country skiing, bicycling, running and hiking. Darryl’s a triathlete. So, we’re pretty active.”
Their two kids, now college students, were naturally raised steeped in an active lifestyle.
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The Carons aren’t just active folks and purveyors of a magazine focused on outdoor activities — they’re also heavily involved in the groups that support those activities. Darryl is the past president of the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club and current president of the Shenendehowa Nordic Club. Mona, whose full-time job is as the water trail program director for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, is also race director for the Good Karma 5K in Clifton Park, and volunteers as a mentor for women training for the Delightful Run for Women (formerly the Freihofer’s Run for Women).
Though the magazine is focused on people who enjoy being active outdoors, the Carons try to keep its appeal wide, writing about everyone from Olympic athletes to “regular” folks.
“You don’t have to feel like you’re an athlete to read and enjoy the magazine,” Darryl said. The same applies to the expo, he said, which includes not just representatives from gear companies, but also those from travel destinations, outdoors clubs and health and fitness companies. “It’s a great place for people, whether you’re in your 20s or in your 60s, to join a club and get involved and meet new friends and really explore the outdoors.”
The expo was created to bring the magazine to life, Mona said. “A lot of our readers became attendees and our advertisers became exhibitors.”
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In all, they’re expecting about 10,000 attendees to the event, which includes about 200 exhibitors. The first expo featured just 100 exhibitors.
Likewise, when the magazine first came out in 2000, the Carons were printing 10,000 copies. Now, they’re up to 25,000 copies, which are distributed free of charge at more than 600 locations around the Capital Region. (Full disclosure: For the past nine months, Adirondack Sports and Fitness has been printed on the Times Union press.) They do it all out of their home with just one full-time employee, art director Karen Chapman. Most articles are written by freelance contributors.
“I’ve always enjoyed pursuing the outdoor sports and encouraging other people to do it,” Darryl said. “We’ve both had a few aches and pains over the years, but luckily we’re able to stay active and be out there.”
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