Arcadia runners plot own Marathon

On August 27, Becky Kraai and Donna Blondell ran what they hope will be the first of many more marathons.

They planned and plotted the 26.2-mile hilly course after they realized during their training for another marathon, that they were ready to run the distance much sooner.

Kraai and Blondell, both of Newark, had been training through the summer for the October 1 Wineglass Marathon, a point-to-point course from Bath to Corning. Kraai did a 20-mile run while on vacation in Maine in August. Blondell then ran a 20-miler a week later. Blondell convinced Kraai that both were ready to do a marathon. Blondell feared that she would fatigue and lose motivation if she had to keep up the long training runs until October 1.

The two charted a course through Newark, Arcadia, Sodus and Lyons, with the start and finish at Norsen Bridge Park. Their run began at 6 a.m. and took them east along Ganargua Creek past (the Kraai) Crowfield Farm, known as 'the buffalo farm.' They went north on Arcadia Zurich Norris Road and maintained the northbound route by picking up DeNeef Road at Zurich Road. This tough hill provided a wonderful view as well as a clouded glimpse of the sunrise. The day was beginning to heat up by the time the two women climbed Dodd Hill and headed south on Fish Farm Road.

The women had planted water and Gatorade at approximately two-mile intervals the previous evening. (In their zealousness, they provided enough to hydrate a high school track team.) They were greeted at Heiden Valley Farm, the halfway point, by geese, cows, and sheep. Shortly after, both runners' families showed up with cheers and support and cameras.

The women's running took them on a second dirt road, Chapel Street (the first was DeNeef), which provided them a bit of shaded relief. Blondell's two-year-old daughter, Grace, greeted them by waving a branch at mile 17 - the home of her paternal grandparents. Blondell had her husband check on her in a few miles, because her knees were causing her discomfort and she questioned whether she could finish.

Kraai, running her second marathon within the year, was going strong as ever and providing Blondell with much needed support. The women picked up their southbound direction once again by heading downhill on Minsteed to Hydesville. It was a nice break from all the uphills.

The course then took the runners up Welcher Road past Peace Work Organic Farm and back to Arcadia Zurich Norris Road. They were feeling the anticipation of the finish line, about two and one half miles ahead. Blondell felt a surge of energy and was starting to kick, as Kraai started to feel lead-footed. The pair made their way around the block and back to Norsen Bridge Park to the cheers of their families.

The runners were awarded medals by Abby Kraai. They each won first place for their respective age groups. The proud and sweaty women delighted in their triumph and shortly after were already concocting plans for next year's marathon. They reasoned that since it was beautiful country few are familiar with, others ought to give it a try.

The course provides a wonderful tour of the rich agriculture in the area. It passes numerous orchards as well as dairy, horse and ostrich farms. Interested experienced, or budding, runners should take note and start planning. Give Donna Blondell a call: 331.7424.

Note: Blondell sent the $30 entry fee she saved (from not doing the Wineglass Marathon) to Habitat for Humanity of Wayne County. Kraai is still pondering how to spend her new-found money.

top of page

Copyright © 2000
Courier-Gazette, 613 S. Main St. Newark, N.Y. 14513
All Rights Reserved