Today was another beautiful fall day on the Byway.  Today was the annual running of the 15 k Stockade-athon that starts in Schenectady’s Central Park and runs down across the Byway into the historic Stockade neighborhood and back by the western Byway terminus, the cultural center of Schenectady, picturesque Vale Cemetery and back to Central Park.

Nearing the finish - photo by Brightroom

As a middle of the pack runner I would like to thank the City of Schenectady and the hundreds of volunteers for making this an annual event we all look forward to.  To all those Byway travelers who were inconvenienced by the interrupted traffic: Thank you for your patience.

I like the course, including the thrill of the run down Union Street hill into the Stockade, the run by all the historically significant areas, the cheering neighbors, the drummer that quickens the pace near Union College, even the encouragement of fellow runners as we all struggle to get up State Street hill, and the magnificent “feed” at the end of the race.

Next year put the Stockade-athon on your “to do” list.  If you don’t run, come on out to cheer on the field from the fast elite runners to the walkers out just to finish.