FKT: Lindsay Piraino - Genesee Valley Greenway (NY) - 2021-05-16

I fell in love with running on sections of the Greenway that run through my hometown and wanted to check out the whole trail, which led me to create this FKT route. The beginning section through Hinsdale was largely unmaintained, with long wet grass that soaked my feet within seconds of starting the run, and lots of junk dumped along the trail. The road sections take you through some of the poorest parts of New York State, and I found myself feeling extremely grateful to be able to live a comfortable lifestyle. The sections through Cuba and Houghton were beautiful, but the road connecting these sections was exposed to the sun and it got very hot throughout the day. Stopped several times to refill water and try to cool down. I chose to end the first day on Dudley Rd in Nunda, about 61 miles in. The Greenway is considered a state park and only open from dawn to dusk, so running through the night is not an option. The second day, I started where I left off and continued through the Sonyea State Forest before reaching the section through Mt. Morris. From here, the trail is continuous the rest of the way to Rochester. I chose to go south to north so I would be mostly on the trail the second day and this helped tremendously, as there was quite a bit more shade. The trail through Avon/Scottsville is beautiful, having recently been resurfaced to crushed gravel. I finished the last part of the run with my fiancé biking along side of me. It was a bit confusing where the trail ended, as there are several trails (Erie Canal path, Genesee Riverway trail) all connecting near the same point in Genesee Valley Park. We finished at the trail junction sign, just before reaching the park.