On Sunday, Sept. 29, the 46th annual Clarence DeMar Marathon ran through Appian Way.
The winners of this year’s marathon were Matthew Zablocki, a 22-year-old from Winchester N.H., completing the race in 2:44:43, and Elizabeth Arnott-Hill, a 45-year-old from Chicago, completing the race in 3:01:17.
The marathon brought both the Keene community and runners from across the country together to compete in the race.
As stated on the Clarence DeMar Marathon website, this marathon has been a tradition since 1978, established in the name of Clarence DeMar who taught in the Industrial Engineering Department at Keene Normal School, now referred to as Keene State College.
DeMar was also a seven-time Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A) Boston Marathon champion, and a bronze medalist in the Paris 1924 Olympics.
According to their website, Team DeMar invites runners to “use their passion for running while serving the local community.” The money they raise contributes to Keene Elm City’s Rotary’s signature projects, which reinforces the growth and social connections of Keene’s community members.
The race itself is 26.2 miles long, starting in Gilsum, N.H. and ending at Keene State College. John Kays, a runner from Washington D.C., said, “The day was great, and the fall foliage was pretty amazing.” This was his 57th marathon, but his first time doing this specific course.
Another runner, Noah Finkle from Chelmsford, Mass. described the course as beautiful. This was his third marathon, and he had tried this race out after a recommendation from the run club he is a part of. Haim Strasbourger, another runner from Washington State, said it was “a perfect day.”
Throughout the races, announcers acknowledged the runners as they approached the finish line, and volunteers cheered them on as well as the community members who came to watch. Music welcomed the racers as they approached the finish line and volunteers then awarded medals to the runners.
Kristan Noonan, a volunteer from Savings Bank of Walpole, said a lot of hard work went into planning the event.
“It takes a lot of people to put it on, and getting people together to do something that they’re all working towards is always really great,” says Noonan. This was her fourth year volunteering for the race.
Emily McClellan also mentioned what Savings Bank of Walpole had done to support the racers. “Earlier, a couple weeks ago, we also made signs at our bank for the runners, so they’re out on the course.”
Team DeMar hosted multiple events on racing day such as The Super Seniors race, a race for those 70 years and older who logged 25 miles of walking or jogging prior to the race. This race is the last 1.2 miles of the general DeMar marathon.
Noonan also explained the impact of the Kids’ DeMar, which is an event open to children K-5 who also had at least 25 miles logged. “I think they had close to 600 kids this morning come and do a mile,” she explained, “and it was just a little chaotic but really, really fun.”
“It’s really nice to be here at the end,” McClellan said. This was her first year volunteering, but she thinks she will return next year.
Hayley Doda can be contacted at
hdoda@kscequinox.com
