For some people, running is a natural passion, a non-negotiable part of their daily routine. For others (like me) it takes a concrete goal just to lace up the sneakers. Two Webster women found a creative way to bridge that gap, doing something that fills both buckets.
Karen Seidel and Angela Oldfield have been running buddies ever since meeting through a Webster Women Runners Facebook group about eight years ago. They meet several times a week somewhere in town and run various distances.
In early 2024, Karen saw a story on the television news that intrigued her. It told of a woman who walked every street in Monroe County. “I knew I didn’t want to do that,” she remembered, “but I started thinking about a goal we could achieve that was not running a marathon, or even half marathon. We could get a map of the Town of Webster and run every street.”
Having set the goal (and getting Angela on board), the first step was to plot the routes. Using a detailed map she secured from Town Hall, plus Google Maps and a program called OntheGoMap.com, Karen starting planning, driving the routes to check details like the route’s distance, where to park, street lights, traffic density, shoulder width and more.
On July 23, 2024, they set their plan in motion with their first run from Dewitt Road Elementary School, guided by directions Karen had written on a 3″ x 5″ card she kept in her pocket.
They started incorporating their goal into their regular routine, eventually shifting the “run every street” runs to the daytime for safety. This also allowed them to actually see the neighborhoods they were running through, which was a major part of their original plan. Every time they completed a route, Karen would color it in on the huge map.
As you can imagine, Karen and Angela learned quite a bit about our little town in their travels. They noticed, for example, that lots of Webster residents own campers and RVs, people are very supportive of the Marching Band bottle and can drive, there are a LOT of deer (and the occasional skunk and horse), and you can smell donuts baking when you run by the cider mills. Most importantly, though, they learned that Webster is a very friendly town. Fellow runners always waved and made a comment about the weather, and one homeowner even let them use her bathroom.
They also discovered some gorgeous neighborhoods. Among their favorites were the Herman Rd. neighborhood, Inspiration Point, and The Bluffs on the west side of the bay.
In general, the whole project went very smoothly, but there were a few hiccups and difficulties. Like last October when they were planning to run six and a half miles, but got talking and forgot to turn around, so they ended up running nine miles instead. Also, running along Empire Blvd. between Five Mile Line and the AMC Theater was “not ideal.”
“We ran those areas early in the morning when there was no traffic,” Karen remembered. Pre-sunrise darkness, heavy rains and blistering heat were other challenges they needed to overcome — or endure.
Are you wondering if they ran down your street during their quest? They got that question a lot.
“When we told people what we were doing (such as dog-walkers or passers-by),” Karen said, “they inevitably started listing street names they knew and asking us if we had run them. The answer is yes.”
Ultimately, the entire project was a journey of discovery on several levels.
“Overall,” Karen said, “we learned so much about our beloved town. We learned there are beautiful trees and gardens all over Webster. There are all kinds of neighborhoods, dog-walkers, and people who sit on their porch drinking coffee and waving hello.” But they also learned how the power of friendship can help you meet a goal and work through life’s challenges together.
“Some of my favorite runs didn’t necessarily have to do with the place we were running,” Angela said. “It was the conversation. Karen and I have helped each other through highs and lows of life. We’ve given each other advice, we’ve supported each other by listening, and have NEVER once canceled on each other.”
On Saturday morning, July 25, almost exactly two years after they began their quest, Angela and Karen completed the last of their “run every street” runs. It was a 6.4-mile route that took them through the village and along the Rt. 104 bike path, ending by Village Bakery. Several runner friends joined them and family members met them at the finish line to congratulate them on their incredible achievement.
In total, Karen and Angela ran 89 different routes and more than 476 miles. And while they’re not planning another grand adventure like this anytime soon, they are planning to repeat some of their favorite routes in the future.
“We feel great,” Karen said, and “we got to know our town really well.”
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(posted 8/2/2026)
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