Fall Racing Opportunities Abound for Runners

09/09/2011 12:01 a.m.

Now that the summer racing season has come and gone, runners from Fairfield County will turn their attention to the regions numerous fall events. Some runners started the month Monday with races in Stamford and New Haven. Many others will step on a starting line over the next few weekends.

The Lightfoot Running Club's Sam Elpern Pacesetter Half Marathon ushers in the fall running season in Norwalk on Saturday. The race begins at 8 a.m. at Fox Run Elementary School and is the concluding race for the Lightfoot club. Christopher Kempf of Highland, N.J., and Michelle Gosselin of Milford were last year's men's and women's winners.

Many runners will use the Norwalk race to gauge their fitness as they prepare for a fall marathon. While many runners will stay close to home and compete in Hartford or New York, others will find events elsewhere, such as the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., or the Philadelphia Marathon. Marathoners are already well into their preparations for their big races.

There is no fall marathon in Fairfield County. There is, however, a wide variety of races over different distances. Below are dates and distances for the fall races in the region through Thanksgiving. For more information on each race, click on the link. Races outside the region are available on hitekracing.com. Phone numbers are included if no link is listed. If your race is not listed here, send information and a link to trenner@mainstreetconnect.us for more information.

Sept. 10 Sam Elpern Pace Setter Half Marathon, 13.1 miles, Norwalk

Sept. 17 Walk/Run for Hope 5K, Fairfield

Sept. 18 Darien Road Race, 10K and 1.5K

Sept. 18 Fall Frolic 30K, 20K, 10K, Stratford

Sept. 25 Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, 5K, Fairfield

Sept. 25 Between the Libraries 5K, Norwalk

Oct. 2 Ridgefield Half Marathon, 13.1M, Ridgefield

Oct. 9 Susannah Chase Memorial Run, 5K, Greenwich

Oct. 15 Strength for Sydney 5K, Georgetown

Oct. 16 The Great Train Race, 6.8 miles, New Canaan

Oct. 30 Greens Farms Academy Dragon Dash, 5K, Southport, (203) 256-0717

Oct. 30 Police Pumpkin Chase, 5K, New Canaan