Races in Easton, Westport Kick Off Spring Season

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – The spring racing season may have started last week, but the calendar picks up in Fairfield County with races in nearly every community over the next month.

That includes a pair of races this weekend in Easton and Westport, and ends with the popular Minute Man races in Westport on April 28.

First up is Saturday’s April Fool’s 5K Race for DARE in Easton beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Samuel Staples Elementary School. On Sunday, the Walk/Run to Turn the Corner on Lyme begins at 11 a.m. at Sherwood Island State Park.  It includes 5K and 10K races and walks of 1.5 and three miles. (See the separate racing calendar for April in Fairfield County).

The DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) race has grown in popularity during its 13-year existence and last year had 299 finishers. Mark Pastor, a DARE officer and one of the organizers of the race along with his wife, Denise, said the early spot in the calendar helps them attract eager runners.

“We were looking for a time when there weren’t a lot of other races,” Pastor said. “Everybody kind of has their weekend. This works for us because everyone wants to come out for spring. April Fool’s is a good tag line for us. We know people expect it to be there every year. We get a lot of repeat runners.”

The race is also the only recreational event that starts and finishes in Easton each year. Some events – like the Connecticut Challenge charity bicycle ride – roll through Easton. The race is also the sole fundraiser for the DARE program, which teaches children skills to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence.  

“When you get the opportunity for a policeman to have another time to get in front of the kids and teach them about the dangers of drug abuse, it’s always positive,” said Pastor, who has been involved with the program for 22 years. “This race lets us do that. All of the money that we get from this race goes to DARE.”

Sunday’s races in Westport are in their fourth year and feature different layouts for the 5K and 10K races.  Sen. Richard Blumenthal is scheduled to attend for a portion of the event.

“One of the reasons we have it in April is so that people don’t have to pay the park entrance fee,” said organizer Orna Grand of Westport. “That’s a substantial savings. If the weather is OK, we’re hoping that we’ll have a good turnout.”

More information and registration for the DARE race and the Lyme race is available online.

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