Fall Road & Trail Races & Charity Walks

Fall Road & Trail Races & Charity Walks: Eleven road & trail races and charity walks that will get you outside and doing good this fall. 

The Church Tavern Challenge, South Salem, Mon, 9/2: 8:30am : The Church Tavern Challenge is five distinct races. Each races winds through the hills and country lanes of South Salem, starting and finishing at St. John’s Church. Following the competition runners can cool down and relax with delicious barbecue and beverages. There will be musical entertainment and fun games for the kids. St. John’s Parish sponsors the race to benefit the Community Center of Northern Westchester and the work of the parish. (St. John’s Church, 82 Spring St., South Salem; www.runsignup.com)

KVIS 5K, Katonah, Sat, 9/7: 8am: The Katonah Village Improvement Society’s 5K is staged to begin and end at the junction of Edgemont and The Parkway in the heart of Katonah Village. This event will also feature a 1 mile challenge for kids. KVIS 5K Start Time: 8am. Kids 1 Miles Run: 8:45am. For more info email katonahvis@gmail.com) (Edgemont & Parkway, Katonah; www.katonahkvis.org)

Bedford Riding Lanes Association Inaugural 5K Run, John Jay Homestead, Sun, 9/8: 7:30am: This inaugural 5K run on the Bedford Riding Lanes Association trails precedes their Fall Hunter Pace which begins at 9am. Both start at the John Jay Homestead and return there for the BRLA’s annual Fall Pace Luncheon. Non-riders are welcome at the Fall Pace as spectators and also for lunch. (john Jay Homestead, 400 Jay St., Katonah; www.bedfordridinglane.com)

Mt. Kisco 5K & Kids Mad Dash, Kirby Plaza, Sun, 9/15: 8:30am: The 6th annual Mt. Kisco 5K starts and finishes at Kirby Plaza at the Mt. Kisco Train Station. The course is an out and back 5k course up Main Street, into and out of Leonard Park, and back down Main Street.  The Kids Mad Dash begins after the 5K finishes. (Kirby Plaza, Mt. Kisco; www.kiscorun.com)

Jamie’s 5K Run for Love, Armonk, Sun, 9/15: 9:15am: This memorial run honors Jamie Love who was a member of the Byram Hills cross country and track teams. Proceeds from this event benefit children’s programs at the North Castle Public Library. Together with the Armonk Chamber of Commerce’s Cider & Donut Festival and the Byram Hills Preschool Association’s Fall Carnival, it’s a big day in Armonk.The races begin at 9:15am with the 100 yard Donut Dash for kids 2-8. The Macintosh Mile for boys and girls begins at 9:25am. The 5K race begins at 9:45 am. (Wampus Brook Park, 28 Maple Way, Armonk; www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com)

Sarah Bishop Bushwack 10K, North Salem, Sun, 9/29: 9am: This challenging 10K trail race in North Salem’s Mountain Lakes Park traverses 1,000 acres of scenic woodlands, streams and lakes and offers beautiful vistas. The course features 1,000 feet of total elevation gain taking runners over Bailey Mountain – Westchester’s highest point. The course starts at Hemlock Lake. It passes Lookout Point and continues over Bailey Mountain (at 982 feet, the highest point in Westchester). Nearing the Connecticut border, the course passes Spruce Lake, then finishes near Hemlock Lake. (Mountain Lakes Park, 201 Hawley Rd., N. Salem, www.sarahbishop.org)

AHA Heart Walk, Kensico Dam, Sat, 10/5: 9am: Dogs and strollers are welcome at this American Heart Association walk at Kensico Dam in Valhalla. Register onsite beginning at 9am. Opening ceremony at 9:45am. The walk begins at 10am. Registration is free! Instead, participants are encouraged to fundraise so your impact is limitless (don’t worry, we’ll help!) and make a personal donation to support the Heart Walk. (Kensico Dam, 1 Bronx River Pkwy., Walhalla; www2.heart.org)

Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer, FDR Park Yorktown,Sun, 10/6: 9am: There’s free refreshments and entertainment after this 3-mile walk for Support Connection. But you may want to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the park. Support Connection provides free support services for those living with breast and ovarian cancer throughout the Hudson Valley. Including counseling, support groups, and educational and wellness programs. They also maintain the upscale resale boutique, Fantastic Finds, in Chappaqua. (FDR Park, 2957 Crompond Rd, Yorktown Heights; www.supportconnection.org)

Rocky’s 5K, Rockefeller State Park, Sat, 10/19: 9am: This scenic course on well-maintained carriage trails through Rockefeller State Park Preserve is a runner’s paradise. You’ll find it right off Rt. 117 just past Pace College. It begins near the main parking lot and follows the scenic 13 Bridges and Gory trails. There isn’t a prettier place to run in our area. Best of all, your admission fee supports the park’s trail maintenance program. (125 Phelps Way, Pleasantville; www.friendsrock.org)

Run the Farm 5M & Kids Run, Muscoot Farm, Sun, 10/20: 8:30am: Muscoot’s farm races offer a tough (but scenic) 5 mile course around the farm and through the woods; a 1.1 mile race for kids (7-12), and a .6 mile run for kids under 6. Runners receive farm bucks to use at the Farmer’s Market. Kids races start at 8:30 & 8:45am. The Run the Farm 5M fun begins at 9:30am. Check out the farmers market, animals and historic buildings after the race. (51 Rt. 100, Katonah; www.runsignup.com)

Raven Rocks Run 10K, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River, Sun, 11/10: 9am: The 5th annual Raven Rocks 10K will start in the Meadow, the same spot where the Leatherman’s Loop begins. But instead of heading towards the river, the Raven Rocks Run 10k course climbs. Up to the two highest points in the park, Raven Rocks Overlook and the Fire Tower Summit. From there it heads back for a mostly downhill and relatively flat finish. (Reservation Road, Cross River; www.runsignup.com)

Bedford Turkey Trot, Bedford Village Elementary School, Sat, 11/30: 9am: Billed as “the hardest 5K in New York”, the Turkey Trot raises funds for Bedford Community Table. The course begins on Court Road at the Bedford Village Elementary School. The halfway point is at the top of Indian Hill Road – not for the faint of heart – and finishes at Bedford Village Memorial Park. There is also a 2-mile walk. Pre-registration required. (45 Court Street, Bedford Village; www.facebook.bedfordturkeytrot.com)