Fall Road & Trail Races

Fall Road & Trail Races: The local road and trail race scene picks up again in the fall. Here’s ten in & around Armonk, Bedford & Chappaqua.

Bike & run! 7th Annual Church Tavern Biathlon – Mon, 9/4: 9:30am: This course for this 7 mile bike and 4 mile run travels on hilly secondary roads, circles Truesdale Lake and offers a scenic vista of Lewisboro from Mount Church Tavern. Be prepared for a 602-foot ascent on the bike course and a 414-foot ascent on the run. There is also a run or walk only race. The race ends with a free BBQ, music, kids activities and medals for all. St. John’s Episcopal Church sponsors the race to benefit the Community Center of Northern Westchester. (82 Spring St., S. Salem; more here.)

Charming! KVIS 5K & 1 Mile Kids Race, Katonah – Sat, 9/9: 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. For more info email katonahvis@gmail.com or check online: www.katonahvis.com)

Downtown! Mt. Kisco 5K & Kids Mad Dash: Sun, 9/17: 8:30am: The 4th annual Kisco 5K starts and finishes at Kirby Plaza at the Mt. Kisco Train Station. The Kids Mad Dash begins after the 5K finishes. Prizes for top 3 female and male runners and age group winners. Anticipated date: Sun, 9/18: 8:30am. Check online. (Kirby Plaza, Mt. Kisco; www.kiscorun.com)

Local! Jamie’s Run for Love at Cider & Donut Fest, Armonk – Sun, 9/17: 9am: This memorial run for Jamie Love who was a member of the Byram Hills cross country and track teams is part of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce’s Armonk Cider and Donut Festival. Events include: Petite Picassos 100 yd. dash for ages 2-8, the Monet Mile and Jamie’s 5K Run/Walk. Proceeds benefit children’s programs at the library.  (Wampus Brook Park, 28 Maple Ave., Armonk;  www.armonkchamber.org) 

Scenic & Challenging! Sarah Bishop Run 10K, North Salem – Sun, 9/24: 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. This race is limited to 400 runners and is part of the six race Trail Mix Series.  (Mountain Lakes Park, 201 Hawley Rd., N. Salem; www.sarahbishop.org)

Get your heart pumping to raise $$$ for heart health! 2017 Westchester Heart Walk, American Heart Association, Kensico Dam Valhalla – Sat. 10/1: 10am: Dogs and strollers are welcome at this American Heart Association walk at Kensico Dam in Valhalla. The walk’s goal is to raise $358,500 … and their at $109,294 as we write. Register onsite beginning at 9am. (1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla; heartwalk.org)

Local! Armonk, Bedford, Chappaqua Schools Color Run, Fox Lane HS – Sun, 10/15: 8:30am. The Family Reach Clubs of Byram Hills, Fox Lane, Greeley and John Jay High Schools color run is a 5K race (where you run through a mist of non-toxic paint). The event raises funds for The Family Reach Foundation (FRF) – a non-profit that assists families struggling with cancer. They have raised over $200,000 for FRF over the past four years. The event is followed by a block party with lots of food trucks. Register onsite. Read more. Www.familyreach.org/rainbow

Moo! Run the Farm 5M, Muscoot Farm – Sun, 10/22: 9;30am & Kids Mile: 8:30am: Muscoot’s farm races offer a tough (but scenic) 5 mile course 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. Races start at 8:30, 8:45 & 9:30am. Arrive 30 minutes before race start time. Registration ends 10/1! (Rt. 100, Somers; www.runthefarm.org)

Beautiful Trail! Rocky’s 5K, Rockefeller State Park, Pleasantville – Sat, 10/21: 9am: This beautiful course on carriage trails through Rockefeller State Park Preserve begins near the main parking lot and follows the scenic 13 Bridges and Gory Trails. All proceeds benefit the park’s trail maintenance. Read our Bucket List: Rockefeller State Park for more about this amazing park. (1 Rockwood Rd., Sleepy Hollow; www.rockysraces.org)

Raven Rocks 10K Run, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River – Sun, 11/12: 9am: The Raven Rocks 10k Run is a the first new trail run at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY in over 20 years. The 10k course climbs up to the two highest points in the park (Raven Rocks Overlook and the Fire Tower Summit) before heading back for a downhill and flat finish. The race supports the Reservation’s Trailside Museum in it’s efforts to bring back the Blue Trail tower to its former spot in the park. (Reservation Rd., Cross River; www.ravensrockrun.org)

Classic: Bedford Turkey Trot – Sat, 11/25: 8am: Billed as “the hardest 5K in New York”, the Turkey Trot raises funds for Bedford Community Table/Pantry. 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. 7am for sign-in. Walkers start at 8am, runners at 8:20 am. (Bedford Village Elementary School, Court St., Bedford; www.bedfordturkeytrot.org)

Training Tips from Northern Westchester Hospital: Are you a weekend road & trail race warrior? Or are you looking to just keep up a running regimen for personal health & fitness … without too may setbacks? Here are some training tips from Karl Rusch, a orthopedic physical therapist at Northern Westchester Hospital and Michael Silverman, Director of Rehabilitation and Wellness at Northern Westchester Hospital, that can keep you running at the right pace – no matter what level of runner you are.

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