Ridgefield Half Marathon & 7 Miler

Governor Street between East Ridge and Ridgefield Thrift Shop parking lot will close at 5:30 AM for race setup.

DO NOT PUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INTO YOUR GPS; you won’t be able to get there!

Runners and spectators, please park at the following lots, all within ¼ mile of Race Central (all Google-map-able):

East Ridge Middle School (.5 miles) approx. a 10 min walk
Veterans Park Elementary School (approach from Main Street and not East Ridge Rd.)
Ridgefield Playhouse (.2 miles) approx. a 6 min walk
Bissell Pharmacy parking lot area (approach from Main Street and not East Ridge Rd). a 1 minute walk


Note there is NO RUNNER PARKING at the Town’s Governor Street lot, RVNA lower lot, or Boys & Girls Club.

If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.

Questions?

Refer 4 friends and get a refund of $30.00! When 4 friends sign up for the Half Marathon using your exclusive referral link, you'll automatically receive a $30 refund! You must refer 4 to trigger the refund, and we'll track it all for you! Eligible referral registrations must happen BEFORE September 15!

You can find your exclusive referral links in your registration confirmation email (check your spam folder). You can share it via multiple platforms such as Facebook, email, and text!

 

The 47th running of the Half Marathon and 7 Miler is Presented to you by Karla Murtaugh Homes

 

 

 

Make sure you scroll all the way down to the bottom so you don't miss anything

 

WHERE TO PARK

 

Governor Street between East Ridge and Ridgefield Thrift Shop parking lot will be closed beginning at 5:30 AM for race setup. DO NOT PUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INTO YOUR GPS; you won’t be able to get there!

Runners and spectators, please park at the following lots, all within ¼ mile of Race Central (all Google-map-able):

• East Ridge Middle School (.5 miles) approx. a 10 min walk

• Veterans Park Elementary School (approach from Main Street and not East Ridge Rd.)  

• Ridgefield Playhouse  (.2 miles) approx. a 6 min walk

• Bissell Pharmacy parking lot area (approach from Main Street and not East Ridge Rd). a 1 minute walk

Note there is NO RUNNER PARKING at the Town’s Governor Street lot, RVNA lower lot, or Boys & Girls Club.  

*There is no bag check please leave your things in your car. All parking is within ⅛ mile of the start.*

The Boys and Girls Club facility will NOT be open to the public.

 

SAFETY/TRAFFIC ALERTS

 

Don't forget to check out the MAPS section on this website for course maps and other info. 

 

The course is OPEN to traffic! Police will pause traffic to let runners through but be aware of your surroundings. Please stay to the left and FACE oncoming traffic unless police or the route directs you otherwise. Avoid running in giant groups of three or more as to let cars and other runners pass you safely. Please leave the headphones at home or wear open-ear headphones and keep the volume low; we’ve had too many close calls in past years. 

On the section of road on both between Silver Spring and West Lane, you will be directed to stay to the right side so that you do not cross a busy road twice. Please run single file.

Coming back onto Main Street at Mile 12 (mile 6 of the 7-Miler), through the turn at Market Street, stay within the traffic cones:. There will still be cars yielding around the cones, so stay alert!

On the quieter streets, allow cars to pass by staying to the left facing traffic and being alert, just as you would on a long run by yourself. Remember, the roads are open and we must share the road. Avoid running 3-4 abreast.

 

PACKET PICKUP

 

Friday, October 18th:  12 noon  - 5 PM  at  Ridgefield Running Co. 423 Main Street, Ridgefield

 

Saturday, October 19th:  9 AM  -  4:30 PM at  Ridgefield Running Co. 423 Main Street, Ridgefield

 

Sunday (RACE DAY):   6 AM  -  7:05 AM (sharp)   

 

We HIGHLY suggest you pick up your packets on Friday or Saturday as there is always a line on Sunday. You may pick up for others and others can pick up for you. We love when people come and pick up multiple packets! We will write names on the back of the bibs to easily manage multiple pickups.  

Lesser Evil will be partnering with us and providing snacks at packet pickup!

 

MISC FAQ's 

 

• Are strollers and dogs allowed on the race? No. Strollers and dogs are not allowed for safety reasons. If you are a member of Achilles International or a similar organization and would like to compete with a hand cycle or push-rim wheelchair, please email using this link and we will be happy to work out accommodations.

• Can I wear headphones? We would STRONGLY prefer that you not wear headphones. The roads are not closed to traffic and you need to be able to hear your surroundings and police/course marshal instructions. People have missed turns due to having earbuds in and not hearing marshals -IT HAPPENS!

• Is the course certified? Can I use it to qualify for other races? The 13.1 course is a USATF Certified course, Certification #CT19003JRG. Please note this is not a Boston Qualifying course, only 26.2 courses are eligible for that designation. However, if you are trying for guaranteed entry into another full marathon with a half marathon qualifying time, this course will likely be accepted (the final call is always up to that race organization to which you are applying.)

• I can't run. Can I just give someone else my bib? No For safety reasons, we need to know exactly who is on the course. If a runner needs medical attention we use the info from the race bib to make emergency contacts. Plus, wearing another's bib can interfere with the age group and even overall race results. Please do not "give" your bib to others.

• If I'm signed up for the Half Marathon, can I decide to run the 7-Miler on race day? And vice-versa? Well, we're not going to stop you, but we will have timing mats on the course and we'll see how many laps you did. The 13.1 and the 7-Miler also have different color race bibs. If there is a discrepancy between what you signed up for and what you ran, you will receive a DQ in the results. (Also, if you run the 13.1 when you were signed up for and paid for the 7-Miler, that's just not cool.)

• My friend/spouse/child is not registered. Can he/she just run with me? No. This is called "banditing" and is essentially using race resources without paying for them (a.k.a. stealing). It's also a safety issue, and even if that person doesn't take the medal or use the potties, they are still using resources they haven't paid for (police, EMS, permitting, labor, signage, etc) . We have capacity limits set for the race as per Ridgefield Police Dept, so it's also like crashing a wedding or party you didn't RSVP for. Please don't bandit races; create a legit registration instead.

• I can't make it to Package Pick Up, can a friend pick up for me?  Yes.
  Does the race happen rain or shine?  You bet!  Unless there is a natural disaster that prevents a safe race course, there will be a race!

• There is a COURSE TIME LIMIT. As per RPD, every runner must be off the course by 10:30 AM. Don’t worry, that gives you 3 hours and 15 minutes to finish.

• This is a 14:58 per mile pace. YOU GOT THIS! 

• (If you need to drop out for any reason during the race, please tell a course marshal or fluid station volunteer, and we will arrange to pick you up to bring back to the start.)

• For the safety of our athletes and town regulation athletes must complete the course within 3 hours.

• I can't race, can I get a refund? Sorry, no refunds or transfers for any reason; races are planned months in advance. We pay vendors and have to buy runner gifts quite early in the planning process (it's a bit like a wedding!). You can defer your entry to the 2025 race for free, but the last day to defer is 10/06/24. Log into your RunSignUp account and go to "Manage Registration" to make a deferral. Runners who deferred from 2023 to 2024 may not defer a second time.

• I want to switch from the 13.1 to the 7-Miler (or vice-versa). How can I do that? Log into your RunSignUp account and go to "Manage Registration" to change events. Deadline: 10/06/24.

 

COURSE AMENITIES

 

Staff and members of Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield will be managing the hydration stations, please say hello and thanks!

Hydration for the Half Marathon: Water at miles 2.25, 4.8, 7, and 9.5. 

Hydration for the 7-Miler: Water at miles 2.25, 3.25, and 5.3. 

 

There will be portable toilets on South Olmstead Road:

 

7-Milers: Approximately mile 2.3.

Half Marathoners: Approximately miles 2.3 and mile 7. 

Big thanks to EZ Moving LLC for allowing us to place them there for the weekend.

Please do not litter on the course or do “your biz” on private property. It’s not cool; plus, you never know where security cameras will be!

 

Get ready to look ridiculously photogenic for our photographers, and smile because you’re getting FREE race photo downloads! Downloads will be available in the days after the race. If you share online, be sure to tag us @ridgefieldhalf! 

Thank you 98Q and 94.5 The Hawk for the photo partnership.

 

***START TIMES/SCHEDULE***
Subject to change 

 

6:00 AM                     Race Central OPENS for Packet Pickup

7:05 AM                     Runners called to line up at start & packet pick up CLOSES

7:15 AM                     START FOR 13.1 and 7-milers 

7:50 AM                     Approximate winner for 7-Miler arrives at the finish

8:00 AM                     Approximate start of post-race party (bagels, sliders, & hot dogs)

8:30 AM                     Approximate winner for 13.1 arrives at the finish

9:30 AM                     Approximate time for awards to be announced.

 

Race Central 

 

  Get a great post-run stretch with a Flexologist after you race. Look for the Stretch Lab tent! 

 

The post-race bagels, sliders & dogs for the runners will be from Chez Lenard, and are courtesy of The Iris Fund. The Iris Fund works to understand what causes labor in a full-term pregnancy so that we can eventually stop labor from starting early - preventing preterm birth. You’ll see many Iris Fund supporters racing and spectating on Sunday. 

Iris Fund will also have the PR Bell Tent so stop by if you PR and ring the bell and take a photo! 

 

 

Come enjoy some delicious Kombucha with drinks provided by Cross Culture Kombucha!

 

Come stop by the ONS table and the ONS photo results tent. 

 

AWARDS

 

Cash prize for the top three overall winners for the half both male/female 100, 75, 50 

Gift card award for top three overall winners for the 7 miler male/female 75, 60, 50 

First place Age Group awards will receive Ridgefield Running  Gift Cards (may be used at any of our stores or online). 

 

 

This is a production of Ridgefield Running Company's Race Team

 

There is a COURSE TIME LIMIT. As per RPD, every runner must be off the course by 10:30 AM. Don’t worry, that gives you 3 hours and 15 minutes to finish. This is a 14:58 per mile pace.

 

YOU GOT THIS!  (If you need to drop out for any reason during the race, please tell a course marshal or fluid station volunteer, and we will arrange to pick you up to bring back to the start.)

For the safety of our athletes and town regulation athletes must complete the course within 3 hours.

 

Check out the Half Marathon below.  It is a downloadable pdf. OR Check out on STRAVA HERE

 

Check out the 7- Mile route on STRAVA HERE

 

NOTE: The 13.1 course is a USATF Certified course, Certification #CT19003JRG. Please note this is not a Boston Qualifying course, only 26.2 courses are eligible for that designation. However, if you are trying for guaranteed entry into another full marathon with a half marathon qualifying time, this course will likely be accepted (the final call is always up to that race organization to which you are applying.)

Detailed downloadable Course map in PDF form below: See Key on map for more info

Hydration for the Half Marathon: Water at miles 2.25, 4.8, 7, and 9.5. 
Hydration for the 7-Miler: Water at miles 2.25, 3.25, and 5.3. 

There will be portable toilets on South Olmstead Road:
7-Milers: Approximately mile 2.3.
Half Marathoners: Approximately miles 2.3 and mile 7. 

Big thanks to EZ Moving LLC for allowing us to place them there for the weekend.

Please do not litter on the course or do “your biz” on private property. It’s not cool; plus, you never know where security cameras will be!

Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.