ATHLETE GUIDE
PARKING
Please do not enter Ridgefield Playhouse into your GPS, as you will not be able to park or drop off there. Refer to the map for guidance.
Parking is available at all town lots (marked with blue “P” on the map). You can view a full map of town parking lots here. All locations are within ¼ mile of the start/finish—approximately a 5–7 minute walk or less.
Additional parking is available at:
- Veterans Park School
- East Ridge Middle School (the largest parking lot in town, located directly on the course)
DROP-OFFS
If you are being dropped off, please use one of the following locations:
- Ridgefield Library (enter via Main Street)
- Ridgefield Thrift Shop
- Veterans Park School
Each is less than a ¼ mile walk to the start and allows for an easy exit for drivers.
Please avoid drop-offs at the entrance to Yanity Gym. We strongly recommend using one of the locations listed above.
BMW of Ridgefield is back and turning up the excitement as the Official Host of Package Pick-Up!
Join us at the BMW of Ridgefield Delivery Center on Friday, May 8th to grab your race day bag—and experience one of the finest delivery centers anywhere. This isn’t just pick-up… it’s part of the race day experience.
And they’re not stopping there—BMW of Ridgefield will be right at the finish line, bringing the energy and cheering you all the way in!
Get ready to feel the excitement with the Karla Murtaugh Homes Team all race long!
🔥 Before you start, swing by the Karla Murtaugh Homes Team Cheer Zone and soak up the energy—it’s the perfect boost to kick off your race.
🎉 After you finish, don’t miss the celebration in Ballard Park at the Karla Murtaugh Homes Team Photo Tent!
As a proud the ORIGINAL SPONSOR of RUN LIKE A MOTHER, the Karla Murtaugh Homes Team is bringing the fun—snap a photo with your official race time, grab some props, and celebrate with your teammates. This is your finish-line moment… make it count!
RACE DAY TIMELINE
6:30 AM – Packet Pick-Up Opens, please allow time to pick-up if you don't go on Friday or Saturday.
📍 In Run Like a Mother Village at the start of the race
⏰ Closes at 8:15 AM
7:15 AM – Karla Murtaugh Homes Team Motivation Station Opens
🎨 Create your own cheer poster. Keep your kids busy with an activity until the start.
7:30 AM – All-Denominations Prayer Service delivered by Reverend Whitney Altopp of St. Stephens Church
📍 Near the baseball field gates
7:55 AM – Kids’ One Mile Line-Up
8:00 AM – Kids’ One Mile Race Starts
👉 Arrive by 7:35 AM (earlier if you need to pick up your packet)
8:20 AM – 5K Race Line-Up
👉 Arrive by 8:10 AM
⚠️ Kids’ race will still be finishing during this time.
8:30 AM – 5K Race Starts
📍 Ridgefield Playhouse parking lot (south side)
8:50 AM (approx.) – First 5K Finishers
📍 Ballard Park
9:30 AM – Main Street Reopens
Important Race Day Tips
- 🚗 Plan ahead for parking: Roads near the Playhouse get congested, especially after 8:00 AM when the Kids’ race begins.
- ⛔ Avoid driving on: Governor Street & East Ridge Road near the Police Station
- 🚶 Give yourself extra time to park and walk to the start
- 🚻 Portable toilets will be available at the start—but lines are normal at races, so plan accordingly
Make sure your spectators get a cowbell from Fairfield County Bank at the start of the race so they can cheer you on!
Please thank a SPHERE volunteer when they hand you your medal and flower packed by Iris Fund. The Iris Fund is also supporting a lactation tent at the start of the race. Look for their tent.
THE AWARDS
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5k Women’s Race Top 3 overall (women only) and Age groups starting 10+ and every 10-year increments. |
Kids One Mile Top 3 male/female
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Thank you to our partners StretchLabs, Susi Laura Massage, Ridgefield Academy and Ridgefield Ophthalmology for supporting the awards this year!
Thank you to our partner Custom Ts of Ridgefield for supporting the Kids One-Mile Race!
Post-race finisher snacks in Ballard Park are courtesy of Connecticut Breast Imaging
Smile! Your FREE race photos will be available for download in the days after the race! We’ll send you an email when they’re ready. Please tag us @runlikeamotherlife or @ctrun.co when you share!
Free race photos are courtesy of 98Q and 94.5 The Hawk.
FAQ
Are strollers allowed?
Yes—strollers are allowed for the 5K only. Participants with strollers must line up at the back of the starting pack. This is a looped course and participants with strollers must yield to athletes that may be coming up behind them. Better yet, have a family member watch your baby so that you can run the race on your own and meet them all to celebrate in the park!
I’m a man—can I run? Can my son run the 5K?
Yes! We won’t turn anyone away. It is a Women's 5K, meant to encourage women to particpate. The shirts are women's cut and awards are only given in female categories.
For the Kids’ One Mile, awards are available for both male and female participants under the age of 12, and are for the top 1,2,3 finishers overall. Participants in the Kids One-Mile will receive a ribbon.
Will there be water on the course?
Yes. There will be one water station, which you will pass twice on the looped portion of the course. We encourage you to carry your own fluids to reduce waste. Unless it’s very hot or humid, most participants won’t need water for a 5K. There will be water at the finish line!
Where do I wear my bib number?
Please pin your bib to the front of your shirt. Do not remove the foam or the timing chip on the back.
Can I wear my race shirt during the run?
Absolutely! You’re welcome to wear the race shirt or whatever you feel most comfortable in.
Can I run with my dog?
No dogs are allowed. If you require a service animal, please contact us in advance. Please note that dogs are also not permitted in Ballard Park per town regulations, so spectators should leave pets at home.
Can I run with headphones?
For safety reasons, please limit headphone use. Use only one earbud or open-ear headphones so you can hear police, volunteers, vehicles, and other runners. Full-coverage headphones and personal speakers are not allowed.
Is there a course time limit?
Yes. The 5K has a one-hour time limit (approximately a 19-minute-per-mile pace). After that—or earlier if directed by police—you will be asked to move to the sidewalks as roads reopen.
The Kids’ One Mile has a 20-minute time limit. Parents of younger children should be prepared to assist if needed.
I can’t run. Can I get a refund?
No refunds are available for any reason, including injury or illness. However, you may transfer (“gift”) your bib to another participant until May 1, 2026. After that date, transfers are no longer permitted.
I registered for the virtual race. Can I run the in-person Ridgefield race?
No. These are separate events. Running the in-person course during the race without proper registration is considered “banditing” and will result in disqualification. If you’d like to switch, please contact us.
Can my kids run with me during the 5K?
Only registered participants who meet the age requirements may run the full 5K. Younger children may join you for the final stretch (about the last 50 yards) in Ballard Park—have them wait near the corner of Main & Gilbert.
Can I run with my child during the Kids’ One Mile?
Yes. Parents of preschool-aged children (or children with special needs who require assistance) may accompany them. Strollers and wagons are not permitted. All participants must be able to complete the mile within 20 minutes.
Can my friends run with me?
Only if they are registered participants.
Are there prizes?
Yes! Awards will be given to the top three overall female finishers, along with age group awards in ten-year increments. (Additional details TBD.)
Can an unregistered friend or family member run with me?
No. This is considered “banditing,” which means using race resources without registering. This includes course support, safety personnel, and insurance coverage. It also creates safety risks, as unregistered runners cannot be properly identified in case of emergency. Please respect race rules and register all participants.
This is my first race—anything I should know?
Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here. Our motto is “No Mother Left Behind”—you can and will finish. We even have a “Sweep Fairy” who finishes last so that no one else has to!
When is packet pickup? packet pickup 5/8 Fri 12-6 at BMW,. 5/9 Sat 9-5. Ridgefield running Race morning at Yanity Gym opening at 630am
Partners
