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Thousands Stepping Off For 5K, Half-Marathon In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Runners hitting the road for the Faxon Law Fairfield Half Marathon this Sunday will be energized by cheerleaders and fueled by live music throughout the road race.

Runners start the race in 2014.

Runners start the race in 2014.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Two runners enjoy the race.

Two runners enjoy the race.

Photo Credit: Contributed

“It’s like a community event on steroids,” Race Director and Fairfield resident Steve Lobdell told The Daily Voice. “We have drummers, pipes, rock bands. A couple of years ago, we had a Jimi Hendrix band out there.”

Nearly 4,000 participants have already entered the half-marathon.

The accompanying 5K — which is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Saturday June 27 —  is nearly half full.

The half-marathon is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. Sunday, June 28, at Jennings Beach.

The races are important fundraising events for many local nonprofits, according to Lobdell. Some groups have raised thousands of dollars over the years through the popular event.

The registration fee for the half-marathon is $70 online. But runners can receive a free entry by raising money for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

The 13.1-mile course is all paved and “runs along the nicest areas along the Long Island Sound shoreline,” Lobdell said.

The course begins and ends at Jennings Beach in Fairfield, but runners will also run along picturesque Beachside Avenue in Westport. 

Girl Scouts are scheduled to man the nine water stations along the course. Lobdell expects many Scouts to be at each station.

Those seeking to keep cool while running will get some help from the weekend weather.

“We’re going to have an exceptionally cool day,” Lobdell said, adding he expects overcast skies and maybe some light showers.

The half-marathon began in 1981, growing from a small community gathering into a nationally recognized event.

Dailyburn.com named the race, “One of the country’s top half marathons,” and Active.com included the event on its list of “9 Spectacular Summer Destination Races.”

Lobdell said the races attract runners from near and far, who patronize local hotels and restaurants before and after the event.

The field will include elite athletes from Ethiopia, Kenya, Russia and the United States.

Race organizers remind those taking part that shuttle buses will take runners from the Fairfield Metro train station — not the downtown station — to the starting line.

Registration is available at www.fairfieldhalf.org

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