Muscoot Farm Trail Runs Welcome Kids and Grown Ups for Third Year

Muscoot Farm will host the third annual "Run The Farm" and "Kids Run The Farm" trail races on Sunday, October 21, 2012. The event has been a huge success during the first two years of its existence. It is a perfect day to enjoy the park, the farmer's market, and share in the athletic feats of everyone from toddlers to elite distance runners.

This year there are already nearly 500 kids and adults already registered for the 3 events. Online registration is currently open but will close in early October. Organizers expect over 750 total registrants by closing.

"Kids Run The Farm" is geared towards two age groups: 1.) 6 years and under and 2.) 7-12 years old. The younger kids will run a course that is 0.6 miles long (1k) while the older kids will take on a more challenging 1.1 mile course (2k). The kids races will be clearly marked with course marshalls directing everyone to the right trail. Parents or older siblings are allowed and encouraged to run with the younger kids.

These races will be followed by the 5 mile "Run The Farm" trail race that takes the runners into the rolling hills of backwoods Muscoot Farm. Trail features include meadows, stone walls, a cliffside scramble, and "Godino's Grind" a hill at the 3 mile mark that tests the quads of even the most fit runners. The race closes with a final sprint in the farmyard past the cows, sheep, pigs, horses, and goats to end next to the finish line ducks.

As each finisher comes through the chute they will receive "Farm Bucks" good for $2 (kids race) or $5 (5 mile race) that can be used at the Muscoot Farmers Market on the day of the races. The idea is to encourage runners and families to take a stroll through the market after the races.

Top finishers in the age group categories will get pies or tarts. Kids races will have pies for top finishers in each age (i.e. top finisher pie for 12 year old girl, 12 year old boy, 11 year old girl, 11 year old boy, etc.) All kids will receive a finishing medal as well.

Kids races start at 8:30am sharp. The 5 mile race starts at 9:15am and will not begin until the kids races are complete. Parking is across Route 100 from the farm. Carpooling is encouraged!

More information can be found at the Run The Farm website at http://runthefarm.org. The race is run by the Leatherman Harriers, the same group that runs the Leatherman's Loop at Pound Ridge Reservation every spring. Post race musical entertainment will be provided and runners and families are encouraged to stick around and enjoy the farm, the market, and the festivities.

The Muscoot Farmer's Market is open from 10-3 every Sunday from May-November.