The Year’s Final Starting Lines

The window on running for medals in Door County is closing fast, but you don’t have to put your racer’s edge in winter storage quite yet. There are still a few opportunities to pound the pavement in organized runs this fall.

Coming up October 1 is the Potawatomi State Park Run Wild (www.runwild.org) in Sturgeon Bay. The run features a 10k for the serious runner, plus a 3-mile run/ walk and a 1/3 mile Smokey Bear Run for kids.

The sixth annual Fall 50 (www.fall50.com) brings the county’s most grueling endurance challenge of the year October 22, with 1,400 runners leaving from the tip of the peninsula and pounding 50 miles of pavement to Sturgeon Bay. Some runners will complete it on their own, but most will do it as part of a relay, which filled just 50 days after registration opened in April (you might, however, be able to latch on to a team in search of another runner. Check out “Door County Fall 50” on Facebook to search for openings or to post your interest in running).

Finally, for fans of cooler running weather, there’s the family-friendly Turkey Trot in Institute November 5, featuring a half-mile fun run and 1, 2 and 4-mile runs. Age group winners will receive a different medal – a frozen turkey (not on a lanyard). Call Lynn Zawojski at 920.743.8738 for information.

After that it’s wait till next year time, so lace ‘em up and get the cool-weather gear out for a few last starting lines!