Next to homemade cards and big hugs, Run Like A Mother (RLAM) is truly the BEST Mother's Day gift a mom will receive. Thank you to RLAM founder Megan Searfoss for your hard work and for empowering mothers to be healthy, strong, and confident.
More than 1500 runners (and tons of fans) gathered outside of the Ridgefield Playhouse on what is arguably one of 2023's top ten days, starting Mother’s Day on the right foot!
The one and only Big Daddy (aka Sean McKee) sang the National Anthem just before the gun sounded alerting runners that it was game time! With Eye of the Tiger resonating through Downtown Ridgefield, Mother’s Day hearts were beating fast.
The race took athletes through scenic downtown Ridgefield and finally to the finish line in Ballard Park where participants were greeted by many cheering fans! A 2023 Finisher's medal and a beautiful iris courtesy of The Iris Fund and Fairfield County Bank awaited the runners.
Adrenaline-filled athletes, along with friends and family members extended the RLAM celebration in the park where refreshments, relaxation stations, and activities awaited - thanks to the many event sponsors who made the finish line a true party!
Once again proceeds from the race benefit the Noreen L Papa "Mothers: Live Your Life" Fund at the Ridgefield Library. Noreen Papa, an integral part of Run Like a Mother for many years, passed away in 2013 from cancer.
Founded by Megan Searfoss in her hometown of Ridgefield sixteen years ago, Run Like a Mother has become a national sensation with sister races in Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio.
Searfoss is the founder of Ridgefield Running Company and Darien Running Company and authored, See Mom Run-Every Mother’s Guide to Getting Fit and Running Her First 5K.
The mission of Run Like a Mother® is to fuel a woman's journey toward health and wellness, empower with education and training programs, inspire with communities, events and races, and enable through programs and partnerships. Searfoss says, "Run Like a Mother® Isn't Just a Race, It's Our Way of Life."
Congratulations to all this morning's runners, in particular, the top finishers:
#1 Courtney Kitchen, age 22 from West Chester, PA with pace of 6:18
#2 Ridgefield resident, age 46, Bonnie Pope - pace of 6:49
#3 Meghan Newman, age 36 of Ridgefield - pace of 6:52
#4 Cheryl Clark. age 36 of Ridgefield - pace of 6:25