Race Report: Miles for a Mission

  Today, I will be recapping the Miles for a Mission race held annually in Stamford, CT. This event is hosted by St. Francis Episcopal Church.

Course Map

Date: 21 September, 2025

Town: Stamford, CT, USA

Distance: 5km

Conditions: It was a mostly sunny morning with little wind. It was 59F when the race started.

Parking: Participants were directed to park on a dead end street behind St. Francis Church, where the race was held. There were multiple volunteers pointing out the parking area, which was convenient. A path through the ground was marked out for runners to follow to the registration area.

Check In: There were same-day registration and pre-registered packet pickup tables just inside the church, with no line at all. It was a quick and easy process to get my bib and tee shirt. The race kicked off with a beautiful and operatic rendition of the national anthem.

Course Description: The road race course was an out-and-back with some rolling hills. There was a substantial downhill in the first mile, which meant there was a substantial uphill in the third mile. There was a water stop at the turnaround point, which was also partway down a hill (not my favorite but that's ok). The finish was also a slightly uphill one, as the finish line was at the top of the church driveway. The race was hand-timed.

Afterparty: There were baskets of fruit, including apples and bananas, as well as granola bars and mini muffins. There were also bagels and cream cheese, and plenty of bottles of water. There was a "Dogapalooza" sign and dog-related activities were held somewhere on church property, but I did not partake. That did sound fun!