Are you running in costume this weekend? I will be, at the Screaming Pumpkin relay tonight and Allerton on Sunday. Send me a photo of you running in costume and I’ll post it.
Here’s the list for this weekend and next:

Weekend of Oct. 26-28:
— Allerton Trail Run

The Allerton Trail Run will celebrate its 25th anniversary this weekend. The race is Sunday at Allerton Park.
I wrote about the race recently, but at the time I hadn’t tracked down any of the founders of the race, a couple of whom now live out of state.

There are lots of good events the next two weekends, and it looks like it will be fairly warm this weekend. So pick a race and go have fun.
Here’s the list:

Weekend of Oct. 20-21:
— Oktoberfest 5K and Punkin Run

The Allerton Trail Run is an annual tradition for many of the 500 or so runners it attracts from throughout central Illinois.

It’s a great setting: The trail goes through the woods, along the banks of the Sangamon River, past some of the statuary and gardens of Allerton Park, to finish in the meadow with a post-race brunch.

Very sad news – Joe Seeley passed away this weekend.

Joe was a longtime runner, youth soccer coach, a key part of the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon organization, a Human Kinetics employee, and a husband and father.

He was a strong supporter of local running and youth soccer. He touched many lives in the community, and he will be missed.

Sounds like it will be a great weekend for running or riding or just being outside. If you’re looking for a race, here’s the list:

Weekend of Oct. 13-14:
— Women’s Fitness 5K

Good luck to everyone running the Chicago Marathon this weekend! If you want a shorter and more local race, check out the list.

Weekend of Oct. 6-7:
— Wooly Worm 5K
This is a 5K and a family fun run/walk on Saturday in Camargo. The race benefits the Playtime Cooperative Nursery School. You can register on race day beginning at 6 a.m.

Most of my training and races are on the roads. But a couple of weekends ago, I ran a half-marathon on wide, grassy, hilly trails in northern Wisconsin. It was a beautiful fall day, the trees were turning colors and I was running through woods the entire way.

Fall is my favorite season for many reasons, but one is that it is such great weather for running and there are so many races! Check out this list — lots of options for the next two weekends. Happy racing!

Weekend of Sept. 29-30:
— Wild Wild Wilderness

Today is Run@Work Day! I’ll be stuck in a car driving all day, but I hope you can find time to run, either before or after work, or during a break in your work day.