Attention, Farmington Runners!: West Hartford Relay Set for Sept. 28

Looking for a great team running event that doubles as a terrific tune-up for the Hartford Marathon?

The 2nd-annual West Hartford Relay, scheduled for Sept. 28, is just what the doctor - or coach - ordered.

Teams of 2, 4 or 8 runners take part in the 40-mile relay race, passing the baton from one teammate to the next in front of the West Hartford Town Hall. Depending on how large the team, runners can cover legs of 20, 10 or 5 miles.

All proceeds from the event - last year raised $4,400 - are donated to the West Hartford Public Schools physical education department.

This year’s event has an added wrinkle - a kids 5-mile relay for children ages 2 to 12 years old. Teams of four members (each running 1.25 miles) will take part in the race, according to relay co-chair Sarah Fite.

Some 30 teams - about 135 runners - took part last year in the event, which was borne out of Fite’s and co-chair Kim Cowherd-Iacovazzi’s love of running relay races.

“It’s taken on a life of its own,” Fite said in a telephone interview. “There are these relays that are massive endeavors - 200-mile races that require overnight trips, which we love to do. We decided to do something smaller, but local. Running in a team environment is unique.”

With obesity in America reaching epidemic proportions, the idea is to also get kids excited about health and fitness, Fite said.