The Great GO! St. Louis Halloween Race in Eureka is expanding to two days.
Event organizers are promising family-friendly options in addition to races for serious runners.
Mona Vespa, GO! St. Louis president, said fall festival-like activities will take place Saturday, Oct. 19, at Kircher Park, 25 Williams Road. The activities include a 1-mile fun run for owners and their dogs called the Great Pupkin Run at 4 p.m., a 5K race at 5 p.m., and another 1-mile fun run at 6 p.m.
At 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, runners and walkers may participate in the 10K and half marathon races. Since the races start and finish in Kircher Park, Vespa said the routes will be changed significantly from years past, focusing more on Eureka’s neighborhoods and parks rather than Hwy. 109.
“We moved to two days for a couple of reasons,” Vespa said. “One, we really wanted to allow for some growth and more runners and families to come, and the way to do that, with consideration for parking and even just traffic in general, was to divide up the volume of people. We also think it’s kind of fun to have some Halloween-like festivities in the early evening (on Saturday). It creates a little bit more of a family-friendly atmosphere.”
Eureka Police Capt. Michael Werges said spreading the race events over two days makes ensuring the safety of participants and motorists on the roadways easier.
“The nice thing for us is by breaking it up into two days, we are distributing that traffic volume on a Saturday evening and early Sunday morning,” he said. “The impact to traffic on a Saturday evening is very minimal. Then on Sunday morning, there is a minimal footprint than in the past when (the race) ran all the way down Hwy. 109.”
Parks and Recreation Department supervisor Lizzie Roberds said letters will be sent to residents directly affected by road closures. Eureka will provide road closure updates closer to the event on the city’s website, eureka.mo.us., and its social media sites.
Great Pupkin Run
The 1-mile run/walk event costs $35 to register in advance and includes the cost for the owner and his or her pets. The price increases to $40 the day of the event.
According to the GO! St. Louis website, owners are encouraged to dress up their dogs and leashes are required. A puppy costume contest will follow the race.
“Who doesn’t like to dress their dog up in costume, right?” Vespa said. “The dog event is totally up to the participant – a walk, a run – whatever the dog and owner would like to do. It’s a chance to come out and let the pet lovers celebrate Halloween with us, too.”
Kircher Park will be transformed into the “Trick-or-Treat Village” where participants can pick up their Halloween-themed treat bags. Vespa said campfires also will be lit and food trucks will be on-site.
Race routes
Different routes will be used for the 5K on Saturday and the 10K and half marathon on Sunday. All of the races start and finish at Kircher Park, therefore shifting the race route away from the west side of Hwy. 109, where previous races started.
A map of the 5k race.
A map of the 10k and half marathon races.
Vespa said the new routes avoid the Old Town area, which needed to be closed in the past to make way for runners and walkers.
“There are big changes in the route this year,” she said. “We felt like it was just more family-friendly and comfortable while also taking the pressure off Central (Avenue) being closed for so long. We, of course, want people to go visit the downtown restaurants and businesses, but we also want their existing customers from the neighborhood to be able to get there.
“This is the best of both worlds.”
The 10K and half marathon both start at 7 a.m. Sunday from the park and head south, winding through the Augustine Heights subdivision before crossing Hwy. 109 using the Augustine Road intersection to access Lions and Legion Parks.
Participants will loop back using the Flat Creek walk/bike path heading north toward Kircher Park, where the 10K will end. The half marathon participants will continue east, taking the walk/bike path under I-44 and making a loop on Blakey Road in Route 66 State Park.
More than 3,000 people have registered for the weekend’s activities so far, said Vespa on Oct. 3.
“I think the move to Saturday will shift some people and crowds, but I think Sunday morning continues to be a big hit for the serious running crowd,” she said. “We’re hearing excitement about that as well.”
The half marathon costs $95 to register beforehand online; the 10K costs $70; the 5K costs $50; the 1-mile fun run, separate from the Great Pupkin Run, costs $30. Each of the races costs an extra $5 to enter the day of the race.
To register online, visit gostlouis.org.
All participants receive a hooded sweatshirt, finisher medal, digital finisher certificate and post-race treat bag, according to the website.
Costume contests, prizes
Vespa said participants are encouraged to dress in their spooky, fun or silly Halloween costumes for a chance to win prizes. The top three costumes from each race will win a prize provided by local businesses, such as gift cards or baskets.
The top three male and female finishers in the 10K and half marathon will receive cash prizes. The first-place finisher will receive $300; the second-place finisher will receive $200; and the third-place finisher will take $100.
For an added sugar rush, candy stations will be set up along the 5K route in addition to conventional refreshment stations.
Post-race in the Trick-or-Treat Village, participants can pick up more candy, and the over-21 crowd can enjoy a Schlafly beer.
Parking
Parking for both days will be available across the street from Kircher Park at the Eureka Soccer Park, 102 Williams Road, or further south on Williams Road at Soetebier Park, 187 Williams Road. Parking along South Outer Road, parallel to I-44, near Kircher Park, also will be allowed.
Vespa said she’s looking forward to the weekend of races. She said it’s a good blend of fun and fitness.
“An event like this is such a great combination of being out and enjoying the fall weather,” Vespa said. “Fitness is a great way to be active and have a great time and when you combine it with people having fun, dressing in costumes and celebrating Halloween, it’s kind of a feel-good event for all those things.
“We encourage you to come out no matter your fitness level and join us.”
For more information, visit the race website or call 314-727-0800.