The Concord area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with breathtaking fall foliage, scenic vistas and open spaces. Our amazing running community takes advantage of this and truly comes alive during the fall racing season.

From seasoned athletes to newcomers, local runners push limits, achieve personal bests and celebrate camaraderie, inspiring many and sharing their love of the sport. Some are representing us on the world stage. Whether tackling the Clarence DeMar Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Canadian Mountain Running Championships, Delta Dental Half Marathon, NYC Marathon, World Ironman Championships or Manchester City Marathon, Concord’s running community shows up.

Kevin O’Connor of Concord raised $5,200 to run the Berlin Marathon in Germany for The Brain Tumour Charity this September. “It was a privilege running for a charity that supported my brother-in-law and niece when they had brain tumors,” said O’Connor.

Kevin is working on completing the Abbott World Majors Series (which consists of Berlin, Boston, London, Tokyo, NYC and Chicago). Berlin was his fourth race, and he will run Tokyo in 2025 and finish in London in 2026.

Norm Goupil was thrilled to discover the Clarence DeMar Marathon, where he could push his limits and focus on improving his time. Unlike the crowded NYC Marathon, which he ran in 2023, this race offered the perfect opportunity to open up and test his endurance. After a year of dedicated training and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Norm proudly took seven minutes off his previous time, demonstrating the power of hard work.

Sean and Stephanie Snow of Concord have inspired many of us for years. They are a powerhouse father-daughter team that runs Ironmans for fun. I saw them at the North Conway Half this fall, where Stephanie took the overall win in the 5K and Sean placed third in the half marathon. This fall, Sean will compete in three prestigious events: the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, a relay with his daughter at the Manchester City Marathon and finishing up with the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in New Zealand. Sean is grateful to share his training and racing experiences with Stephanie, who inspires him to push beyond his comfort zone. Sean also appreciates the supportive running community. Sean strives to set an example daily that any goal is achievable through hard work and dedication, regardless of age, challenges or obstacles.

Stephanie recently competed in the Maine Marathon and is set to participate in the Manchester relay alongside her father. Her Maine Marathon experience exceeded her expectations, leaving her motivated for her 2025 goals. The scenic course featured beautiful, friendly neighborhoods and lively music performances, creating an energetic atmosphere that got her to the finish line.

Stephanie cherishes daily opportunities to share race courses with her father. They inspire each other. A valuable lesson learned from her father is to approach unexpected challenges as opportunities for growth, resilience and self-improvement. This mantra will stay with her forever.

For Mike Gula of Bow, fall half marathons are a special tradition. His favorites include the Clarence DeNar Half Marathon, the N.H. Half Marathon and the Delta Dental Half Marathon. He shares these experiences with his daughter, Lilly. As they run together, they bond over conversations, celebrate health and fitness and create priceless memories.

“As I fill my lungs with the cool, crisp fall air and run alongside my daughter, my heart is full of gratitude,” says Mike. Sunday’s Delta Dental Half Marathon marked Lilly’s second half marathon and Mike’s 30th.

Earlier this month, Concord’s Amber Ferreira placed 6th at the Canadian Mountain Running Championships. The race had a unique start, with 400 stairs and then racing straight up to the top of Quebec’s Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Ferreira’s motivation to complete tough races comes from knowing that her two young children, Charlie and Ollie, will be there cheering loudly at the finish.

Ginny Hast of Bow spent the last decade chasing the dream of completing the Abbott World Majors. This dream began as a promise to herself in 2019 while she participated in the Boston Marathon, and she finished the series in March 2024 in Tokyo. After crossing the finish line, Ginny proudly walked to the Abbott Six Star tent and received her well-deserved medal. It was a dream come true! With this huge accomplishment completed, Ginny sets her sights on the Manchester City Marathon, thrilled to run a marathon at home.

Amanda Quinlan from Concord is getting ready to participate in the Manchester City Marathon Relay. In August, she won the Delta Dental Elliot 5K, New Hampshire’s largest road race, with around 5,000 runners. Recently, she also completed the Vermont 50K, which involved a challenging course and ascent of 5,600 feet and took her 6 hours and 22 minutes, which is incredible.

Some locals have impressive roles in the world’s most elite races. Ali Feller is a popular finish-line announcer, and Steve Delahunty creates and works the clocks for the lead vehicles.

Feller, of Hopkinton, has a fan base of tens of thousands of people. She is well-known in the running community and is admired by all, including the elites. She is known all over the country as the voice of some of the biggest marathons in the world, and her podcasts and blogs are an inspiration. She just announced at the Chicago Marathon finish line and will be a part of the NYC Marathon broadcast. I was lucky enough to hear her announce me last spring at the Boston Marathon, and I look forward to hearing her in NYC. Feller recently shared that she wanted to be a cheerleader when she was little. She is definitely that to thousands of runners each day.

Delahunty and his company, Novus-Mage, are based in New Hampshire and provide lead vehicle technology for the Boston Marathon. This year, they will also be at the New York City Marathon, offering high-resolution video panels, digital clocks, tracking software and walk-up results.

Tom Raffio, my husband, is well-known in the Concord running community. Under his leadership, Delta Dental supports hundreds of local races each year, and his personal goal is to participate in 100 races annually. This past weekend, he ran in the Delta Dental Half Marathon, which had a beautiful course starting at Gould Hill Farm in Hopkinton and finishing at the State Capitol in Concord.

It’s impossible to mention every inspiring runner in the Concord running community. There are so many more to add. However, this inclusive group welcomes new runners and cherishes its veteran runners. Come join us as a volunteer, spectator or runner!