Nelson, Anand Win Ridgefield Half Marathon

It was chilly for early October – many spectators wore winter garb – but Meredith Anand stood there in shorts and a tank top and called the weather perfect.

Anand of Easton had just crossed the line first in the women's race of the 34^th Annual Ridgefield Pamby Half Marathon Sunday morning, 13.1 miles having decently warmed her up.

It was her first half marathon, and she led it wire to wire in one hour, 22 minutes and 49 seconds.

Geoff Nelson of New Fairfield placed first in the men's division – also winning from start to finish – with a time of one hour, 12 minutes and 11 seconds, which is about five and a half minutes per mile.

There were 481 finishers overall.

"I went out conservatively and expected to see someone behind me, but there was no one there," said Nelson who placed second in this event the last two years. "It's a little hard to run a good time when you're alone, but the crowd carried me through the middle part."

All ages gathered to cheer on the runners, some holding signs for their personal favorites, like Rowan and Emmet Tucker, 5 and 3, for their Aunt Jenny, or Halley Costello, 6, whose cardboard sign read "Run Mommy Run" in purple and pink crayon.

The run was organized by the Wolf Pit Running Club, which uses the money raised throughout the year to benefit the Boys and Girls Club and to present scholarships for Ridgefield high school runners, as well as other charities around town.

Rick Favier of Wolf Pit led the organization and stood by the finish line, keeping track of the race via cell phone the whole time.

"This is our major race for the year," Favier said. "The turnout is fantastic."

The first Ridgefielder to cross the line was Bryan Kovalsky, who placed second behind Nelson in one hour, 15 minutes and 23 seconds. Kovalsky graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1997 and ran for the University of Pennsylvania.

"I felt surprisingly good," Kovalsky said. "But I know of Goeff, and I wasn't even going to bother. He's impressive."

Teren Block was the first Ridgefield woman to finish, placing fourth among them in one hour, 34 minutes and 20 seconds.

Wolf Pit's John Dugdale, a many-time veteran of the race who ran it in 1984 in a time of one hour, 11 minutes and 25 seconds at 49 years old, was pleased with the results.

"No one broke the record, but the winning times were good," he said. He didn't run the race Sunday, but said he would take another shot at it when he turned 80.

Many people use the early-season half marathon to warm up for the upcoming full-marathon season. Dave Burke is training for the Marine Corps Marathon, which will be run in Arlington, Va., on Halloween.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," he said before Sunday's half. "It'll be a good run."