5Ks and Other Ways to Break a Sweat in September

Looking to stretch your legs this September? You have plenty of interesting options: You can run a marathon while half-submerged in a pool (if you can afford it), or complete a half-marathon alongside Amish runners through bucolic Lancaster County.

There are three Media area runs in the coming month. On Sept. 15 and 29, take a run through Ridley Creek State Park for two separate causes, to raise awareness of drug and alcohol addiction and for children’s education in Haiti and in Liberia. Then head to Williamson Trade School on Sept. 30 to join in the second annual 5K and 1-mile walk.

Sunday, Sept. 2

• Bucks County Duathlon 2-mile run, 10-mile bike, 2-mile run, 8 a.m., Washington Crossing, race-day registration $80

Monday, Sept. 3

• Jailbreak 5k, team run, walk, start time 8:30 a.m., Oaklands Corporate Center, Exton, $25 ($30 race day), no partner/team necessary to run
  

Friday, Sept. 7

• Teri's Run & Twilight Walk, 5k, 7 p.m., Downingtown, $25

Saturday, Sept. 8

• Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon, 13.1-mile run through Amish farm country, 7:30 a.m., Lancaster County, $75 online registration
• Nationwide 4.01k Walk/Run at the Philly Zoo, 4.01k, 8:30 a.m., Philadelphia Zoo, $30
• Noell Maerz Patriot Games Triathlon, run-canoe-bike-run, 7:30 a.m., New Britain (Bucks County), $200 per team
• Big Red Run and Harmony Walk, 5k, 8 a.m., Upper Merion, $25
• Philadelphia Undy 5000, 5k run/walk in your boxers, start time 9 a.m., Martin Luther King Drive, Philadelphia, $30 ($40 race day) 

Sunday, Sept. 9

• 9/11 Heroes Run, 5k, 2p.m., West Chester, $25
• Hit the Hay 13K, 8.06-mile run, 9 a.m., Birdsboro, $35 ($27 w/o shirt)
• HydroWorx Underwater Marathon, 5k, 10k, half and full marathon all on underwater treadmill run, 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., Troeg's Brewery/Hershey Park, Hershey, $750-$6,500 (fundraising run)

Saturday, Sept. 15

• Caron's 5k Run and Sober Q, 5k, 9 a.m., Ridley Creek State Park, $25
• Yards 5k Beer Run, 10:30 a.m., Yards Brewing Company, Philadelphia, $30

Sunday, Sept. 16

• Barracuda 70.7 Triathlon, 70.7-mile run-swim-run-swim-run-bike-run, 8 a.m., Hazleton (Luzerne County), $155/individual, $195/team
• Marshman Triathlon, 1/4 Mile Swim, 12.5 Mile Bike, 2 Mile Run, Marsh Creek State Park, $123, 7:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 18

• Run For Your Life, 5k, start time 6 p.m., 16 Great Valley Parkway, Malvern $15 ($20 race day), benefits and Community Volunteers in Medicine

Sunday, Sept. 23

• ScoutStrong Fitness Fest (PDF flyer), 5k and 1 mile walk/run, 10:30 a.m., East Goshen Park, $20 (adult 5k race-day)
• Woodlawn Trustees Trail Series 5k, trail run, 9 a.m., Chadds Ford, $20

Saturday, Sept. 29

• 5k 2kare 4kids, 5k run, start time 10 a.m., Ridley Creek State Park, $25/individual 
• Hands On House Half Marathon, 5k run, 13.1-mile circuit run, start time 9 a.m. Children's Museum of Lancaster, $60 (half-marathon race day), $30 (5k race day)

Sunday, Sept. 30

• , 5k run and walk, 7:30 a.m., , Malvern, $25, benefits Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Features chip-timing new this year.
• 2nd Annual Williamson School, 5k run and 1-mile walk, 10 a.m., , Middletown Township, cost varies, male and female awards in six age division.

Hat tips to RunningintheUSA.com and RunTheDay.com for race information.