Gasiewski, who was the race director for the first time last year (though she says she was "more like an apprentice" in her inaugural year), already knows what the race - completed by 282 runners last year - means to the town and everyone who runs in it.

"What's great is that it's a very traditional event, so I'm getting a lot of the same people willing to head up the same parts again," she said, noting the 150 or so volunteers the race set-up usually needs.

"Working with all of the people in the community, that's really the most fun of it. Everyone's so willing to help - either with money or their time. We get donations from local businesses, local restaurants donating gift certificates for raffle prizes, grocery stores donating for the food table at the end. When the race day comes, seeing the community come together is really great."

The 8-mile race is run in tandem with the 5K race, which will be run for the fourth consecutive year and starts at the same time the 8-miler does.

The two races begin together going north on Bennitt Street, then continue onto Housatonic Avenue together. The runners then turn onto Aspetuck Road. At that point, the 8-Mile participants continue straight while the 5K runners turn right onto Wells Road.

The 8-milers continue on Aspetuck for approximately 2� miles and eventually turn right onto West Meetinghouse Road. That loops around and turns into Merryall Road, which itself turns into Wellsville Ave.

The runners spend the fifth and sixth miles on that road, and then turn left onto Canterbury Road - which goes uphill - for the seventh mile. Next, the runners come down Canterbury, which turns into Aspetuck Avenue. Aspetuck then brings the runners to the south side of the Town Green.

For the 5K runners, once they've made a right onto Wells Road, they make another right onto Wellsville, then a left onto Bennitt Street again. The runners will take that right down to the finish line on Main Street.

Last year, there was some work being done to one of the bridges on Merryall, and an amended course was used. With the work now complete, the course is back to normal.

"What's nice is that we're returning to the original course," said Gasiewski. "We get a lot of return runners; everyone knows that the race and the Fairday are held the last Friday and Saturday of July."

According to Gasiewski, the 5K has about 145 runners registered this year, while there are about 400 registered for the 8-Miler. Both the 8-Miler and 5K races cost $17 to register.

"It's definitely hilly," said New Canaan's Sarah Scholl, 24, who finished with a time of 47:48 last year to place first among 8-Mile female finishers. "But I like that; I think that everyone has the same course, running in the same temperature, so it's just a matter of the will to win. I think that the tougher individual wins, because it's kind of a grueling course. But it's really fun, also."

Alene Reta of New York finished first in last year's 8-Mile with a time of 40:32, while Mike Nahom of New Milford finished first among local runners with a time of 44:03.

But for some, like 51-year-old New Milford resident Wallie Jahn, the race is about more than times and places and who you beat.

"It's unique to me because it was the first road race I ever ran," said Jahn. "It was the first road race of my life. Before 1980, it started at 2 p.m. because that's how they thought they could get more spectators to come. So I was outside watching them, and I thought that I could do this. In 1972 (as a 17-year-old) I went down with my PF Flyers, cut-off jeans and a white T-shirt. The gun went off and I ran my heart out."

Though Jahn was unable to finish the difficult course in 1972, his time of 51:06 last year was good enough for 28th place overall. And yet, it's still means more to him than that, much like it does to Scholl - who finished last year's race and headed to a nearby runner's shop afterwards.

"Being my first race, growing up on the course," Jahn said. "It's just one of those that I'll do this until I can't do it anymore."