Bring on the Fall!

While the team at Gray Matter Marketing does enjoy a good summer weekend, there’s just something special to us about the fall season! Perhaps it’s the cooler temperatures, the beautiful colors, or because our calendar is jam-packed with some of our favorite events of the year. Between now and the first weekend of November, we’ll be producing six (!) major events. For those of you counting, that’s six events in just eight weekends!

But, we embrace the hectic nature of the fall season because of what it brings — more opportunities to engage with our fantastic customers and fans, executing fun and exciting events, and most importantly, giving back to the communities that host us.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be hosting more than 8,000 participants at our various events, from Stowe, Vermont to Narragansett, Rhode Island. We’ll be donating and fundraising for 36 official race charities, and countless more non-profits chosen by our runners and walkers. We’ll be traveling to three states, watching our participants run, walk and ride more than 80,000 total combined miles, and awarding more than 5,000 finisher’s medals!

Here’s what we’ve got in store, we hope to see you on one — or many — of these great fall days!

4 Bridges Ride — September 17th

This 26-mile bike ride from North Kingston to Bristol traverses four of the state’s bridges: the Jamestown Verrazzano, Newport Pell, Sakonnet and Mt. Hope bridges. 100% of the proceeds from the event will benefit Save the Bay in their efforts to preserve and protect Narragansett Bay. The event is limited to 900 riders. Visit www.4bridgesride.com for more information and to register. Online registration will close on September 14th.

Ocean Road 10K presented by Polar Seltzer— October 1st

Our largest Ocean Road 10K to date, with 1,700 registered runners and walkers! This fifth-annual run that benefits the Narragansett Historical Society will follow a 6.2-mile course from Point Judith Lighthouse to Town Beach, passing under the famous Towers before the finish! This year’s finisher medals and athlete shirts feature the fan-favorite running octopus mascot. This event sold out in 2016 and will sell out in the next few days for 2017. Visit www.oceanroad10k.com for more information and to grab one of the final remaining slots.

Amica Newport Marathon & Half Marathon — October 8th

Perhaps one of the most scenic running courses in the Northeast, the Amica Newport Marathon and Half Marathon takes distance runners on a beautiful tour of some of Newport’s iconic features; Thames Street, King’s Park, Fort Adams, Brenton Point, Ocean Drive, Marble House, Rosecliff, the Breakers, and finally finishing at Easton’s Beach. Upon finishing, the 3,500+ runners will be awarded pineapple-shaped finishers medals, representing Newport’s symbol of hospitality and their sweet accomplishment! Visit www.newportmarathon.com for more information

Cape Cod Brew Fest — October 14th

One of New England’s favorite celebrations of craft beer is back for the sixth year in a row! Join us in Falmouth, Massachusetts for a day of beer, pretzels and flannel as we toast to fall in the best way we know how — unlimited samples from more than 90 local and regional breweries. Tickets include all beer for a 3.5-hour sampling session, plus live music and access to vendors and food trucks. On your way out the door, pick up your complimentary souvenir pint glass, branded with the CCBF logo and featuring a design inspired by the wild waves of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, as well as the famous Japanese woodblock print, The Great Wave. Festival and Designated Driver tickets are still available at www.capecodbrewfest.com

Citizen’s Bank Pell Bridge Run — October 22nd

It’s the only day of the year pedestrians are permitted on the beautiful Newport Pell Bridge. The family-friendly, walker-friendly Citizen’s Bank Pell Bridge run starts in Jamestown and crosses the Pell Bridge to Newport, finishing near the Newport visitor’s center. Walkers and children are welcome, though strollers are not permitted on the course and everyone must maintain a 3-mile-per-hour pace. 100% of the proceeds from this event are donated to local non-profits through the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority Foundation. This year, 32 charities will benefit from the Pell Bridge Run, with thousands of additional dollars being raised by walkers and runners directly on Crowdrise. Join us by registering at www.pellbridgerun.com!

Vermont 10 Miler — November 5th

We love the distance of the Newport 10 Miler so much, we’re bringing it north! The Vermont 10 Miler features a beautiful course through some of Stowe, Vermont’s most stunning autumn vistas. While the course is challenging, runners will be rewarded with beautiful views, a custom finisher’s medal and an after-party at local hotspot Sushi Yoshi. 10 miles is the perfect distance with which to cap off any fall race calendar! Find out more and sign up for this inaugural event at www.vermont10miler.com

Whew! Exhausted yet?! We will be…but in the best way! Throughout the fall we’ll also be continuing to launch our 2018 events, including the Rhode Island Brew Festival, Newport 10 Miler, and our Craft Brew Race Series, to name a few. It’s never a dull moment here at Gray Matter Marketing, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!