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The 9 a.m. run will start and end at N. Van Dien Avenue's Benjamin Franklin Middle School on Thurs., Nov. 26.
"The great thing about this event is that people are looking for things to do on Thanksgiving morning," said Walsh, formerly of Dublin, who owns Racefaster, LLC.
The Fort Lee resident began running when he was 7 and said he "got better and better over time."
Walsh earned a running scholarship at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2008 and is currently the USA Track and Field Club National Champion and record holder. His best mile time is 3:49.
He opened the E. Ridgewood Avenue store below Bookends Bookstore in June and launched three others -- in Midland Park, Ramsey and Paramus -- at the end of the summer.
Racefaster offers running, swimming and yoga programs for children and adults. It will begin offering free yoga classes for children at the store this fall.
Walsh says he doesn't compete as often as he used to but came in first place during a 5K run last winter. Perhaps the Thanksgiving Day race will inspire him to continue pounding pavement, he said.
"We're trying to get the average person out to compete," Walsh said, "and make it a tradition in town and in the area."
Entry is $30 online and mail in applications; $25 in person registration at Racefaster Ridgewood (211 E Ridgewood Ave) or Racefaster Garden State Plaza; $35 for same-day registration.
CLICK HERE to register.
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