The Race Around Briggs Mountain, a kind of love letter to all Hudson Valley runners, will be off and running in Milan this Sunday, April 29.

For the 15th time, the challenging, rewarding 8.2 mile run will offer a perfect way to kick off the summer season.

“Milan, like many places in the Hudson Valley, is a great place to run. The scenic beauty, changing seasons, and diverse terrain always provide new challenges and opportunities,” said Dan Miller, the race director. “The race has a small, but fairly devout runners who like the challenge and beauty of the course.”

Miller should know: the course starts in his front yard.

The first Race Around Briggs Mountain was held back in 1998 and was started by Milan resident and inveterate runner Van Talmage, who had run the course on his own from 1974. The route has changed a little since then, but the things that make the race special still remain: the views of the Catskills and Berkshires, the fresh outdoors, the steep climbs.

The course is a challenge, with some tricky track sections, the encroaching wilderness, and rough roads. But Miller said, “For the most part, people just come for the love of running.”

The run, through history, has been a low-key affair, attracting from 50 to 90 runners each year. Race day registrations are welcomed, according to Miller.

The race will begin at 709 Milan Hill Road. Registration runs from 8:15 to 9:45am. For more information, contact Miller at demiller152@gmail.com.