Greenwich Road Runners' first half marathon on Old Greenwich's public streets will send about 2,000 visitors through the village on Sunday, Sept. 27, after the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 on Thursday, Aug. 27, to approve temporary road restrictions for the race.

The inaugural HSS Greenwich Half Marathon, organized by Greenwich Road Runners and directed by John Bysiewicz of JB Sports, starts and finishes at Greenwich Point Park. The 13.1-mile course makes two clockwise loops through the Old Greenwich business district. Runners head north on Sound Beach Avenue, turn right on Harding Street, continue along Tomac Avenue past Innis Arden Golf Club, and return via Shore Road.

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is the title sponsor.

As we reported Aug. 24, the road-closure request had been pending since an initial presentation earlier in August. Organizers addressed two main concerns before the vote: residents worried about being trapped in driveways and merchants worried about lost business.

Chris Dawson of Greenwich Road Runners told selectmen he spent three days going door-to-door in Old Greenwich, talking to business owners and handing out race maps, Greenwich Free Press reported. The start time was moved from 8 a.m. to 7 a.m. to reduce the impact on traffic.

"We are going to be working hand-in-glove with Greenwich Police," Dawson said at the meeting. "They're going to have upwards of 17 off-duty police and we'll have 150 volunteers on the course including in the business district to help with traffic."

Road closures will be partial. One lane stays open in the opposite direction of runners throughout the race. A three-hour course limit means all runners must be off public streets and back inside Greenwich Point Park by 10 a.m. The race is for runners only; no walkers or strollers.

Greenwich Police suggested issuing a reverse 911 alert to the Old Greenwich zip code before race day. Parks and Recreation Director Joe Siciliano recommended organizers work with Greenwich Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) on advanced medical staging along the route.

First Selectman Fred Camillo asked whether residents would be able to exit their driveways during the race. One Old Greenwich resident who testified at the meeting said their concerns had been addressed: "I'm very confident that no one is going to get trapped in their driveway."

Organizers expect about 700 runners and families from Greenwich, 700 from elsewhere in Connecticut, and 600 from 13 other states and Washington, D.C. Bysiewicz said more than 400 runners are Greenwich residents and all volunteers will be local.

Proceeds, which organizers estimated could exceed $20,000 at an earlier presentation reported by Patch, will benefit Greenwich Parks and Recreation, Greenwich High School Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, and Friends of Greenwich Point Park. Organizations providing volunteers will also receive donations, including Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Scouting, Greenwich Lions Club and Living Hope Community Church.

Signage goes up a week before the race, and organizers plan another door-to-door round to distribute traffic advisories with a course map and timeline. Registration is open at RunSignUp.