Mattapoisett resident Geoff Smith—back-to-back winner of the Boston Marathon on 1984 and 1985—is bringing a new 10-mile half-marathon to Mattapoisett in November.

So far, 120 runners are signed up for the Mattapoisett 10 Mile & Veterans 5k on November 11. "I wasn't even looking to run a race on Veterans Day, necessarily," Smith explained. "I was looking around, and the date seemed like an ideal one."

Smith had been looking to bring a race to Mattapoisett for several years. The former Boston Marathon winner's hip was smashed in a fall while running near his house in the 1990s. Armed with two new hips, he began running again over a year ago. "I post photos of my runs on Facebook, and everyone who sees them comments on how beautiful Mattapoisett is, and how much they'd like to run there," he said.

Half-marathons are, Smith explained, the fastest-growing running events in the country. Also wildly popular with all ages are 5ks (3.2 mile runs). "Mattapoisett has been so supportive," he added. "The town is behind the project."

Smith would like to expand the race in the future; and reach more people. "Five-hundred would be a great number," he said. "I hope that the race will grow each year."

For now, he's too busy organizing the race to run in it himself, but he's not too concerned. "I've run the routes myself. They're beautiful. I've found a way to mostly stay along the coastline and away from Route 6."

The race will begin at Shipyard Park at 9 a.m. (the 10-Mile will begin at 10 a.m.). Runners will pass the Town Hall, Ned's Point and Point Connett during the race. "It will be a great way to appreciate the view of the water and the architectural beauty of the buildings," Smith added.

All participants will receive t-shirts. Registration for the race is currently $31 per person; participants can also run as part of a team. Interested runners can sign up on www.racewire.com, or up until the morning of the race, where registration and number pick-up will be at the Inn on Shipyard Park.

Runners who sign up also have the option of donating money to the Tri-Town Veterans' Services; according to Smith, $250 has already been raised for the organization.