Registration for the 2024 Tackle the Trail is open. The best prices of the year for all races – 10K, half-marathon, marathon, and relay teams – are available until January 30th. Prices will increase on January 31st.
Tackle the Trail has raised over $500,000 over the past decade. Created by The QVCC Foundation, the race not only supports current and future students but has become a destination for local, national, and international runners.
More about The QVCC Foundation
In 2023, The Foundation provided over $300,000 to the college in the form of workforce development grants, financial aid grants, advanced manufacturing grants, and scholarships.
The race winds through communities starting in Willimantic, CT, and finishing in Putnam, CT. It is intertwined in the fabric of fall events in the “Quiet Corner” of Connecticut, boasting more than 100 volunteers and partnerships with local businesses.
Proceeds from this race support students pursuing their educational dreams at CT State Community College -Quinebaug Valley Community Colleg
If you were unable to attend one of the live Webex meetings with race details, the recordings are below. Please listen and get your questions answered.
Course Changes Due to Unprecedented Rain Update 10/2/23
Mother Nature has thrown us a curve ball with unprecedented rain this summer and early fall. This has affected the start location for the Marathon and Relay Teams race. Both the Marathon and Relay team race will now start the race at Estabrook Road, Hampton, CT. There is very limited parking at the Estabrook location.
Relay leg 1 runners and marathoners are highly encouraged to take transportation from the finish location at the HaleYMCA, 9 Technology Park Drive, Putnam, CT to the Estabrook Starting Line.
Course Changes
Since the former first leg of the race/relay race (the distance to the relay station one) was the longest distance, there have been modifications for the course to accommodate. The technical portion of the course through Goodwin Forrest will be run by both marathoners (two loops) and relay team legs one AND two.
Hand-off for the third leg of the relay team race will be at the Goodwin Forrest loop and proceed to Brooklyn Rd, Pomfret.
The fourth leg of the relay race and the marathon will now includean additional loop through the Windham Land Trust. This additional distance includes a short technical uphill to a field run before descending back to the Airline Trail.
On Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Watercure Farm Distillery, 426 Mashamoquet Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut 06259 will host the Tackle the Trail™ team at TackleSummer & Cool Off event. Beginning […]
There are opportunities for all ages and all skill levels to train this summer for October 21, 2023, Tackle the Trail 10th Anniversary Race.
June 22 – Fun Run and Block Party at Sneakerama, 12 Lake Rd, Worcester– 6:30 PM Join Tackle the Trail and let’s run together. Our partner Sneakerama is celebrating their 45th anniversary. The Thursday night fun run and block party starts with a 3-mile group run. A block party will take place with socializing and refreshments. All ages and abilities are welcomed. No registration is required. Show up ready to run!
June 25 – TackleJR – Start Summer Off on the Right Foot – Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center – 10 AM Children aged 2-12 and their parent and/or guardian are invited to this FREE event. Learn how to train for running and participate in a group run on the Putnam River Trail. TTT Race Director, Monique Wolanin, will lead this workshop. No registration is required.
July 20, Tackle Summer – Watercure Farm Distillery – 426 Mashamoquet Road, Pomfret Center – 5 PM – Cool off this summer at Pomfret CT’s first and only distillery. Run/walk beginning at 5 PM and have a cocktail at 6 PM!
Hit the Airline Trail this summer and train on the course. COURSES
Join Tackle the Trail™, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW), and the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center on Sunday, May 21st at 10 AM. This will mark a five-month countdown to TackleJR event. This free family and youth-oriented event will take place at The Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center, 9 Technology Park Road, Putnam, CT 06260. Advanced registration is not required.
Youth runners and their families will participate in a fun workshop “Running 101”, led by Tackle the Trail™ Race Director Monique Wolanin. Immediately after the workshop, all will hit the Putnam River Trail for a group and family run.
The third annual TackleJR will take place on Saturday, October 21, 2023. This is free for children 2 to 12 years old, who will enjoy running the last half-mile of the Tackle the Trail™. All children receive a medal after crossing the finish line.
On Saturday, April 29, Race Director Monique Wolanin was happy to meet up with the 2022 Tackle the Trail marathon winner Michael Stadolnik as he completed the Woodstock CT Marathon in second place. Stadolnik is an elite master runner and has competed across the country including the Hartford, Boston, Vermont City marathons, just to name a few.
Over the past ten years, Tackle the Trail has attracted participants – at all levels ranging from beginners to elite runners – from all over the United States (more than 20 states) and three countries. In celebration of our tenth year, racers can now register for a 10K race, along with a half-marathon, marathon and team marathon race. Learn more about the course and our location (area events) in the Quiet Corner of CT.
Members of the QVCC Foundation, Tackle the Trail Race Director Monique Wolanin and QVCC Director of Alumni Sarah Wolfbury made their presence known at the 2023 O’Putnam 5K race on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Shout out to QVCC Alum and Foundation member Eddie Graff for placing 154 in the race. It was great to see so many QVCC alums and also former Tackle the Trail runners out there on Sunday.
For any potential 10K 2023 Tackle the Trail runner, signup for the race by the 14th using code Lucky10 and get $10 OFF your registrations!
Monique, Mayor Barney Seney, and SarahQVCC Alum & Foundation member Eddie Graff comes in 154
In recognition of ten years of Tackle the Trail™, the race will now offer a 10K run option, in addition to the marathon, ½ marathon, relay, and TackleJR (a half-mile run open to children ages 2 – 12 years old in partnership with Northeast Opportunities for Wellness) distances. This will allow more runners to experience the point-to-point trail race from Windham, CT to Putnam, CT on Saturday, October 21, 2023.
Monique Wolanin, QVCC Director of Institutional Advancement and Tackle the Trail™ race director stated, “We are proud to celebrate this milestone year and excited about our future growth too. Since 2014, we have raised $500,000 for local students at Quinebaug Valley Community College. The race has welcomed runners from 25 states and 3 countries to Northeast Connecticut. Wolanin added, “Tackle the Trail’s success is truly a team effort. It would not be possible without the support of 150 volunteers, sponsors, partners, and runners. Year after year their commitment of time, energy, and resources to our Unique Race in an Amazing Place is overwhelming. The 10K run, in honor of our 10th birthday, rounds out a stellar lineup of options for 2023. This will be our biggest and best Tackle yet!”
Runners are encouraged to REGISTER now. The race will sell out.
