Register Now! Best Prices for 2024 ends on January 30th

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
2023 Half Marathon Winner

Course Start Line Change for Marathon & Relay Teams Only

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 include an 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. 

New Course Information

Marathon & Relay Course Information

Transportation to the Starting Line

Summer Tackle the Trail Events

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

2022 Tackle the Trail Marathon Winner Meet-Up

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.

Register yourself or your team today

May 4, 202

 

Wolanin and Stadolnik at Woodstock Marathon
Race Director Monique and 2022 TTT marathon winner Michael Stadolnik, Plainfied, CT

Tackle the Trail Hits the O’Putnam 5K

Lucky10 Code for $10 Off New 10K race

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 & Sarah & Barney
Monique, Mayor Barney Seney, and Sarah
O'Putnam 2023
QVCC Alum & Foundation member Eddie Graff comes in 154

Featured Fan – Whitcraft Group

We love our Tackle the Trail Relay Teams and are proud to feature Race Sponsor Whitcraft as our May Featured Fan. Read more about why Whitcraft supports this event and the health of their employees!

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