TACKLE THE TRAIL
Your Support
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.
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 College.
Learn more about the QVCC Foundation
Transform Lives. Improve Community.
- Bibs must be picked up at the Hale YMCA (9 Technology Park Drive, Putnam, CT). Bibs will NOT be available at the start lines. We urge runners to pick up bibs Friday afternoon to avoid lines (and stress) Saturday morning.
- October 20: Bib Pick up 3:30-5:30pm at the Hale YMCA.
- October 21: Bib Pick up 6:30-7am at the Hale YMCA.
- Â Bag Drop available 6:30-7:00am at the Hale YMCA: Bib must be presented to retrieve bags. One bag per individual or team. Runners must label their own bag prior to drop off.
- Marathon starts in Hampton, CT and ends in Putnam, CT. (This is a NEW start location for 2023)
- Half Marathon starts at Brooklyn Rd, Pomfret, CT and ends in Putnam, CT.
- 10K starts at Pomfret Trail head, Railroad Street, Pomfret, CT and ends in Putnam, CT.
- Race festival at the Hale YMCA, 9 Technology Park Drive, Putnam, CT. Shower facilities available.
- Water, Gatorade, Bars, and Fruit available at all relay stations and select aid stations.
- 5 hours for Marathon.
- Runners need to be through Relay Station 5 (Route 169, Pomfret, CT) no later than 12pm to complete the race.
- 3 hours for Half Marathon.
- We provide transportation from the finish line (Hale YMCA, 9 Technology Park Drive, Putnam, CT) to the 3 different start lines for marathoners, half marathoners, relay teams and 10K.
Marathoners and Relay 1 Team Members are urged to take transportation to the new start line
- 7:00 am: Buses depart for marathoners and relay 1 team member.
- 7:15 am: Buses depart for half-marathoners & 10K runners. Half-marathon runners will be dropped off first.
- Bibs must be picked up at the Hale YMCA (9 Technology Park Drive, Putnam, CT). Bibs will NOT be available at the Start Lines. Relay Team Captains will be responsible for pick up and distribution for all team members. We urge runners to pick up bibs Friday afternoon to avoid lines (and stress) Saturday morning.
- October 20: Bib Pick up 3:30-5:30pm at the Hale YMCA.
- October 21: Bib Pick up 6:30-7am at the Hale YMCA
- Â Bag Drop available 6:30-7:00am at the Hale YMCA: Bib must be presented to retrieve bags. Teams must consolidate gear into 1 bag if using bag drop. Runners must label their own bag prior to drop off.
- Relay race starts in Hampton, CT (the is a NEW start location for 2023)
- Up to 5 person relay teams.
- Race festival at the Hale YMCA in Putnam, CT. Shower facilities available.
- Water, Gatorade, Bars, and Fruit available at all relay stations and select aid stations.
- 5 hours
- Runners need to be through Relay Station 5 (Route 169, Pomfret, CT) no later than 12pm to complete the race.
Relay team members who are running the 1st leg are urged to take transportation to Estabrook Rd. from the YMCA (9 Technology Park Drive, Putnam, CT) to the start line.Â
- Teams are responsible for their own transportation between relay stations.
- 7:00 am: Buses departÂ
- Teams must allow adequate time (driving, parking, walking to trail) to get to relay stations. Think of it this way: if 1 runner is running a 4-mile leg at a 6 minute per mile pace, it will take 24 minutes. Your teammate must drive (or ride!), park and walk to the transition area to meet you. If he/she shows up at the 20-minute mark, probability of getting to transition area in time is slim. We recommend knowing your teammates expected race pace as a guide. Each year, we are sad for teams whose runners just finished a quicker than normal race pace and their teammate had not arrived at the relay station. Better to be early than increase the risk of missing the hand-off.
- For more relay station information and leg distances, visit “The Course” and scroll to the “Marathon and Relay Teams Course” section.
- Water, Gatorade, Bars, and Fruit available at all relay stations and select aid stations.
- Refunds and deferrals are not available.
- Pets or strollers are not permitted during the race.
- Â The Hale YMCA will open at 6:00Â am on Race Day and runners can use the facility there. There will also be limited port–o-potties at the marathon and relay team start line, half marathon start line and 10K start line. This is a trail race, please plan accordingly.Â
- 8:00 am start time for all events:
- Marathon and Relay Teams
- Half Marathon
- 10K
- Race Festival at the Hale YMCA in Putnam.
- We provide transportation from the finish line (Hale YMCA, 9 Technology Park Drive, Putnam, CT) to the 3 different start lines for marathoners, half marathoners, 10K, and for relay team members who are running the first leg.
- 7:00am: Buses depart for marathoners and ONLY members of relay teams who are running the first leg. PLEASE NOTE: Teams are responsible for their own transportation to relay stations.
- 7:15am: Buses depart for half-marathoners.
- 7:20am: Buses depart for 10K
- Parking is extremely limited at all relay stations. Have fun, ride together!
All runners and fans are welcome to join us at our post-race party at the Hale YMCA! Enjoy free food courtesy of Grub Sponsor the Putnam Area Foundation and free beer. Festival also includes; massage tent, photos, and much more! Prizes awarded too.