Set bigger race goals and earn extra rewards

RACE CHALLENGE SERIES

Set new race goals in 2023 with extra incentives to stay motivated and support to help keep training on track! Be rewarded with custom medals or apparel for completing a challenge.

Sign up through the links below for one-step registration to all events in the series, OR, if already registered for one event, register for the other(s) individually to be added to the Challenge. If interested in purchasing Refund Protection for a challenge, you MUST register for each event individually (you will be added to the challenge once all event registrations are complete).

CRABBY CHALLENGE

Choose any distance in each of three beautiful shoreline races. These scenic courses all feature picturesque water views to fuel you through your race, with a crabby medal awaiting after the third finish.

Mystic Half Marathon & 10K – May 21
L+M Hospital Summer Stride 5K & 10K (New London) – July 15
Surftown Half Marathon & 5K Presented by Westerly Hospital (Westerly, RI) – September 10

CONNECTICUT DOUBLE

The ultimate state challenge…work up from half marathon in June to full marathon distance at the premier 26.2 mile experience in Connecticut. Get support and encouragement through the journey and then celebrate after your iconic finish line moment under the Arch in Hartford with an extra special medal.

UConn Health Half Marathon (Simsbury) – June 3
Eversource Hartford Marathon – October 14

PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGE

Start with a 5K to kick off the three-race feat, with the 10K in August to take on as the second race. Get weekly plans and training support to work up to the Eversource Hartford Half Marathon in October and enjoy an amazing finish line moment under the arch, with a special challenge medal to celebrate the accomplishment in Bushnell Park post-race.

UConn Health 5K (Simsbury) – June 3
Old Wethersfield 10K – August 20
Eversource Hartford Half Marathon – October 14

HAPPY TRAILS CHALLENGE

Go off-road in this two-race summer adventure. Enjoy your first race off the beaten path in 3 mile, 5 mile or 8 mile distance and then run a 5K along the river on a summer evening. Earn a custom shirt for participating in the Happy Trails Challenge.

Summer Solstice Trail Run (Hebron) – June 17
Thirsty Thursday 5K at the Riverfront (Hartford) – July 20

Please note, registration for the races within each challenge can be done in one step through the links above. If already registered for one event and wanting to add additional races to participate in a challenge, complete individual race registration prior to any deadlines posted here (if applicable). You MUST register for the Happy Trails Challenge through the challenge link to get the custom shirt, please contact registration@hartfordmarathon.com to join that challenge if registered for one event and wanting to add the second.

PAST CHALLENGES

LUCKY CHALLENGE

O’fficially kick off the 2023 season with four festive St. Paddy’s themed 5K races to run or walk in March, in-person and virtual race combos allowed. Participants earn matching race accessories as swag at each event, celebrate with Irish parties across CT and then get one large blingy medal at the end of the challenge. Enjoy the luck of the Irish and cheers from HMF at every race finish line. Slainte!

O’Shenanigans 5K (Southington) – March 11
Courthouse O’Putnam 5K – March 12
O’Niantic 5K – March 18
O’Hartford 5K – March 19

BUNCH OF 10KS

Ramp up spring racing with a three-race 10K challenge in April, May and June. The theme makes a change from bananas to grapes in 2023 – a healthy nod to running a bunch of great races and proudly donning a special medal after the third.

Middletown 10K – April 2
Burlington to Collinsville Classic 10K – May 7
UConn Health 10K (Simsbury) – June 3

Middletown 10K & Burlington to Collinsville participants wanting to add additional races to participate in a challenge, complete individual race registration prior to the UConn Health 10K.