Category: First Mile races

The Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm Turkey Can Can is a race celebrating Thanksgiving, but it felt more like mid-winter as runners assembled for this year’s race.

However, temperatures in the teens did not stop over 100 runners from tackling the challenges of the Moosup Valley Rail Trail.

As runners assembled at the start line, they were welcomed by Tom and Elena, owners of Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm and lead sponsors of this event. Then they were off, battling roots, rocks, sand, ice and deep ruts; a challenge that everyone met with good cheer.

The first to return was Bruce Christienson from Bolton in a time of 20:03. The first female finisher was Cindy Ouillette from Sterling who successfully defended her 2013 title.

And as usual, the award for the most enthusiastic went to the members of the 169 Society who were out in force.

The race is held to benefit the Project PIN Food Pantry. Once again the generosity of the running community was evident as a pickup truck was filled with food donations. Project PIN serves those in need in Sterling, Plainfield, and surrounding communities. This year their needs have never been greater as they are helping over 400 area families.

Complete results can be found on Cool Running here.

Check out race photos on Flickr.

The 2nd Annual Hop River 5K/10K took place on Saturday, August 9th at 9 AM. The race was well attended and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive from the participants. In total, 94 runners took part in the 5K, and 53 in the 10K.

It was a beautiful, sunny, not too hot, August day. The Hop River Rail Trail is well suited for a running race; flat, soft surface, shady and scenic.

Results

Full results are now up on Cool Running.

• 10K results
• 5K results

Congratulations in particular to our overall male and female winners:

Hop River 5K

Overall male winners:

1. Thomas McManuels: 19:31
2. Greg Paul: 19:53
3. Jameson Nash: 20:40

 Overall female winners:

1. Calina Glynn: 22:45
2. Hannah Hatch: 23:09
3. Marienella Chalfont: 23:24

Hop River 10K

Overall male winners:

1. Zoltan Rigo: 39:43
2. Ned Smith: 41:53
3. Paul Baldini: 44:58

Overall female winners:

1. Mary-Alex Zickefoos: 44:26 (3rd overall)
2. Amy Daniels: 45:57
3. Hilda Heck: 49:28

Photos

Photos are now up on the First Mile Flickr page and are free to download. Why not share your favorite race photos on social media?

Donations

The race benefited the Andover Food Pantry. Food was collected and The First Mile presented a check for $350 to the Pantry managers.

Thank you

We would like to thank the 169 Society for supporting the event – an amazing 61 members competed in the race, and family members cheered on all participants.

We would also like to thank the Town of Andover CERTS volunteers for providing expert coverage of all of the road crossings.

Next race

We look forward to seeing you at the next First Mile event: the CT Women of Hope 5K on Sunday, September 21st!

The Strong Family Farm Chicken Run was a huge success in its first year. The weather was perfect, the farm was beautiful, and the crowds came out.

This 5K road race, and 2 mile walk was held to benefit the Strong Family Farm. This farm, a fixture in Vernon, was home to the Strong family for generations. Nancy Strong, who lives on the homestead, has deeded the farm to the town as a living museum. All of the proceeds from this event went to help defray the costs of maintaining this great institution.  

Events of the day

The day started with the kids race, a quarter mile loop around the farm fields. About 40 young athletes ran the course and crossed the finish line; all winners. The excitement continued with the 5K road race and two mile walk. About 50 walkers traversed a challenging route in a residential neighborhood before finishing at the farm.

The 5K road race attracted about 160 runners who completed a course consisting of hills, woods, and a rail trail. Following the race, an Easter egg hunt was held and awards were presented to the age group winners.

Results

The 5K field had a number of fast finishers. The overall winner was Ken Clark from Somers in a time of 19:32. He was followed by Bruce Christenson from Bolton (19:33) and Jason Eanle from Vernon (20:06). The first woman to cross the finish line was Jillian Ellefson from Vernon in 21:46 followed by Izzy Erikson from South Windsor in 22:31 and Anna Nadolski from Vernon in 22:44. For complete results click here.

All in all it was a fun event, and everyone had a great time.

Planning is already underway for the 2015 race so put it on your calendar.

 

Congratulations to all 175 participants of the inaugural Halfway to St Patrick’s Day 5K on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at the Irish American Home in Glastonbury.

It was a terrific day all round: great turnout, beautiful weather, and a lot of positive energy.

Overall winners were Brian Graca, 35, from Rocky Hill, and Kathryn Shea, 13, from Hartford. Great job!

For full results, see Halfway to St Patrick’s Day 5K results on Cool Running.

Thanks to Brett Roberson for taking a fantastic lot of photos – find yours on The First Mile’s Flickr page.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the inaugural Hop River 5K in Andover on Sunday, August 11, 2013. It couldn’t have been a better day or a more fun bunch of runners. Results are now available – see below.

Thank you all for supporting the efforts of the 169 Society to race in every town in Connecticut!

BIB	LAST	FIRST	AGE	GENDER	TOWN	TIME	PLACE	AGE	169-ER?
253	Chambers	Trevor	16	M	Bolton	18:12:00	1	M U-19
255	Christonsen	Bruce	45	M	Bolton	18:52:00	2	M 40-49
250	Kennedy	Ned	54	M	Bolton	18:59:00	3	M 50-59
237	Rigo	Zoltan	30	M	Berlin	19:20:00	4	M 30-39	Y
228	Minervino	John	49	M	Higganum	19:44:00	5	M 40-49	Y
201	Zyrek	Andrew	45	M	Manchester	20:16:00	6	M 40-49	Y
263	Powers	Ryan	25	M	Andover	21:08:00	7	M 20-29
217	Guy	Monica	30	F	Glastonbury	21:21:00	8	F 30-39
238	Roberson	Brett	49	M	East Hampton	21:35:00	9	M 50-59
219	Kennedy	Dani	54	F	Bolton	22:16:00	11	F 50-59
243	Steeves	Rich	63	M	Guilford	22:24:00	12	M 60+	Y
203	Baldini	Paul	41	M	North Haven	22:26:00	13	M 40-49	Y
204	Beach	Timothy	53	M	Prospect	22:35:00	15	M 50-59	Y
216	Guimont	Edward	26	M	Glastonbury	22:35:00	14	M 20-29
258	Maloney	Leah	27	F	Hamden	22:36:00	10	F 20-29
205	Boucher	Nicole	41	F	Meridan	22:37:00	17	F 40-49	Y
231	Parenchuck	Nicole	16	F	Amston	22:37:00	16	F U-19
202	Goulart	Bruce	63	M	Newtown	22:44:00	18	M 60+
254	Andruskeiwick	Paul	54	M	Preston	23:25:00	19	M 50-59
265	Kania	Bob	60	M	Southington	24:05:00	20	M 60+
257	Dumond	Brian	45	M	Rocky Hill	24:14:00	21	M 40-49
229	Osmond	Adam	46	M	Farmington	24:19:00	22	M 40-49	Y
249	Hussein	Mohamoud	44	F	Newington	24:27:00	23	F 40-49
210	Ciccarillo	Amy	31	F	New Britain	24:44:00	25	F 30-39	Y
236	Rabenold	Paul	61	M	Avon	24:44:00	24	M 60+	Y
224	McCormick	Thomas	62	M	Hamden	24:51:00	27	M 60-69	Y
235	Porell	Agnes	45	F	East Hartford	24:54:00	26	F 40-49	Y
221	Mattheis	Ben	59	M	Cheshire	25:56:00	28	M 50-59	Y
215	Eaton	Samantha	16	F	East Granby	26:18:00	29	F U-19
264	Ghio	Bill	59	M	Bristol	26:25:00	30	M 50-59
230	Pailthorpe	James	28	M	Vernon	26:53:00	31	M 20-29
260	Inzero	Emily	15	F	Cheshire	26:54:00	32	F U-19	Y
251	Reiner	Sharon	56	F	Marlborough	27:21:00	34	F 50-59
261	Inzero	Amy	44	F	Cheshire	27:25:00	33	F 40-49
259	von Schmidt	Laurie	52	F	Barkhamsted	27:31:00	35	F 50-59	Y
209	Ciccarillo	Dan	65	M	New Britain	27:38:00	36	M 60+	Y
227	Mele	Steve	59	M	North Haven	28:01:00	37	M 50-59	Y
212	Coleman	Thomas	55	M	Portland	28:06:00	38	M 50-59
207	Camp	Jacob	25	M	Vernon	28:53:00	39	M 20-29
244	Taricani	Michael	59	M	Burlington	28:59:00	40	M 50-59	Y
225	McIntosh, Jr	Thomas	76	M	Coventry	29:00:00	42	M 60+
213	Davis	Robert	62	M	Naugatuck	29:14:00	41	M 60+	Y
232	Perugini	Marcia	38	F	Vernon	29:17:00	43	F 30-39
233	Pietrosimone	Kathyn	27	F	Vernon	29:20:00	44	F 20-29
241	Romayko	Janit	68	F	East Hartford	29:20:00	46	F 60+	Y
247	Zbrozek	Richard	66	M	Berlin	30:23:00	47	M 60+	Y
262	Walsh	Tom	58	M	Wethersfield	30:30:00	48	M 50-59	Y
239	Roche	Monica	74	F	Fairfield	32:37:00	49	F 60+	Y
223	Maysonet	Luis	37	M	Manchester	32:52:00	50	M 30-39
246	Wellington	Bob	55	M	Naugatuck	32:53:00	51	M 50-59	Y
256	Champon	Melanie	55	F	Meridan	33:02:00	52	F 50-59	Y
240	Rogers	Karen	63	F	Clinton	33:29:00	53	F 60+	Y
218	Hoagland	Julie	43	F	Willimantic	33:34:00	54	F 40-49
208	Carton	Patty	75	F	Stratford	34:46:00	55	F 60+	Y
220	Mandeville	Danielle	43	F	East Granby	35:37:00	56	F 40-49
245	Ward	Meredith	25	F	Glastonbury	36:15:00	46	F 20-29
248	Merlis	Charles	72	M	West Hartford	39:52:00	57	M 60+
252	Snyder	Edward	66	M	Wallingford	40:00:00	58	M 60+	Y
226	Meadows	Sue	52	F	Meridan	43:06:00	59	F 50-59	Y
222	Mattheis	Catherine	59	F	Cheshire	47:47:00	60	F 50-59	Y
242	Rorrio	Margaret	41	F	East Hampton	47:47:00	61	F 40-49	Y
206	Bremer	Richard	35	M	Southington			M 30-39
214	Dubiel	Anna	30	F	Rocky Hill			F 30-39	Y
234	Plymette	Kari	28	F	Willimantic			F 20-29