2026 Hamden Hills Half Marathon & Flat 5K

Event Details

This is the 15th Annual Hamden Hills Half Marathon & Flat 5K event. The race aims to start early to beat the heat, with an official start at 7:00 AM for the Half Marathon and 7:15 AM for the 5K. Early starters for the Half Marathon begin at 6:30 AM for those anticipating a 2:30 to 3:30 finish time.

Courses:

• Half Marathon: Challenging and picturesque, running through Hamden's back country. It utilizes the Rail-Trail for the first 2 miles and the last 2 miles, offering flat, shady sections. The course is USATF Measured and includes aid stations at miles 2.5, 4.5, 6.5, 8.5, and 10.5. Porto-Lets are available at the Start/Finish and Miles 4.5 and 8.5. The time cutoff for the Half Marathon is 3:30.
• 5K: 100% on the rail-trail, providing a flat and fast finish with no vehicle traffic.

Venue: New Haven / Northampton Railroad Canal Line Main Parking Lot, 4340 Farmington Heritage Canal Trail, Hamden, CT. 06518.

Participant Entitlements:

• Men's and Women's cut Short Sleeve Tech T-Shirts for all entrants.
• Half Marathon Finishers receive one of two designs for Famous Dragon Finisher Medals.
• Post-race refreshments include Poland Spring Water, Gatorade Endurance, fresh bagels, and bananas.
• Custom awards for the top 3 Men and Women overall and in every 5-year division for both the Half Marathon and 5K.
• FREE Downloadable Race Photos and Finisher Certificates.

Timing and Results: Transponder Timing with gun time and net time. Results will be live-streamed, emailed, and texted. Awards are based on gun time.

Race Series Streaker: Participants who complete all three 2026 Half Marathons (Savin Rock, Hamden Hills, Gulf Beach) receive a FREE custom Shoreline Sharks Race Series Streaker Hoodie.

Pricing Structure:

• Oct 17 - Dec 31, 2025: Half Marathon $70, 5K $30
• Jan 1 - Mar 31, 2026: Half Marathon $75, 5K $35
• Apr 1 - May 21, 2026: Half Marathon $80, 5K $40
• Race Day (May 23, 2026): Half Marathon $80, 5K $40 (cash, checks, Venmo only)

Transfer & Deferral: Registration can be transferred to another athlete until April 23, 2026, for a $25 fee. Entries can be deferred to the 2027 Race until April 23, 2026, for a $25 fee via Venmo.

No Refunds / No Exceptions.

Race Day Schedule (Saturday, 5/23/2026):

• 5:30 AM: Registration / Bib and Shirt Pickup Opens
• 6:30 AM: Half Marathon Early Starters
• 6:45 AM: Registration / Bib and Shirt Pickup Closes
• 7:00 AM: Half Marathon Starts
• 7:15 AM: 5K Starts
• 8:15 AM: Final 5K Finishers
• 8:20 AM: First Half Marathon Finishers
• 10:00 AM: Final Half Marathon Finishers
• 10:15 AM: Venue Closed

Travel and Hotel Accommodations:

• Air Travel: Bradley International Airport (BDL), JFK International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), Tweed Regional Airport (HVN).
• Hotels: Whitney Inn & Suites (0.5 miles), Clarion Hotel & Suites (3 miles).

Parking: Available at Rail Trail lots and on-street. Do not park at the Dunkin Donuts / Amity Liquors Lot.

Directions: From I-91: Exit 10 (Rt 40 connector) to Rt 10 North (Whitney Ave), left onto Sherman Ave. From Rt 15 (Merritt Parkway): Exit 61, Rt 10 North (Whitney Ave), left onto Sherman Ave. Turn LEFT into the Canal Rail-Trail Lot.