I’ve done this race three times now (2016-2018), and it’s a nice half to look forward to every Labor Day. Street parking can be hard to come by but there’s plenty of parking garages and the New Haven Green is a scenic spot for both the race festival and the starting line!

The course is mostly traveling through the streets of New Haven, with a few scenic spots here and there. Yale, the New Haven Green (which you’ll see at the start, the middle and the finish), East Rock Park and the Peabody Museum (with a Triceratops in front!).

There’s a few hills but there’s nothing that’s too tough. In terms of weather it can range from comfortable to hot. The race festival on the Green is a nice to walk through while you’re cooling down post-race, and there’s plenty of nice places to eat nearby (even vegan options which is great for me, ha).

The shirt and medal are always nice and the styles vary greatly each year (none of the three medals or shirts I have from 2016-201 are similar to each other at all, which is nice!) They seem to strive for a unique style each year, not a palette swap of the previous year’s designs which makes for something new to look forward to.

I first did this race in 2016 on a whim but will definitely be back for a fourth year next September!