New Haven, CT
Monday, September 7, 2026
The Labor Day tradition! Or so it would seem to me, as this would be my 5th consecutive New Haven 20K. 20K seems like a logical distance, as it follow the popular 5K and 10K in progression. But this distance is actually an anomaly, at least in road running. For kicks, I performed a quick search on Running in the USA to show all races in the Northeast US that are 20K. Ten of them come up, but nine are trail races. So what's the tenth? New Haven Road Race 20K, of course!
Over 2,000 toed the combined start line for the 20K and half marathon, but to my above point of 20Ks not being popular, about 3/4 of the runners were in the half!
Writing this almost two months post-race now, I'll just hit some bulleted highlights that I can still recall as well as a few photos:
- Warm-up with Brady and Matthew on the paved Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, until Brady needed a pit stop. On return to the start, I needed a pit stop myself. Upon exiting the porta-jon, several runners told me they were astounded as they watched me tell Brady firmly "Sit. Stay." and he was there sitting waiting for me when I came out. One said his dog would've been long gone in that situation.
- Lining up just before the start of the race, I noticed two parked cars just ahead of the start line partially blocking runners' routes, despite clear no parking signs for the event. Then just five minutes before the start, at police orders two tow-trucks appear and quickly remove the vehicles. I often wondered what happens in big races to make sure roads are clear and now I know! It was impressive.
- There were a few speakers before the race, including the Mayor of New Haven. OK, government officials often speak at big races. But then the mayor finished speaking, went through a barrier, and lined up with other runners, before going on to place in his age group! That was cool.
- The gun went off, and we started in decent weather at 60℉ and little wind.
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| Start of the 2026 New Haven 20K |
- I went out and ran 6:1x for 8 out of 12 miles, only dipping below 6:10 on downhills and only above 6:20 on uphills. Every single mile on a GAP basis was between 6:02 and 6:17. Very, very happy with that!
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| In Mile 7, about halfway through the course. (Pics by Jana) |
- Went back and forth for 8 miles with this older Hispanic guy who I could hear approaching each time because of how loud his foot strikes were. It reminded me of this woman in the Honolulu Marathon that kept going past me and then I'd pass her, and she slapped her foot down so hard and loud with each footstep that I nicknamed her "Clippety Clop", as it sounded like a horse as did this guy. I wasn't sure if the guy in this race was in my age group, but when I repassed him for about the 4th time 7 miles in, based on how hard he was breathing relative to me, I had a good feeling he wasn't coming back again. It turns out that neither was he coming back again, nor was he in my age group!
- I closed my final half-mile in a 5:44 pace, which cemented a very rare negative split race for me!
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| Approaching the finish line (Race photo) |
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| And we're finished! |
- I closed my final half-mile in a 5:44 pace, which cemented a very rare negative split race for me!
- This was my 5th consecutive New Haven 20K, and my 2nd fastest.
- 88.4% age graded!
- Very happy with both this race result as well as how this went for a tune-up race in Chicago in five weeks.
- While waiting for awards (it was a long wait), I met the 2nd place AG finisher, Frank McKelvey of Delaware. Nice guy! We had a good chat and respective race recap and also learned that both of us are running Chicago!
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| To the victor go the spoils, which in this case were: 1) a loaf of sourdough bread (it was good!), 2) a champagne split, 3) a $20 gift certificate to a local running store |
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