The Hartford Marathon Foundation’s Eversource Hartford Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.

Hartford Half Marathon road closure schedule for 2019. Courtesy of Hartford Marathon Foundation

By Ronni Newton

The Eversource Hartford Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K kick off in Hartford’s Bushnell Park at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, and even if you are not joining the approximately 10,000 runners who will be pounding the pavement for as many as 26.2 miles, you may still be impacted by the race.

Residents need to be aware that several major roads in town will be closed temporarily on Saturday morning because approximately six of the half marathon race’s 13.1 miles wend through West Hartford, and there will likely be about 5,000 half marathon runners on that route. Click here for a complete PDF map of the half marathon course.

West Hartford road closures will begin at 7:30 a.m., and roads will open and close on a staggered basis as the race proceeds through town. Impacted streets include Park Road, Whiting Lane, South Quaker Lane, South Highland, Boulevard, North Quaker Lane, Fern Street, Trout Brook Drive (Northbound lanes), Albany Avenue between Steele Road and Trout Brook (Eastbound lanes), Steele Road, and the interior of Elizabeth Park. All roads in West Hartford should re-open to traffic by 10:30 a.m.

Access to the University of Saint Joseph during the half marathon will require use of a detour which can be found here.

A complete map of West Hartford road closures impacted by the half marathon, as well as a course map can also be found in PDF form below.

Runners love the support of cheering spectators, and several ideal spots to watch the half marathon race can be found within West Hartford.

Large crowds often gather along South Quaker Lane and Fern Street. At the 8.5-mile mark of the race, in front of The Mercy Community’s St. Mary’s Home at 275 Steele Rd., there is plenty of space to stand as well as accessible parking on area side streets.

A half marathon official “cheer zone” can also be found in Elizabeth Park (around mile 9). Closer to mile 10 – when the half marathon runners really start getting tired and need crowd support as they are exiting the park and heading up Asylum Avenue back into Hartford – is another great (and much appreciated) spot for spectators to watch and cheer.

The Hartford Marathon Foundation anticipates that overall, approximately 336 million steps will be taken by about 10,000 runners and walkers in Saturday’s races. The event is supported by 2,500 dedicated volunteers and assistance from public safety officials from towns throughout the area.

“We are enthusiastically finalizing details and putting in motion plans we’ve worked on for nearly a year to deliver this world-class race experience,” Beth Shluger, CEO of the Hartford Marathon Foundation and race director of the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon said Monday in a press release. “This beloved annual event drives positive economic impact, supports local charities and encourages people of all ages and abilities to get moving.”

The event also serve as a fundraiser, with thousands of the runners participating on behalf of a variety of causes as well as Official Charities of the 2019 Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon. According to the Hartford Marathon Foundation, about $7.5 million has been raised for local and national charities to date.

The marathon, half marathon, and relay will begin at 8 a.m. (7:55 a.m. for wheelchair racers) in front of the State Capitol. The 5K begins at 8:01 a.m. at the intersection of Washington and Buckingham streets, and the HMF FitKids races start on the east side of Bushnell Park by the Pump House at 9:30 a.m.

Race packets must be picked up in advance at the HMF Fitness Expo, on Oct. 10 and 11 at the XL Center. Other than for the HMF FitKids races, there is no race-day registration or pick-up.

If you’re one of the estimated 65,000 people heading into Hartford to participate in race day activities or headed through the area for other reasons, be aware that the full marathon route will impact traffic in Hartford, East Hartford, and South Windsor. Be sure to check the Hartford Marathon website for additional information about road closures, parking, and CT Transit updates.

For full details about all of the events taking place on Saturday, visit the event website.

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