The West Hartford Relay has partnered with Growing Great Schools, Inc. for a community event that promotes health and fitness.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Relay 2013. Photo by David Newman, courtesy of West Hartford Relay.

The third annual West Hartford Relay kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, with teams of adults and kids racing around town in a fun and exciting event, all in support of good health.

The relay was founded in 2012 by avid runners Kim Cowherd-Iacovazzi, her husband Vito Iacovazzi, and Sarah Fite. All are veterans of New Hampshire’s “Reach the Beach” 200-mile ultra-marathon relay, and love the camaraderie and challenge a relay provides.

The West Hartford Relay adult race, which was previously 40 miles, has been shortened this year to 20 miles, and can be run in teams of four, two, or alone. Each loop is 5 miles long and begins and ends at Town Hall.

“More people wanted to run five miles, and it was harder to get eight-man teams,” said Cowherd-Iacovazzi. “The shorter distance provided more options,” she said. There are some solo runners who are training for fall marathons and plan to run the entire 20 miles, and others who are running 10 miles each which is great for those training for a half-marathon. “The timing fits nicely with the Hartford Marathon,” Cowherd-Iacovazzi said, which will be held just two weeks later on Oct. 11.

The kids relay, which is in its second year and intended for those ages 12 and under, is a total of 5 miles consisting of eight 1.25 mile loops around Blue Back Square. Most of the kids’ teams have four members, Cowherd-Iacovazzi said, and most are in elementary school. The route is designed to be safe for all participants and is supported through a partnership with the local non-profit Growing Great Schools, Inc.

“We were overwhelmed by the response we had for the Kids’ Relay last year so we couldn’t be happier to support the West Hartford Relay again this year,” said Growing Great Schools President Sally Manciniin a news release. “Growing Great Schools’ mission includes promoting fitness among West Hartford Public School students.”

All of the proceeds from the relay will be donated to the Physical Education Department of West Hartford Public Schools. Last year’s donation was approximately $8,000, and organizers hope to raise even more this year. Rather than just writing a check as they have in the past, Cowherd-Iacovazzi said, organizers will ask physical education teachers to provide a wish-list of what they need and want. “We’d like to give something to each of the schools,” she said.

The school with the most teams participating will win an extra $100 she said. Last year one of the schools had seven teams.

Adult teams in the past have been formed by local businesses, West Hartford firefighters, and schools. The team “Hello Kitty,” a top-five finisher in past Reach the Beach relays and other races, has won the West Hartford Relay the past two years but did not enter this year due to injuries. “Hello Kitty’s absence will definitely open the playing field,” Cowherd-Iacovazzi said.

Even though some teams may enter to win, that’s not really the purpose of the relay. “We started the West Hartford Relay because we love running in a team relay environment where it’s not about the time, but the spirit of running and supporting a team,” said Fite in a news release.

There are currently 22 adult teams and 45 kids teams registered, Cowhert-Iacovazzi said. Registration is open through Friday night although t-shirts are not guaranteed to late registrants. There is no race-day registration.

“The overall response from the community has been nothing but positive,” said Cowherd-Iacovazzi.  “We have seen this event grow each year and we are hoping to see continued support and growth this year.”

To view the 20-mile course, click here. To view the kids relay course, click here. For more information, visit the West Hartford Relay website, www.westhartfordrelay.com.

Additional West Hartford Relay sponsors include Athleta, Max’s Oyster Bar, Max Burger, Isaac Law Offices, LLC, Orthopedic Associates of Hartford, P.C., Ratchford Eye Center, Engel & Volkers’, Rockville Bank Foundation, Big Sky, Bouvier Insurance, Federman, Lally & Remis LLC.