KENT—Kent’s most challenging endurance event, the Macedonia Trail Race, returns for its seventh year on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 7 a.m.
The race will take place in Macedonia Brook State Park. Runners can choose between 3 distances: a 12-kilometer, 25-kilometer and 50-kilometer. The 12k run includes 1,750 feet of elevation. No matter which distance chosen, the race offers trail runners a one-of-a-kind experience, with single track and lush forest trails, challenging climbs and descents, and what many consider several amazing viewpoints on course. In particular runners are faced with the steep climb up Cobble Mountain, but at the top they are rewarded with its amazing viewpoint to the west, where on a clear day one can see the Catskill Mountains in NY.
The Macedonia Trail Race is organized by Steep Endurance—a company dedicated to creating trail and ultra races in Connecticut. Founded by Brian Vanderheiden, Steep Endurance’s races range from 5ks to ultra marathons.
After the Macedonia Trail Race, the Steep Endurance lineup includes two more upcoming events local to Northwest Connecticut. One will be at Angevine Farm on Sunday, Sept. 22 and another at Mohawk Mountain on Sunday, Oct. 13.
TrailHeads, a Kent-based business that designs and markets hats, gloves, headbands and related accessories for runners and outdoor enthusiasts, has been a sponsor of Steep Endurance since 2017. TrailHeads President and co-founder Stephanie Raftery said, “It’s so fun to have this challenging event in our own backyard! We’re thrilled to be sponsoring and donating prizes for the Macedonia Trail Race, and of course, several members of team TrailHeads will be running!”
The Macedonia Trail Race 25K is part of the Blue Blazed Trail Running Series in CT. The Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series is a sequence of races in Connecticut that are run entirely,
or in part, on the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails (BBHT). The BBHT are maintained by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA). These races help to promote and create greater awareness of trail running on the BBHT System, and for CFPA’s trail maintenance efforts.
Packet pick up and registration begins at the Macedonia Park Pavilion at 6:15 a.m. Sept. 8. The 50k is the first race to begin at 7 a.m., with the 25k following at 8 a.m. and the 12k starting at 9 a.m. Learn more and register online at steependurance.com
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is asked to contact steependurance@gmail.com for details.
