During the 26th edition of the Eversource Hartford Marathon on Saturday, more than 10,000 runners will combine to rack up an estimated 336 million steps — a slog that will require 9,400 gallons of water to slake the participants’ collective thirst. (Those numbers and many more can be found on the event’s official website.)
But you don’t have to be wearing a race bib to fill up your Fitbit on a festive fall day in the capital city. From where to park if you’re looking for an optimal viewing spot, or roads to avoid if the action is winding through your hometown, here’s a handy guide to making the most out of marathon day:
Course info and start times
The marathon is the main event, but thousands will also participate in the half marathon, the 5K walk and run and the marathon relay. A relatively new event, the Pedal to the Medal bike ride, returns in 2019 with a new closed course along the CT Fastrak bus route and kicks off the festivities at 3 a.m.
Runners toe the starting line for the 26.2-mile marathon course, as well as the half marathon and the relay, at 8 a.m. (7:55 a.m. for wheelchairs) at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Washington Street. The half marathon course diverts from the regular course at Mile 1 and moves into West Hartford before finishing in Bushnell Park via Farmington Ave.
The marathon course snakes through downtown Hartford, then moves into East Hartford and South Windsor before circling back to the capital city.
All the races finish under the iconic Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch on Trinity Street. For additional info about the Kids K, the 5K walk and run and other activities, head to hartfordmarathon.com/eversource-hartford-marathon/race-week/. A full course map is available here.
Parking
Areas designated as official marathon parking lots and garages are available from every direction. Some are free and others cost $5, but in either case you’ll want to arrive early to secure a spot. One such location in close proximity to the starting and finish lines is the Trumbull Street garage located at 100 Trumbull St.
A handicap accessible lot is located at 55 Elm St., and carpoolers can park for free in the Aetna garage at 151 Flower Street via the Broad Street entrance.
For more parking info and a full map of designated locations, click here.
Roads to avoid on race day
Expect closures and/or delays at the following locations as a result of the race on Saturday:
Hartford: Pearl Street, Ford Street, State Street, Founders Bridge, Asylum Street, Broad Street, Farmington Avenue, Capitol Avenue, Sheldon Street, Prospect Street, Park Street, Van Dyke Avenue, Washington Street, Laurel Street, Weston Street, Rev. Moody Overpass, Market Street, Elizabeth Street and Oxford Street.
West Hartford: Park Road, Park Street, South Highland Street, Boulevard/South Quaker Lane, North Quaker Lane, Fern Street, Trout Brook Drive, Albany Avenue (between Steele Road and Trout Brook Drive), Steele Road and Elizabeth Park.
East Hartford: Founders Bridge, East River Drive, Hartland Street, Meadow Street, Pitkin Street, South Prospect Street, Main Street, Carroll Road and Silver Lane.
South Windsor: King Street, Old Main Street
For more info, see the map below, or click here.
Where are the best places to watch?
Everybody loves to catch a glimpse of a tight finish under the archway, but you might want to stake out a spot in the Stanley Black & Decker Final Turn at the corner of Pearl and Ford streets, where live music will supply runners with the adrenaline for a final kick. Other coveted vantage points include Capitol Avenue in front of the Capitol, Riverfront Plaza at the Founders Bridge (Mile 4) and the High Five Mile (Mile 24) on Prospect St. in East Hartford.
If you’re looking to watch the half marathon, you can’t go wrong with Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, which begins the closing stretch in scenic fashion.
More tips for spectators can be found here.
How can I track a runner?
If you’re looking to keep tabs on an individual runner, you can sign up for real-time text alerts via Chronotrack. You can also download the Athlinks app to find out the location of the participant you’re following at various locations on the course. You can register here to become an Athlinks user.
Keep in mind there are course limits — six hours for the marathon and three hours for the half marathon. That amounts to a per-mile pace of 13 minutes and 44 seconds.
Impress your friends with these facts and figures
37: The number of bands that will perform along the race route
$53,800: The amount of prize money that will be awarded
7,000: The number of aluminum blankets that will be wrapped around participants at the finish line
$7,500,000: The amount raised for charity by race participants
42,400: The total number of safety pins used to keep race bibs secure
250: The amount of people who will cross the finish line per minute when it’s at its busiest
8,000: The number of cowbells that will be handed out to spectators … but we gotta have more
Chris Brodeur can be reached at cbrodeur@courant.com.
