Run The Gauntlet At Hammo!

Why would anyone want to tackle 16-20 obstacles, including hay bale pyramid climbs, cargo nets, tire crossings, planks and an aqua run, all while running 3.1 miles along the Hammonasset Beach shore? 

"Because it's fun," said John Bysiewicz, an event coordinator. He should know. His 13-year-old daughter did it last year and she had a blast. "We had teenagers, we had a 70-year-old do it. Anyone can do it." 

The race is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29th at Hammonasset Beach State Park. For more information and to register, see this link. 

Another reason why people might want to do it is because it will benefit the Shoreline Greenway Trail, an all-volunteer project that is creating a bike, hike, and walking trail on the Connecticut Shoreline from Lighthouse Point on the New Haven Harbor to Hammonasset Beach State Park in madison. 

Like the Gauntlet, the trail is designed for people of all ages to enjoy. For more information about the Shoreline Greenway Trail visit www.shorelinegreenwaytrail.org.

Running the Gauntlet sounds like it's a combination of a fun run and a romp on a playground. Participants will go up and down climbing walls, run out into the water, go through some big construction tubes, run up and down sand piles, and even run along a 12-foot plank. 

"It's all kinds of fun," Bysiewicz said. "People seem to enjoy it. I was just looking at the pictures of people at the finish line and they all had smiles on their faces." 

Bysiewicz said it is being set up so that people will not have to wait at obstacles and that runners will probably go out in several waves of a couple hundred each. 

The sponsors of the event include Trailblazer, Denali, The North Face, New Balance,Guilford Savings Bank, Thimble Island Brewing Company, Smartwool, Chabaso Bakery, Town Fair Tire and Shore Publishing.

Karen Brown of Guilford, from Trailblazer, said the store is glad to be putting on the event for the second year in a row. Last year there were about 500 participants. This year they expect more than 700.  

"Putting on our own branded race was something we've wanted to do for some time. The trend in this industry is obstacles races. ... Some of the obstacle races are pretty hard core. This is more like something that will appeal to our customer base, something fun and interesting, but not so overwhelming that it creates a goal you cannot reach. It's like a trimmed down version of Tough Mudder both in terms of distance and difficulty." 

The post-race beach party sounds like it'll be as much fun, if not more, than the race. It will feature live music, free pizza from Old World Pizza Truck, free beer from Thimble Island Brewing Company and an awards ceremony. 

This year Trailblazer Run the Gauntlet Team Competition! Teams will be accepted in the following categories: Family Team, Corporate Team, Open Team and Crossfit Team. Awards will be given to the top 3 teams in each category.

The first 650 registered runners receive a technical running shirt. For more information on the Trailblazer Run the Gauntlet race, please visit jbsports.com or call JB Sports at(203) 481-5933.