Chapel Street

Thousands Descend on New Haven for Annual Road Race

Six thousand runners descended on downtown New Haven for the 40th Annual Faxon Law New Haven Road Race Monday, and 10,000 spectators came out to watch the race.

“This is the best time of the day – morning! It’s gorgeous out! People don’t realize what they miss. Look at all these people!” said Rosie-Ann Tiso of Wolcott.

Runners competed in the kid’s race, a 5K, a half-marathon, and the prestigious 20K National Championship.

“I’m hoping to have some fun and get some good competition. There’ll be some really fast people here today and I hope to run faster,” said Rachel Bainbridge of Arlington, Mass.

This year’s 20K race featured five past champions, five Olympians, and several up-and-coming distance stars competing for the prize of $40,000.

Names include America's top distance runner, Galen Rupp, U.S. Olympian, Leonard Korir, Sam Chelanga, Christo Landry and New Haven's Tim Ritchie, as well as Aliphine Tuliamuk, Emily Sisson and Jordan Hasay.

Melissa Lee of New York said the biggest prize was bringing her fellow Yale alumni and their families together.

“We do it every year as our Yale reunion. My kids are running the race in a couple of minutes, and then I’ll do the 20K,” Lee said.

A portion of the money raised will go to charities across the Elm City, and some will go to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

“My daughter this past weekend actually was running a lemonade stand, in Cheshire, raised $300 to go to the Hurricane Harvey victims. Awesome cause,” said Martin DiCicco of Cheshire.

Portions of Chapel Street, Whitney Avenue, Goffe Street, and streets along East Rock Park were closed for the race.

The race started on Elm Street and ends on Temple Street.

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