Cross-Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness

The Cross-Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness

The Cross-Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness is a group running challenge that follows the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail from the northern end in West Suffield, CT to the harbor in New Haven, CT. The route covers roughly 56 miles and passes through rural, suburban, and urban areas. The course is described as very flat and paved.

This event is organized as a fundraiser for Mental Health Connecticut. There is no event fee, but participants are asked to donate or raise donations for the charity; organizers suggest a symbolic donation amount equal to one dollar per mile as an example.

The event is not a race. It is unsupported in the sense that participants are responsible for most of their own needs. Organizers provide a digital map with mile markers linked to convenience stores and other stops. Volunteers will staff several basic aid stations focused on safety, but station staffing and timing cannot be guaranteed. Participants are advised to carry a cup for aid stations and to plan for limited on-course services.

All participants must be able to complete the roughly 56 mile course on their own. There is a hard completion cutoff of 14 hours. Runners must arrange transportation to the start and from the finish, bring a headlamp with spare batteries, carry hydration, and have a backup plan and support in case of emergency. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.