Cross-Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness

Cross-Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness

The Cross-Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness is the eighth annual group run taking place on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The event follows the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail from its northern end in West Suffield, CT to its terminus on the New Haven harbor, covering roughly 56 miles through rural, suburban, and urban areas.

This event is organized as a fundraiser for Mental Health Connecticut. There is no event fee, but participants are asked to donate or raise funds; a suggested donation of $56 is presented as a reference amount.

The course is an end-to-end, unsupported trek on a paved trail described as flat for most of its length. Organizers provide a digital map with mile markers that correspond to convenience stores and other potential stops. Volunteers will staff several basic aid stations intended to support safety; station availability and staffing are not guaranteed. Participants are encouraged to carry their own cup and plan on a higher level of self-support than at a typical organized race.

Participants must be prepared to complete the approximately 56 mile route on their own. There is a hard completion cut-off of 14 hours. Runners are required to arrange transportation to the start and from the finish, to carry personal lighting, spare batteries, hydration, a charged phone and backup charger, and to have a contingency plan for emergencies or dropping out. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.