By Kent Pierce
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Thousands laced up their running shoes this Labor Day for the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
Big crowds turned out along the course as four races took placce: the kids’ fun run, the 5K, 20K, and half-marathon. The 20K is a national championship race that attracts runners from hundreds of miles away.
One of the favorites to break the top ten of that championship 20K is New Haven’s own Travis Martin. He’s broken records at UConn, but he says that’s not why he started running.
“The reason that I got into it is really for personal fulfilment and personal growth. It’s cool to be able to see that in a tangible way. If you go out and you run a 5K or a 10K, it doesn’t matter who you are, you can step up by two minutes or 30 seconds,” Martin said.
He is one of the few elite runners going for a win.
On the men’s side, Connor Mantz shattered the 20K course record. Aubrey Frentheway won the women’s division.
Most of the thousands of people are going for personal bests or to have fun.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker ran the 20K. News 8’s Laura Hutchinson and Gil Simmons were seen out there running, too.
The Faxon Law New Haven Road Race looked a lot greener this year, not just due to the race’s t-shirts. Every cup was compostable as a part of an expansion of the Green Initiative.
“You know, reducing our carbon footprint. If we’re not composting it, we’re recycling it,” Michael Dolan, president of the road race, said.
Along with green, purple was another important color at this year’s race. Project Purple, the organization that has raised millions of dollars to battle pancreatic cancer, had a strong presence in New Haven.
“I founded Project Purple in honor of my dad who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” Project Purple founder Dino Verrelli said. ” But New Haven 2010 was the event, the race, that kicked it all off, that started everything.”
Project purple has raised over $15 million to help pay for screening, research and patient assistance. That took on extra significance at this year’s race. Long-time race announcer Mark Gilhuly died of pancreatic cancer just after last year’s race.
“Beloved by so many, brought so much energy to the New Haven Road Race and to the community,” Dolan said.
This year, every runner, including his widow, Linda Kowalski, ended the race under an arch with his picture and name on it
“What I thought about was how Mark would want all of us, including me, out here running today, and how much this meant to him,” Kowalski said.