169 Towns #18: Meriden

January 19th, 2016 · No Comments

#18 Meriden: Bernie Jurale Memorial Tradition Run

Most of the races I’ve run so far have been fairly interchangeable, small-town 5Ks in a loop around the center of town. This one was different: a point-to-point, all uphill race leading from Hubbard park to the summit of West Peak in Meriden. You can read about the tradition behind the Tradition Run; this was its 47th running, and it was obviously a big community event. I really like the laid back feel of the event; you fill out a paper form stating your name and address before the race, and you get a certificate of completion, filled out by hand while you’re racing, when you’re done. The patch is a very nice touch, too. No numbers, no timing, no results.

I hadn’t looked into the race at all before I headed out, so I wasn’t aware it was a point-to-point event, but that became pretty clear when I started up the hill. It was a chilly day, and I ran in my full winter gear, which was helpful. Once I got to the top – it felt like you were running one brief section of Mt. Washington, actually – I decided not to linger, and made it an out and back, turning right around and running down as soon as I crossed the finish line. It was significantly faster on the way down, and I indulged in a few donut holes and picked up my patch and certificate before heading home.

Bernie Jurale Memorial Tradition Run | 5K | 1/17/16 | 27:55 | 18/169

Tags: New Haven · Running