140 River Rd, East Haddam CT
Saturday, May 24th, 2025
🏃♂️ RACE HISTORY
Franklin Academy students have participated in local 5Ks for over a decade. During the 2020-2021 school year, when off-campus trips were paused, we brought the race to our campus! With the 1st annual race day set on April 25, we realized this was National DNA Day. It was the perfect quirky holiday to celebrate. We designed a weaving, double helix-inspired two challenging loops around our campus, with science facts peppered around the course. With reused trophies generously donated by members of the Run 169 Society, we celebrated in style. The successful event has since returned by popular demand each year.
While most run or walk, our creative and fun students and faculty have brought traditions of racing in non-traditional modes (piggybacking, biking, being carried by kayak, or walking on stilts). We embrace and encourage this fun!
The 1.75 mile course has remained a constant, though we have moved the date to May. We continue the tradition of gathering reused trophies throughout the year and regifting them to course winners. Over the past four years this has been a private event for our Franklin Academy community (although local legend and two-time 169 Queen Maureen Gillis, who just can't resist a race, has been known to sneak in...). But this year, we have decided to open our campus to the larger world to share how awesome Franklin Academy is!
The event is rain or shine!
📝 DAY-OF REGISTRATION
While we prefer pre-registration to allow us to properly sync bibs with names, we will allow in-person registration beginning at 1 pm on the day of the race for $20, paid in cash (preferred) or by credit card.
🚗 PARKING
Use the Pond House/Dining Hall entrance. In a GPS this is 100 River Rd, East Haddam, CT.
- Guidance: Signs and parking attendants will guide you.
- Instructions: Please follow parking signs.
- Note: Please avoid using the main Franklin Academy entrance.
🏆 PRIZES AND RESULTS
We love to celebrate at Franklin Academy! Awards of reused trophies and occasional surprise Franklin swag will be awarded three deep (no double-dipping) in the following categories:
- Course Record: $20 cash prize for setting a new course record (Current record 12:20 set in 2021 by Jake Sutterlin). One prize per year.
- CATEGORIES: Franklin Academy alum, Current Franklin Academy student, Current Franklin Academy faculty, Non-binary.
- AGES: Female: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90+.
- AGES: Male: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90+.
The Kids Race, one half-lap around our soccer field, is free and open to racers ages 12 and under. Awards will also be given 3-deep.
Official race times for the 1.75 mile race will be posted on the Results page.
Additional "spirit of the race" awards may be given for noteworthy costumes, dramatic finishes, or impressive feats.
The race director really hopes to have a unicycle complete the full course one day. Note that the majority of the course is on rocky, packed dirt, with some steep hills. Anyone willing to engineer an approved unique mode of transport may register for free. Non-traditional racers may be eligible for "style" awards at the judges' discretion.
🥤 REFRESHMENTS
We will have 2 water stops on the course, but the looped course allows for three passes by a water stop. Water stops will also have bowls of water for dogs.
Post-race, you can enjoy complimentary Italian ice, watermelon, bananas, and pretzels.
🐶 DOG-FRIENDLY CAMPUS
Runners may race with leashed dogs. If bringing your furry friend, we require that you contact the race director (click the Questions button below) to send proof of their up-to-date vaccinations.
🚻 BATHROOMS
We will have two indoor single-use bathrooms available in our Dining Hall, right next to registration and the Start and Finish.
🏞️ COURSE
This is a challenging 1.75 mile course around our campus. The majority of the course is on packed, rocky dirt paths (affectionately known as "The Murphy Highway"), with some short parts of pavement, including a fast downhill on River Rd, and some brief stretches of grass. While there are many hills, we have a fast downhill finish.
Envision yourself getting a personal record as you check out a run-through of the course
🤝 VOLUNTEERS
Want to participate but don't want to be in the race? We can always use extra course monitors, timers, and cheer squad members! Click "Questions" below to contact the race director to see how you can get involved.
🌟 FRANKLIN ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT
Franklin Academy creates a community-focused boarding and day school where students with unique learning styles develop and strengthen academic and social competencies vital to the pursuit of college goals, professional aspirations, and fulfilling lives.
To fulfill this mission:
- Belong: Students belong to a school community where you feel safe, connected, understood, and supported.
- Grow: Students grow into independent, responsible young adults ready to pursue your interests and passions.
- Succeed: Alumni succeed because you understand your own strengths and challenges, are able to self-advocate, and have the skills necessary to move ahead as life-long learners.
