Hamden Hills Half Marathon & Flat 5K
Saturday May 24, 2025 @ 7am
"The Real McCoy"
THE 2024 MEDAL (3")
Our 14th Annual Event!
THE COURSE
Our Half Marathon course is challenging and picturesque as you run through the backcountry of Hamden. The Half Marathon runs on the Rail-Trail for the first 2 miles and the last 2 miles offering a bit of flat, shady ground to enjoy.
Roads are open to traffic, but we have police at intersections as well as volunteers along the course.
GoPro Video of the 2023 Half Marathon Finish Line
USATF Officially measured Half Marathon by the Shoreline Sharks in 2022
The USATF Course Link
USATF Officially measured 5K by the Shoreline Sharks in 2022
The USATF Course Link
The 5K is 100% on the rail-trail for a flat and fast finish. No cars. The longest running Half Marathon & 5K in Hamden and the best, by far!
Aid stations at miles 2.5, 4.5, 6.5, 8.5 and 10.5 stocked with Poland Spring Water & Gatorade Endurance
Porto-Lets at the Start / Finish as well as Miles 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5
Half Marathon course including elevation on Strava
5K course including elevation on Strava
Venue: New Haven / Northampton
Railroad Canal Line Main Parking Lot
270 Sherman Ave. Hamden, CT. 06518
Plenty of parking in all Rail Trail lots plus on-street
THE ENTRANT STUFF
Men's and Women's cut Short Sleeve Tech T-Shirts for all entrants.
Gorgeous 3" Custom Finisher medals for all Half Marathon Finishers.
Poland Spring Water, Gatorade Endurance, fresh bagels, and bananas at the finish line for Finishers.
Award winners can immediately get their awards from the awards table. We do not have an award ceremony. Grab and go, don't waste the day waiting.
Custom awards to the top 3 Men and Women overall and in every 5 year division (5-9 to 80+) for the Half Marathon and the 5K.
FREE downloadable race photos and finisher certificates by EliteFeats.
TIMING AND RESULTS
Transponder Timing and Results for your gun time and your net time.
Results are streaming and will be texted and emailed to you when you finish.
CUTOFFS AND EARLY STARTS
Half Marathon Time cutoff is 3:30. Please do not sign up if you can't do a 3:30 HILLY Half.
Those who plan to run a 2:45-3:30 Half Marathon MUST start at 7:30am.
We will have an official Early Start.
NOTE: Early starts are only for those who will do a 2:45-3:30 range half marathon. We can't have anyone else go early. You will be DQed if you start early and finish faster than 2:30. Some exceptions will be made.
WHAT IS A RACE SERIES STREAKER?
Since 2014 we have offered a challenge to all who would like to accept. Finish all 3 of our 2025 Half Marathons (The Savin Rock Marathon counts too) and we give you a FREE custom Shoreline Sharks Race Series Streaker Hoodie.
1. 3/29/2025 The Savin Rock Marathon or Half Marathon
2. 5/24/2025 The Hamden Hills Half Marathon
3. 9/13/2025 The Gulf Beach Half Marathon
You can register on-line or race-day, it does not matter. Finish all 3 and you’ve got it! We will be handing the Hoodies out at the Rail Trail 10K on 10/5/2024 or the Shoreline Turkey Trot 5K on 11/28/2024 or you can pick it up from us in North Haven. We do not ship these. Make sure to email Streaker@ShorelineSharks.com when you finish all 3 with your size (unisex S,M,L and XL)
Special 3-Half Marathon Entry Ticket that saves $25
THE HISTORY
2012: The inaugural race started and finished at the very top of the QU York Hill Campus and was the hilliest Half Marathon & 5K in CT. So much suffering.
2013: We changed the course to start and finish on Sherman Ave thereby eliminating York Hill.
2014: The Half Marathon course again changed so it hooked up with the Rail Trail from mile 11 to the Finish.
2015: The Half Marathon & the 5K both started and finished on the Rail Trail. The 5K became completely flat.
2016-2019: Runners from all 50 States and other countries come to run this incredible event.
2020: The State of CT cancelled all races due to Covid19
2022: The Half Marathon and the 5K are now USATF Certified, and we altered the Half Marathon route to avoid a few tricky spots. We still have the Rail Trail sections and 90% of the original course. The elevation came down a little bit.
2023 & 2024: Another perfect day and an amazing group of athletes compete, some every year as this race is a Hamden Tradition.
PRICING STRUCTURE
11/16/2024 - 12/31/2024
Half Marathon $70
5K $30
1/1/2025 – 5/21/2025
Half Marathon $75
5K $35
5/24/2025 Race Day (probable but not guaranteed)
Half Marathon $80
5K $40
Cash, Checks, Venmo, PayPal only. No cards on race day.
TRANSFER & DEFERRAL INFO (with Active.com)
You may TRANSFER your registration to another athlete until 4/24/2025 for $25.
*This is done by you on-line through Active*
THIS IS A HARD DEADLINE. NO EXCEPTIONS.
You may DEFER your entry to the 2026 Race until 4/24/2025 for $25
(via email to Defer@ShorelineSharks.com)
We will confirm via email. Print that email and have it when you come in 2026.
You will register in-person, pay $25 and sign the waiver on Race Day.
You are guaranteed a spot.
THIS IS A HARD DEADLINE. NO EXCEPTIONS.
NO REFUNDS /NO EXCEPTIONS
PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL ASKING FOR AN EXCEPTION FOR ANY REASON.
ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS AT ALL FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER.
If we postpone an event due to uncontrollable circumstances as we had in 2020, we will always honor your registration with a race in the future but we do not refund.
*Active.com offers an insurance plan for a fee but we are not involved with that. We have no refunds.
RACE DAY
Saturday 5/24/2025
5:45am: Registration / Bib and Shirt Pickup Opens
6:30: Early Starters GO
6:45am: Registration / Bib and Shirt Pickup Closes
7:00am: Half Marathon Starts
7:15am: 5K Starts
7:30am: First 5K Finishers
8:15am: Final 5K Finishers
8:20am: First Finishers for the Half Marathon
10:00am: Final Finishers of the Half Marathon
10:15pm: Race Venue Closed
New Haven / Northampton
Railroad Canal Line Parking Lot
270 Sherman Ave. Hamden, CT. 06518
Bring photo ID
TRAVEL AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Air Travel
Hamden, Connecticut can be accessed easily from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. (46 Miles away) as well as JFK International Airport (85 miles away) and LaGuardia International Airport, (79 miles away) both in Queens, NY. Bradley will be MUCH easier to fly through and travel to and from the race venue, but the tickets may be more expensive. Recently Tweed Regional Airport has offered flights from various cities so check them out too. Tweed is less than 15 miles from the venue.
Hotels
The closest hotels to stay in for the Hamden Hills Half Marathon are:
Whitney Inn & Suites (Half a mile from the race venue)
3400 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT. 06518
Phone (203) 288-2505
Clarion Hotel & Suites (3 Miles from the race venue)
2260 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT. 06518
Phone (203) 288-3831
PARKING
Plenty of parking at all of the Rail Trail lots and on the street (where legal)
No Parking at the Dunkin Donuts / Amity Liquors Lot
