Donations support youth program expansion

We're incredibly proud of the far-reaching impacts of the HMF Susie Beris, MD, Youth Running Program and grateful to Dr. Beris and all of those who have donated to support this program through the years.  

 

This week has been full of exciting updates, including a generous new donation from Dr. Beris as we celebrate granting funds to four Connecticut high school cross country programs and the FitKids in School final mile event hosting 1,300 students on October 30 in New Britain.

 

BACKGROUND: 

Established by the Hartford Marathon Foundation in 2022 with a mission to build lifelong runners, the HMF Susie Beris, MD, Youth Running Program received additional funding from Southbury pediatrician Dr. Susan Beris this fall to expand its reach and positive impact. Through Dr. Beris’ generosity, four key programs have been serving local youth, with major initiatives being celebrated this week:

HMF FitKids in School (grades 4-8): Final mile celebration on Thursday, October 30, welcoming 1,300+ students from 25 schools at Walnut Hill Park in New Britain. The event marks students’ completion of a five-week training program to encourage running and fitness in everyday activities. Training materials are provided to teachers/coaches to use before, during or after school with a culminating recognition event produced by HMF for students to run the final mile of their goal marathon/half marathon distance before being celebrated with a finisher medal.

 

HMF High School Program (grades 9-12): Four $2,500 grants awarded this week will support the following running programs in underserved communities, with purchases including:
●      Platt High School, Meriden – Sneakers for student athletes who need them, healthy snacks before meets, watches available for each team member and Platt High School pop-up tent for the 16 member team to be identifiable at meets

●      Wilbur Cross High School, New Haven – Snacks/electrolytes for meets, a team pasta night before conference championships and support for an end of season banquet to celebrate accomplishments of the 40 members of the team

●      New Britain High School – Enter invitational meets with transportation for 20 runners, provide sneakers for athletes, support end of year banquet and provide a small scholarship to a senior male and female attending post secondary school

●      East Hartford High School – Enter invitational meets with transportation for 25 runners, boost limited resources for uniforms, running shoes and nourishment

Junior Team HMF (grades 6-8): Nominations accepted through October 31 for students to serve one-year terms as ambassadors for HMF and their school. Team members are provided a custom race shirt, free 5K race, volunteer engagement and mentoring, support and recognition.

HMF FitKids races (2-11 year old): in conjunction with select family-friendly HMF Events, short distance fun runs allow children the opportunity to participate in their own race, complete with finish line and finisher medal. More than 200 kids participated on October 11 at ¼ mile, ½ mile and mile FitKids races at the Eversource Hartford Marathon.

“It’s a privilege for us to honor Dr. Beris by ensuring her generosity has a lasting impact and sparks that love of running to benefit young people throughout their life,” said Josh Miller, president of the Hartford Marathon Foundation. “We are grateful for every donor’s support and look forward to finding new ways to grow and expand this program, helping a wide array of youth with different backgrounds and experiences for years to come.”

In addition to the funds endowed by Dr. Beris, donations to HMF allow members of the running community to contribute to the continued success of its youth running programs. Supporters are invited to donate and to volunteer to share their passion and help build the lifelong love of running in local youth.

Learn more about the HMF Susie Beris, MD, Youth Running Program and upcoming events for kids and adults at www.HartfordMarathon.com.

 

 

 

Policy reminders on bandits & illegal bib transfers

We are thrilled to have hit capacity on all race distances for Saturday’s Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, Team 26.2 Relay and Charity 5K.  We love that you love running with us, but attempting to do so without your own race bib is not acceptable.

 

To be clear here, anyone attempting to run the race without a bib or with someone else’s bib will be removed from the course and barred from future HMF Events.

 

There is simply no way to register or get in at this last-minute date. Legal bib transfers were allowed up until October 4, one week before race day. Nobody is allowed to use someone else’s race bib, no exceptions.

Illegal bib transfers

Illegally swapping bibs presents a significant safety issue – we don’t know who you are if you get hurt or there is an emergency.  Not knowing who you are adds another layer of complexity for the medical professionals trying to do their jobs and makes it impossible for us as a race organization to alert an emergency contact. Nobody goes into a race thinking they’ll be the person that needs medical support – however, anyone could be that person. 

Runner to runner, using someone else’s bib alters results. This can impact division awards and prevent legit race participants from getting the recognition they earned.

 

Bandits

There is no excuse or allowance for running without your own race bib on the courses during the permitted time of the road closures on October 11. It’s dangerous and creates safety concerns that can impact others who rightfully belong. Oh, and it’s stealing.

 

Everything a bandit uses is a stolen service from those who registered – volunteer support, water, portalets, timing, not taking a medal or getting a shirt doesn’t make it ok.  Bandits are stealing. Please don’t do it. Please discourage others from doing it.  If you don’t believe us, hear Runner’s World’s take on it from the May 2024 article, When You Bandit a Race, You Ruin it For Everyone.

  

Race planning takes many months and is done in conjunction with a plethora of security and medical professionals to ensure adequate support services based on set course capacities. Everyone who registered and paid the entry fee is entitled to the services provided and to enjoy the road closures and all amenities of the race.  Additionally, our permits allow only the number of people set by course limits to run, so bandits are also jeopardizing the race itself by not adhering to those permits.

Capacity updates have been shared for weeks on hartfordmarathon.com and regularly in our social posts, we have not been quiet about the status. Those who have not registered are responsible for repercussions of their own inaction!