Event History

Event History

2024

  • Mark Hegarty took first place in the men’s category of the half with a time of 72:24, and Brittany Battis finished with a time of 84:10 in the women’s category.

2023

  • Connor Rockett took first place in the men’s category of the half with a time of 69:26, and Andrea Myers finished with a time of 84:34 in the women’s category.

2022

  • The event was moved back to April.

2021

  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 race was moved from April to July.

2020

  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 event was held virtually.

2019 

  • Everett Hackett wins 3rd straight race and sets new course record(67:26).

  • Pizza from Big Green Pizza Truck added to event’s post-race food.

2018

  • Everett Hackett sets half marathon course record (68:10).

2017

  • Event adds RaceJoy that provides runners the ability to be live tracked during races. RaceJoy includes offers progress alerts for spectators and the ability for runners to share live status updates to social media platforms.

  • 76 registered with Buddy Hero Half Marathon Relay & 5K, led by Best Buddies CT, to bring awareness of the need for social inclusion, friendship and leadership opportunities for people with disabilities.

  • Event and event participants raise $100,000 for signature charities: Abilities Without Boundaries, Best Buddies CT and Cheshire Lions Club.

2016

  • Zakaris Djouma breaks the half marathon course record (69:10).

  • Kate Pallardy wins her third Cheshire Half Marathon.

  • Event celebrates 5th year anniversary, offering each runner/walker who participated in all 5 events custom Cheshire Road Races hat and split of Henkell Sparkling Wine.

  • Addition of the bell at finish for runners who reach personal best to ring.

  • Student chapter of Best Buddies at Quinnipiac University creates the Buddy Heroes Relay Team. Each Best Buddies CT runner has an intellectual and/or developmental disability and is paired with a QU Peer without special needs for the 5K or a portion of the half marathon.

2015

  • Charitable partners raise $25,000 for National MS Society, Abilities Without Boundaries, Best Buddies CT and Cheshire Lions Club.

2014

  • Will Sanders sets half marathon course record (69:20).

  • Race committee grows to encompass over 40 members with diverse backgrounds from the community.

  • Event adds several additional educational and community based programming events centered on healthy and active lifestyles.

  • New partnership with Live To Excel that offered fitness and conditioning programs featuring movement based activity and nutritional educational counseling for children ages 5-12.

2013

  • Kate Pallardy sets female half marathon course record (79:48).

  • Race grows to 3,000 runner and 2,000 spectators.

  • Over $100,000 given to charity by event and event participants, nearly doubling 2012 charitable contributions.

  • Naugatuck Savings Bank (became Ion Bank later in 2013) signs on as event’s Title sponsor through 2015.

  • Healthy & Active Living Festival drew over 70 vendors, including various health screenings, fun activities and information on products.

  • Over 80 sponsors/contributors take part in the event, including three of Connecticut’s leading medical and research institutions: UConn Health Center, Yale New Haven Hospital and Quinnipiac Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine.

2012                                                                                                                                              

  • Thomas Young & Kate Pallardy win inaugural half marathon.

  • Cheshire Half Marathon & 5K Foundation (non-profit organization) is formed by parents of special needs children.

  • Race has 2,200 participants and becomes the largest inaugural foot race ever held in Connecticut.

  • Over $50,000 given to charity by event and event participants.

The Board of Directors of Abilities Without Boundaries (AWB) after successfully developing an autumn race the Hot COCO 5K in 2009 voted to develop a spring race starting in 2012. A partnership was made with Best Buddies CT and The Cheshire Lions Club insuring wide involvement from the community.

The 2012 race was such a success and a large operation that the AWB Board of Directors voted after the first race to develop a separate 501C non-profit to overlook the needs of the race all year and to do so, developed the Half-Marathon Foundation.

Cheshire Half Marathon/5K Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit CT Corporation.