Norfolk Land Trust Trail Race Series/Haystack Mountain Challenge

About the Event

Join us for our 12th Annual Trail Race Series.

Race Fees

Registration is via this online portal only, including on race day.
5K - $25 before Sept 29, thereafter $30
10K $25 before Sept 29, thereafter $30
- Groups of 4 registrations for 5K or 10K - $60 (Registrations must be made within the same transaction)
Half Marathon - $35 before Sept 24, thereafter $40
- Groups of 4 registrations for Half Marathon - $80 (Registrations must be made within the same transaction)

All runners will receive a free slice of pizza from Pete-za!! Norbrook Farm Brewery will also be on hand with ice-cold beverages for sale. Please remember that this is a cupless event and you should provide water. We will have some water stations set up along the route. We love dogs but even leashed ones are not allowed on the race course, due to safety, liability, and potential disruption. While exceptions are made for service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this prohibition typically applies to all other pets, including emotional support animals.

CLASSIC 5K

A challenging and scenic race through picturesque Barbour Woods. The course is a mixture of single and double track. Climb up Beech Hill for a view of Haystack Mountain, run on carriage roads beside historic Killarney Bridge, descend the dry dam to a flat stretch of railroad bed, ascend through woodlands and finally along a gladed wetland, known as the Swamp Trail to the finish.

Note: This course usually measures at about 3.3mi.

HAYSTACK 10K

Want to go a little longer? Try adding a challenging loop over Haystack Mountain. This course begins on the same route as the 5K, but jumps off of the Sunset Trail onto the South Dam, crosses Route 272N and ascends through a grassy meadow onto an intense single track to summit at Norfolk's iconic Haystack Mountain Tower. Descend the mountainside on a carriage path to meet up with a single track winding along the mountainside bringing you back to the park's main entrance where you will cross over the South Dam and finish up the 5k course. The 10K is part of the 2026 USATF-CT MUT Grand Prix series.

Note: This course usually measures at about 5.9mi.

HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE HALF MARATHON

The Haystack Challenge is an exciting and grueling half marathon. With 2000+ feet of elevation gain this course is built around the 10k route with the addition of some lesser-known trails adjacent to Barbour Woods and Haystack Mountain; including special access to private paths only allowed during the event.
The course includes a scenic ascent and a descent down a winding single track back to the start. From there you follow the 10k course to Haystack and break off onto public and private trails. Two trips up and down Haystack link you back into the 10k course to the finish.

No map is provided for the privacy of property owners.

Note: There is a cutoff (2hr 8min ~ 16min pace) at approximately 8 miles on the first ascent up Haystack. If you get to the volunteer in over that time you will be asked to take a route to the finish that forgoes the second summit or there will be the opportunity for a ride back to the start.

Race Day Schedule

Check in from 8:30 am
Half Marathon start - 9:30 am
10K start - 10:45 am
5K start - 11:00 am

Races Offered

Half Marathon

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 13.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

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09:30

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$35.00

10K Trail Race

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 10K

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Type — Running

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10:45

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$25.00

5K Trail Race

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 5K

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Type — Running

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11:00

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$25.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for October in Norfolk.

thermostat Temperature

6.1° / 15.6°

wb_sunny Feels like

2.9° / 12.6°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

8h 27m

water_drop Avg rainfall

2.7 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

11.3 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Low

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (4.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

75.4%

wb_twilight Sunrise

07:06

nightlight Sunset

18:09

About Norfolk

Learn more about the host city, Norfolk.

Norfolk is a town in the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut.

Hotels & Places to Stay

Race Results

Official finishing times from previous editions of Norfolk Land Trust Trail Race Series/Haystack Mountain Challenge.

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Jon-Paul Mandelburg	M	38	Quaker Hill, CT	1:36:26
🥈	Ryan Williams	M	34	Concord, MA	1:39:14
🥉	Jeff Walker	M	59	Westerly, RI	1:45:25
4	Brett Stoeffler	M	56	Tolland, CT	1:47:15
5	Tim Goric	M	37	West Hartford, CT	1:47:15
6	Dane Graham	M	38	Falls Village, CT	1:59:18
7	Joseph Hallisey	M	59	Glastonbury, CT	2:01:34
8	Jonathan Heideman	M	28	Norwich, CT	2:05:35
9	Richard Lindahl	M	43	Vernon Rockville, CT	2:07:47
10	Timothy Massey	M	37	Townsend, MA	2:18:33
11	Lori Marcantonio	F	46	Middlebury, CT	2:19:33
12	Jake Ziello	M	34	Canton, CT	2:21:29
13	Jeremy Pinkham	M	37	Torrington, CT	2:39:11
14	Ellis Walker	M	38	Wakefield, RI	2:45:24
15	Ted Cowles	M	64	West Granby, CT	2:48:17
16	Chris Dropick	M	54	Barkhamsted, CT	3:04:38
17	David DePetris	M	36	Milford, CT	3:08:14
18	Nick Andreas	M	38	Meriden, CT	3:16:34

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Brian Terwilliger	M	33	Burlington, CT	25:44
🥈	Merrick Bannerman	M	14	Norfolk, CT	27:24
🥉	Adam Heller	M	50	Norfolk, CT	27:36
4	Jesse Pantuosco	M	33	West Hartford, CT	29:06
5	Wilson DeShazo	M	15	Norfolk, CT	29:19
6	Becky Wilkinson	F	44	Southfield, MA	29:40
7	Reid Nadeau	M	13	Norfolk, CT	30:48
8	William MacElveen	M	34	Poughkeepsie, NY	30:54
9	Chris Davidson	M	33	Quincy, MA	31:02
10	Matthew Pleines	M	32	Plymouth, CT	31:02
11	Ryan Deasy	M	37	Barkhamsted, CT	31:29
12	Conor Deasy	M	34	New Britain, CT	31:59
13	Sara Heller	F	41	NORFOLK, CT	32:03
14	Ryan Ayers	M	37	Oxford, CT	32:17
15	Scott Reeve	M	60	Norfolk, CT	32:45
16	Eric Mendelsohn	M	57	South Egremont, MA	33:28
17	Barbara Carr	F	40	Salisbury, CT	33:31
18	Jillian Wilczek	F	35	Colchester, CT	33:59
19	Ben Hinman	M	33	Hartford, CT	34:08
20	Landon Nadeau	M	13	Norfolk, CT	34:17
21	Rebekah Terwilliger	F	29	Bristol, CT	35:23
22	James Davidson	M	37	Hanover, MA	36:21
23	Billy Matthews	M	55	Norfolk, CT	37:50
24	Nicholas Allen	M	49	New York, NY	37:54
25	Gayle Shanley	F	41	Falls Village, CT	38:30
26	Isabel Allen	F	14	New York, NY	39:05
27	Robert Pease Jr.	M	47	Torrington, CT	41:13
28	MaryEllen Porter	F	65	West Hartford, CT	41:16
29	Anthony Gonsalves	M	41	Waterbury, CT	41:35
30	Deb Marshall	F	51	Branford, CT	41:51
31	Tristen Matthews	M	20	Norfolk, CT	42:09
32	Celya Dahmani	F	24	Sandy Hook, CT	42:40
33	Ted Perotti	M	25	Canaan, CT	44:10
34	Lisa Allyn	F	57	Norfolk, CT	44:58
35	Mark Meleshkewich	M	55	Southbury, CT	45:47
36	Suzette Reading	F	50	Columbia, CT	45:48
37	Trey Matthews	M	24	Norfolk, CT	46:22
38	Ashley Porter Adkins	F	44	Lakeville, CT	47:43
39	Courtney Goldsmith	F	52	New York, NY	47:53
40	Sarah Allyn	F	25	Norfolk, CT	48:41
41	Elise MacElveen	F	30	Poughkeepsie, NY	48:42
42	Suzanne Hinman	F	65	NORFOLK, CT	58:09
43	Ryan Kennedy	M	36	Middletown, CT	1:02:46
44	Kathy McDonald	F	52	Rocky Hill, CT	1:58:13
45	Patty Cosentino	F	58	Glastonbury, CT	1:58:14

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Joshua Villeneuve	M	35	East Granby, CT	47:02
🥈	Robert Low	M	48	West Hartford, CT	51:48
🥉	Noah Sinclair	M	35	Norfolk, CT	52:29
4	Thomas Penny	M	28	New Haven, CT	54:10
5	Anonymous Anonymous	F	31	—	59:37
6	Avan Wood	M	18	Pine Meadow, CT	1:00:10
7	Bogdan Toader	M	32	New Haven, CT	1:00:16
8	Tommy Vanderheiden	M	19	Bethel, CT	1:01:51
9	Brian Vanderheiden	M	53	Bethel, CT	1:01:52
10	Dylan Blackwell	M	34	Ashley Falls, MA	1:02:24
11	Eddie Jacovino	M	36	West Hartford, CT	1:03:22
12	Kiki Mackaman-Lofland	F	29	New Haven, CT	1:03:41
13	Robert Mirabello	M	28	Meriden, CT	1:03:58
14	Bryan Irizarry	M	25	Middletown, CT	1:11:45
15	Laura Tabaka	F	32	New Hartford, CT	1:11:59
16	Kerong Kelly	F	29	New York, NY	1:13:22
17	Patrick Kelly-Hauser	M	37	Wallingford, CT	1:13:46
18	Katie Hatton	F	27	Palm City, FL	1:16:07
19	Stephanie McKenna	F	39	Ellington, CT	1:16:11
20	TJ McKenna	M	39	Ellington, CT	1:16:13
21	Havi Asch	F	41	South Portland, ME	1:22:56
22	Russell Barnard	M	29	Brewster, NY	1:23:12
23	Joseph Green	M	61	Norfolk, CT	1:25:14
24	Taylor Allyn	F	28	Saint Petersburg, FL	1:28:39
25	Adam Nagy	M	13	Colebrook, CT	1:30:20
26	Tamas Nagy	M	39	Colebrook, CT	1:30:21
27	Teresa Kahres	F	47	Philadelphia, PA	1:31:16
28	Lopi Asch	M	48	Philadelphia, PA	1:31:17
29	Anonymous Anonymous	M	49	—	1:37:01