Nipmuck South Race June 11th: Showcasing Mansfield's trails

On Sunday June 11th, the Shenipsit Striders will host a trail race that traverses the Mansfield sections of the Nipmuck trail. This race draws runners from all over Connecticut who want to experience this local outdoor gem. Experienced trail enthusiasts and newer trail runners alike will be competing in the 14.1 mile race.

At 9 AM, runners will head north from Mansfield Hollow and through the meadows of Mansfield Hollow Wildlife area. The course continues into the Spring Hill tract to Fifty Foot Cliff overlook, where runners can catch spectacular views of the area. After a short stint on Hanks Hill Road, the trail race ducks back onto the Nipmuck trail near the Gurleyville Gristmill and hugs the Fenton River all the way to the turn-around point at Route 44.

The Nipmuck South race is part of the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association’s Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series. The Blue-Blazed Series offers a diverse selection of races for runners of all skill levels. The Series hopes to bring greater awareness to the blue-blazed hiking trails and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA), whose volunteers build and maintain the trails on which so many love to run.

The goal of the Trail Series is to promote CFPA's trail maintenance efforts and to encourage trail running in the state. Other local races that participate in the Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series include Goodwin Forest in Hampton and the Nipmuck Trail Marathon in Ashford. For a full listing, see the CFPA website: https://www.ctwoodlands.org/run-for-the-woods/blue-blazed-trail-running-series

Registration for the Nipmuck South race is available the day of the event, but online registration is encouraged and available now at ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=42897. A post-race celebration with food and beverages will be available for all participants at the picnic tables in Mansfield Hollow.

The Shenipsit Striders is a non-profit trail running club started in 1975, and the Nipmuck South race is one of their newest events. Proceeds from the event support groups like the Joshua’s Trust, Connecticut Forest and Parks Association and other local land conservation groups.