In 2020 due to COVID, we held this event virtually, but 2021 is here and it's going to be a LIVE edition of the Beat the Clock Challenge! Can you run 2.08 miles in 30 minutes? Seems pretty easy right? Then this challenge is for you! The Beat the Clock Challenge brought to you by Steep Endurance and the Litchfield Distillery is a way to get your feet wet in a shortened format and see how you stack up against the competition. If you can finish in 30 minutes, you have the option and opportunity to start the next 30 minutes. We will keep going until there is ONE runner left!
There is a catch though with this event in that every lap/30 minutes we will be reducing the amount of time by 1 minute that you have to complete the loop. This will certainly push you to the edge of your endurance and speed as you will have to run faster as the event goes on. It's your choice on how long you can continue to "beat the clock"!
There will also be some prize money to the winners of each division! (see details below)
BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE! $75 early registration through September 30 $85 October 1-23 $95 Race Day
AWARDS
High quality tech shirt from Craft Sportswear**
Specially designed "DNF" finisher medal from Ragged Cuts
"DNF" Award
Additional swag from our sponsors
In this type of race, there can only be ONE possible winner for each division. Everyone else is a DNF. In some cases, there might not be a winner if you are familiar with how the ending of these types of events go. Here are the awards that will be up for grabs:
1st place OVERALL winner in EACH division for both male and female: 25% of the entry fees for that division as prize money plus a unique plaque courtesy of Ragged Cuts.
2nd place OVERALL in EACH division for both male and female: prizes from our sponsors.
3rd place OVERALL in EACH division for both male and female: prizes from our sponsors.
Course DESCRIPTION/MAPS
This course is about as flat as it gets. The elevation gain/loss says less than 100', but it's hardly noticeable. As Litchfield Distillery's motto says #spiritofhardwork, you will certainly need that as this race goes on.
EVENT RULES
The Beat the Clock Challenge will start at 8:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, October 24, 2021. We will be using the time.gov website for the official time for the event.
EACH and every loop will START on the half hour (i.e. 8:00/8:30/9:00, etc.), but the time will decrease to FINISH the loop every hour or every lap. Lap 1 will be 30 minutes to finish, Lap 2 you will have 29 minutes to finish, Laps 3 you will have 28 minutes to finish, etc. What this means is that after each lap, your time to finish is reduced, but your rest time is not. (i.e. If you finish lap 1 in say 20 minutes, you will still have 10 minutes to rest before the next lap starts). This will ensure everyone enough time to upload your lap to refuel, relax, stretch, or even think about whether you want to continue.
Before the start of each loop, the race director will go through the following protocol as such indicating time until the start. --2 minutes before the start (whistle will be blown 2 times) --1 minute before the start (whistle will be blown 1 time) --30 seconds will be announced before start --10 seconds will be counted down before the start --START (Cowbell will be rung)
If you DO NOT finish the lap in time, you are considered a DNF and cannot continue in the event.
If you DO finish within the allotted time for that specific lap, you may use the bathroom, eat, drink, sleep, ponder the next lap, etc., but you MUST be back in the designated start corral or you will be considered a DNF (NO EXCEPTIONS). You may also choose not to continue though you will be considered a DNF. You must start on time. This will keep the playing field level and not put me in a situation where I have to DQ you. That's certainly not fun for either party.
You cannot leave early to start your lap either. You must wait until the scheduled time for the next lap to start with everyone else still in the race.
If you are one that needs more time in between loops, then run faster so you have more time, but you might burn more energy. You may also choose to run slower which will give you less time back at the start/finish area, but you will burn less energy. You have to choose which strategy works best for YOU.
Runners will continue until ONE runner completes a FINAL lap. (i.e. If there are two runners left and one does not complete the loop in time, then the one that completed the loop the fastest will be declared the winner). That runner will be considered the winner of the Beat the Clock Challenge!
If you have some distance/time goals, 6 hours is equal to 25 miles, but never quit sitting down!
Good Luck!
SOCIAL MEDIA
We want to hear about your run before, during, and after the event! Share your Beat the Clock Challenge experience with us by tagging @steependurance, or use the hashtags #beattheclockchallenge and #steependurance on Facebook/Instagram. We will highlight your experience and re-post for others to see too!
SPONSORS
BENEficiaRY
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Litchfield Community Greenway. To make an additional donation to the LCG, please click on the picture below.
History of the Litchfield Community Greenway
A work group collaborated in 2003-2004 on a chapter of the Plan of Conservation and Development to propose a system of recreational trails linking various parts of town. In the fall of 2007, the group became aware of grant money for planning Greenways from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. When they attempted to apply for funding to plan the trail, the group learned that they needed to become more organized. So in the spring of 2008, they entered into a formal agreement with the Litchfield Community Center to act as the fiduciary agent for the Litchfield Community Greenway. They had a fundraiser, “Thrills in the Hills,” which brought in enough money to publish a brochure. In the fall of 2008, members of the group attended a workshop given by the Federal Department of the Interior and learned more about what it takes to put together a Greenway plan. They submitted and won a grant from the Department of the Interior Park Service, and had the technical assistance of John Monroe from the fall of 2009 to 2010. He created a detailed trail log with us to help us with planning and seeking future grants. Before any agreement could be made to use the trail, the group had to form their own non profit corporation, Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenway, Inc. and purchase liability insurance. They now have an agreement with White Memorial to use their trails instead of the most fragile section of the trail between Alain White Road and Route 202. They have also worked out a draft lease with Connecticut Light and Power, to use of the railroad bed as a recreational trail. Many of the abutting landowners have been consulted. The group began by focusing on one two mile section of the old railroad bed that extends from the end of South Lake Street, near where there is a trail to the Little Pond boardwalk, to the entrance to White Memorial off Bissell Road. We had a ribbon cutting, opening this section on Trails Day 2010. On Trails Day 2011 we also led a bike group to explore the whole length of the trail. Beyond the entrance to White Memorial going toward Bantam, there are several barriers: The bridge over Butternut Brook once used by the railroad will have to be rebuilt, the tunnel under High Bridge Road has been filled in, and a significant washout impedes movement behind Circle Drive. A fortunate development is that the Town of Litchfield is undertaking a project to rebuild the jambs that regulate the water level in Bantam Lake near High Bridge Road. The Town has proposed to add a footbridge over the Bantam River, which can be also be used by the Greenway. The section from South Lake Street along Russell Street must be shared with the Public Works Department, and has many abutting landowners. CL&P will be removing its equipment from the corner of Russell Street and Route 202, which will make room for parking and a small park at the beginning of the trail. A grant has been submitted to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for funds to make these improvements. In the spring of 2011, fundraiser in 2011 in conjunction with the Village Striders, has improved their financial condition. In the fall of 2011, they won designation by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Greenways Council as a designated Connecticut Greenway. The path of the Greenway now appears on the statewide greenway map.