The Tarrywile Half Marathon, just might be one of the toughest trail half marathons you will ever run.  Not only does it have a lot of elevation (close to 3K), a good portion of the terrain is fairly technical Northeast single track.  The course offers some amazing viewpoints of Danbury as well as the tranquil lakes in the park.  We will also have a Marathon distance for those of you that want even more of a challenge!  NEW this year will be a 10K distance for those who want a smaller taste of the trails at Tarrywile.
10K
$35 early registration through July 30
$40 August 1-October 31
​$45 November 1 - Race Day
Half Marathon
$55 early registration through July 30
$65 August 1-October 31
$75 November 1 - Race Day
Marathon
$70 early registration through July 30
$80 August 1-October 31
$90 November 1 - Race Day
Refund Policy: There will be no refunds and/or no transfers of your registration or bib to any other person. Entry fees collected are used to develop and produce the event, starting well in advance of the race date--including course preparation, race supplies, permits, and administration.

Swag/Awards

  • Specially designed finisher medal from Ragged Cuts
  • Additional Finisher Award​
  • Additional swag from our sponsors
  • ​​Additional awards for Top 3 podium Overall Male/Female in each race​​

Location/Directions

Tarrywile Park is located at 70 Southern Blvd. in Danbury, CT.  It is located just a few minutes from downtown.  Race headquarters will be located inside the park next to the Red Barn across from the big silo.  Parking for the event in the lower gravel parking lot at Tarrywile, across the street from Tarrywile at Immaculate High School, and on Washington Avenue adjacent to Tarrywile. 

Course Description

This in a nutshell is not an easy course!  You can take your best road half marathon time and add 30-45 minutes.  Parts of the course are rocky, rooty, and certainly hilly.  It is a two loop course (half marathon) and four loop course (marathon) utilizing many different types of trails in the park.  Total amount of elevation will be close to 3K for the Half Marathon and 6K for the Marathon!

Course Maps

Race Day Schedule

Sunday, November 17, 2024
  • 6:30 a.m.  Packet Pickup/Race Day Registration Begins
  • 7:30 a.m.  Marathon Start
  • 8:00 a.m. Half Marathon Start
  • ​8:30 a.m. 10K Start
  • 1:30 p.m.  Cutoff to Start Last Loop for Marathon

Aid Stations

Will we have water and/or electrolyte drink at aid stations plus other typical food items (potato chips, pretzels, candy, etc.).  There will be at least one aid station on course in addition to the start/finish.  Since it's a loop course, you will have multiple opportunities to refuel.  Keep in mind that Steep Endurance events are "cupless" races. Runners are required to carry their own hydration bottle, pack, or cup. This policy is put into effect in an effort to reduce the amount of waste and adopt a sustainable “green” practice for the race and the sport of trail running.

Runner Rules

These rules are meant to make your experience during any Steep Endurance event a positive one. Most of these are common sense type policies that you will see at any trail or ultra race.
  • Absolutely No Littering! The race is entirely on Tarrywile Park property  Please respect that we are using their amazing and beautiful trails for this race. Failure to do so could jeopardize future events in the park.
  • Race entries/bib numbers are not transferrable--hence NO unofficial runners
  • Following the marked course is mandatory. Please do not cut the course, cut any switchbacks, etc. Any runner caught doing so will be disqualified. In addition, if you get lost on the trail/road you must return to the point at which you lost the trail. The course will be well marked with ribbons and other necessary course markings.
  • Though the course will be VERY well marked, runners are ultimately responsible for knowing the course and carrying course maps if necessary.
  • Please respect others that are on the trail. The trails on the course are open to the public and are fairly well travelled.  Please announce your intentions to pass if you are coming upon a hiker or another runner.
  • If you must use the bathroom, please try to do so very discreetly a good distance off the trail before returning to the race.
  • If at anytime you intend to drop out of the race, please do so at an aid station/checkpoint by notifying the aid station captain. Surrendering your bib to the aid station captain will serve as notice of withdrawal/DNF for the race. Failure to follow these policies means somebody has to come looking for you. While this isn’t a marathon/ultra race, it is a trail race with some remote sections of trail, where we will be forced to have someone come looking for you and in some cases, local authorities (at your cost).
  • Alcoholic beverages are also not permitted in Tarrywile Park.
  • The use of personal music devices is strongly discouraged at this race. To enjoy all that our race has to offer and for the safety of all participants, Steep Endurance encourages a headphone-free environment during the running of the race. We believe your race experience and those around you will be greatly enhanced by leaving the headphones at home or in the car. Running headphone-free allows opportunities to develop camaraderie with your fellow runners and to enjoy everything the race has to offer. Plus, volunteers and spectators will be on course cheering you on and providing directions to help get you to the finish line. Runner safety will be a top priority for our events.
  • SMILE and enjoy the race! You are lucky to be enjoying these amazing trails!

Post Race Celebration

You’ve just finished a super challenging one of a kind course!  Enjoy your accomplishment, sit back, relax, and don’t forget to cheer on all the runners coming in behind you!  We will have the usual spread including bagels, fruit, muffins, pre-packaged snacks and non-alcoholic hydration options.  We may even have some live music for you!
**There is no alcohol permitted in Tarrywile Park.

Lodging/Things to Do

Danbury is a very diverse city in this part of Connecticut and one of the larger ones in the state.   There are plenty of places to stay in and around Danbury if you want to make a weekend out of it.  Click on this link for more information.  

Weather

November is Connecticut can be near perfect running weather.  It will likely not be warmer than 60 on race day, but could be as cool as the 30's.  

History of Tarrywile Park

Located approximately 1 mile from downtown Danbury, Tarrywile Park is a hidden gem.  Charles Parks purchased the property from William Wile in 1910 and expanded the property over the nest several decades to include a farm, vast woodlands and what would become another National Landmark in 1987, the distinctive “Hearthstone Castle.” He enclosed much of the original estate with a stone wall, created a lake and several ponds, constructed a greenhouse, and added a conservatory to the main house. He acquired his property by buying up woodlands in the surrounding mountains.

At one time, the family holdings totaled well over 1,000 acres. It included one of the States largest independent dairy farms, as well as cornfields, and peach and apple orchards. The dairy farm continued in operation until the very early 1970’s. Faithful to C. D. Park’s vision and commitment to creating a place of natural beauty, his heirs held on to most of the property through the 1970’s and early 1980’s.

​If you know the area, you can still see the stone walls and pillars that encompassed his holdings including; all along Southern Blvd to Immaculate High School, Pope John Paul Health Care Center and down as far as West Wooster Street, the fields along Mountainville Rd and Brushy Hill Rd and running almost to the Bethel Reservoir.

In 1985, the City of Danbury purchased the parcel from the Charles D. Parks Estate.  It wasn’t a purchase that the city made willingly, the family had offered the land to the City and was turned down several times in fact. When the family looked to sell the acreage for a condo development, that’s when the neighbors took action and through a grass roots effort forced the purchase question to a referendum. The citizens of Danbury voted to approve* the purchase of 535 acres of meadows, forests, mountains, lakes and ponds as well as 19 buildings and all at a cost of 4.7 million dollars.

To date, fourteen of the property’s 19 buildings have been restored, including the Mountainville property, Carriage house, Gatehouse and Farmhouse which are rental units with income generated going to the park to help maintenance costs. The latter two buildings were renovated under a grant from the State Department of Environmental Protection as well as through City funding.
The hay barn, located in the farm area has been renovated for use as an environmental education center. Restroom facilities were installed in the barn allowing for greater use of this building by organizations as well as for park sponsored events. The silo, rebuild in 2003, was to be adapted for use as a gallery, and a pavilion, which was slated to be used for educational activities and small event, never came to be due to funding being reallocated to other city projects.

PARTNERS

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Brian Vanderheiden, Race Director:  [email protected]