Overview The Faxon Law New Haven Road Race is a Labor Day morning of road races that start and finish on the New Haven Green, and its 20K is the longest-running USATF national championship, held here for men since 1993 and for women since 2006. Around the championship run a half marathon, a two-person half marathon relay, a 5K and a half-mile Kids Fun Run, with the field capped at 5,500 runners. The 2026 race was the 49th. A nonprofit runs it, with a volunteer board drawn from business, government, medicine and the running community. On site The course is closed to traffic, with a marker and a digital clock at every mile. Sixteen bands, DJs and bagpipers line the 20K and half marathon routes, three bands play along the 5K and another plays on the Green, where there are clowns and magic shows for children. Every finisher is greeted by name over the loudspeaker. Afterward BAR New Haven, a few blocks from the Green, holds a family-friendly party with beer, pizza and live music for more than 400 runners. Audience The 5K is the biggest race, with close to 3,000 runners from first-timers to competitive, and 5,100 people took part across all races in 2024. Local companies race each other for the Corporate Cup in the half, the 20K and the 5K. Training starts ten weeks out, with Wednesday night group runs from East Rock Brewery that draw more than 30 runners a week, and New Haven children run the Kids Fun Run free. Talent and Influencers Elite entry to the 20K takes a half marathon under 1:04 for men or 1:12 for women. Conner Mantz set the course record of 56:16 in 2025, an American record, and Keira D'Amato set the women's course record of 1:04:29 in 2022. Charles Hicks and Rachael Rudel won the national titles in 2026. Track record The half marathon and relay were added in 2016, and the group runs began in 2015. John Bysiewicz of JB Sports became race director in 1989. The race says it gives more than $30,000 a year to community organizations and is promoted on nearly every Connecticut television news station. Brand presence Partners feed the course: the 2025 sponsorship brochure counts 3,000 hot dogs from Park New Haven, 1,000 cups of Shake Shack frozen custard, 1,500 Stonyfield Organic smoothies, 7,000 cups of East Rock Brewery beer and 20,000 cups of UCAN. Faxon Law Group's name is in the race title, committed from 2025 through 2027; the title partner's logo runs on the finish-line tape, its representative welcomes the runners and starts the race, and it nominates a member to the board. The presenting and Kids Fun Run title positions carry category exclusivity, and levels from silver down can be paid in product.