WARREN, Conn.—Runners who want to participate in the upcoming 41st annual Polar Bear Run around Lake Waramaug are encouraged to register early as the race is capped at 700 participants.Â
Same-day registration takes place at Hopkins Vineyard Sunday, Feb. 22.
Registrants who wish to skip the line race day morning can pick up their numbers at the vineyard on Friday, Feb. 20, from 1 to 7 p.m. Representatives and service dogs from Guiding Eyes for the Blind will be on hand to share details about their program.
TrailHeads, organizers of the race, will have their performance running gear available to purchase and will host several prize giveaways for runners who attend.
Number pick-up will also be available race ray at the vineyard, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
This annual winter tradition attracts hundreds of area runners and raises both awareness and money for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Guiding Eyes for the Blind trains guide dogs to partner with blind or visually impaired people. The run has raised $45,089 for Guiding Eyes for the Blind since 2018 and race organizers are moving toward their next milestone of surpassing $100,000 in total donations. The Polar Bear Run is a 501 ©(3) registered nonprofit.
The run starts at 11 a.m. from Hopkins Vineyard in Warren and follows a scenic 7.8-mile course counterclockwise along the shoreline of the glacial lake while passing through Washington, Warren, and Kent. The route is primarily flat with a few gentle rolling hills. The final .2 miles provides a true test for all as runners ascend the unforgiving Hopkins Hill to the finish line at the vineyard.
The top three male and female finishers receive prizes. First place overall wins a $100 TrailHeads gift card and a bottle of wine from Hopkins Vineyard. Age Group Awards are presented for the top three in each category: 18 and younger; 19-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69 and 70 and older.
Walkers have the option of an early start at 10:15 a.m.; please arrive at the start/finish line by 10 a.m.
The race’s origin can be traced back to the running boom that swept the country in the 1970s. The Woodbury-based Tin Man Athletic Club staged the initial running around the frozen lake in 1980. Lead Pack Sports took over organizational efforts, followed by the Bethel Bananas Running Club in 1986.
From 1987-1991 what had been the area’s only winter running race went into hibernation and the race was not held for five years. In 1991, Wallie Jahn opened a retail store for runners, Road & Track Sports, and in response to strong interest from the local running community, resurrected the race in 1992 with the help of the Lake Waramaug Country Club.
After Jahn fell ill, Dave Dunleavy stepped up to help manage the race in 2012. A long-time Kent resident and running enthusiast, Dunleavy continued to build on the tradition that made the Polar Bear Run a favorite of area runners. In 2018, Dunleavy handed off the race organizing responsibilities to Stephanie and Ed Raftery, co-founders of TrailHeads, a Kent-based online retailer of gloves, hats, headbands and related accessories for running and outdoor enthusiasts.
In 2023 the start/finish of the race was relocated to Hopkins Vineyard, adding the challenge of Hopkins Hill and lengthening the race from 7.6 to 7.8 miles.
Following the run there will be festivities at Hopkins Vineyard. Kent Falls Brewing Company at 33 Camps Road, only a 10-minute drive from the start/finish line, also offers Polar Run craft beer.