MISSION STATEMENT
Run 169 Towns Society is a group of runners dedicated to completing a race in every town in Connecticut. Recognizing that this may be a lifetime achievement, runners are responsible for determining their own success in this endeavor.
GUIDELINES and DEFINITIONS
Official Race Requirements for Town Credit
- Distance: The race must be at least 1 mile long.
- Location: Credit is based on where the race starts.
- Eligibility: 1. The race must be open to the public and advertised on public websites and/or social media. 2. The race cannot be exclusive to 169 members. 3. The only untimed race allowed for town credit is the Bernie Jurale Tradition Run.
- Permits and Insurance: Races typically require permits and insurance, but the Society does not verify these; it is the race director's responsibility.
- Group Runs: Informal group runs that are not officially organized do not count as they do not align with the Society’s mission.
- Timing and Results: · Criteria: 1. The race must be timed by the Race Director (RD) or a third-party timing company, and all timed participants must be reflected in the official results. 2. Self-timed races do not count. 3. Hand-timed races are eligible if the times are recorded and verified by the RD or designated timers and posted publicly (e.g., on the race website or a third-party site like RunSignup). 4. Races may be hand-timed by timers designated by the race director (RD), and it is acceptable for a timer to also be a participant. However, timers who are participants must compete in a wave that they are not responsible for timing.5. Untimed events, such as charity walks, do not qualify.
- Event Type and Format: 1. Races can be held indoors or outdoors. 2. Road and trail races are accepted. 3. Certification is not required. 4. Youth, middle and high school athletic invitational events are allowed if at least 1 mile. 5. There are no restrictions on the beneficiaries of event proceeds. 6. Early or late start times are acceptable. 7. Races with distances over 1 mile, including variable-distance events (e.g., 6-hour ultras), are eligible as long as the participant completes at least 1 mile and is listed in the official results. Participants should also have their distance officially recorded by the race director or a designated official. 8. Races may have specific qualifications, such as age or gender requirements, that participants must meet as outlined by the race director, but they must also be open to the general public.
- Emergencies and Early Ended Races: 1. If a race ends early due to emergencies or weather, credit is given if you finished and received an official time for the full distance before the event stopped. 2. If unable to complete the race due to injury, you may decide if it counts for the town; many members choose to return for another race. 3. If a race could not record results due to uncontrollable circumstances (such as a participant’s time being left of results despite efforts to correct this omission or RD failing to post results as agreed due to extreme circumstances) but meets other criteria, it can still count. Members are encouraged to return to the same town in the future if possible.
- Walking and Multisport Events: 1. Walking is allowed and eligible for credit. 2. In multisport events (e.g., triathlons, duathlons, obstacle races), credit may be given for the running portion if the event meets location and timing requirements.
- Relay Events: Participants in relay races may receive credit based on where the race starts.
- Exclusions: 1. Treadmill events and self-timed races do not qualify. 2. Informal group runs that are not officially organized or do not meet the requirements do not count.
- Inclusions: The Bernie Jurale Tradition Run in Meriden is the only untimed race allowed for official race credit by the Society. This race has been historically accepted for credit since the inception of the Society.
Society Code of Conduct and Requests
- Conduct: 1. Maintain a welcoming, respectful, and comfortable environment within the Society, free from harassment, dishonesty, and intimidation. 2. Show respect to fellow members, volunteers, race directors, and personnel, both in-person and online. 3. Refrain from using negative, disparaging, or derogatory language at Society events, races, or online. Be especially mindful when engaging with race directors, timing companies, and related staff. 4. Follow local laws and regulations at races.
- Requests: Members should not speak on behalf of the Society when requesting exceptions or alterations to races, such as start times or race results. All requests should be made individually and not as a representative of the Society.
- Honor System: Members are held to the honor system as they work to complete the journey of running an official race in all towns in Connecticut. The Society does not have moderators tracking completion, and members are encouraged to uphold and maintain the spirit of the group’s mission and rules.
Criteria for Town Credit
- Registration: To earn credit for a town, runners must meet the race registration criteria and have their entry reflected in the official race results.
- Emergencies: If a race ends early due to emergencies or weather, credit is given if the runner completed the full modified distance (over 1 mile) and received an official time before the event was stopped.
- Injuries: If a runner could not complete the race due to injury, they may choose whether to count the race. Many members prefer to return for another race.
- Timing Issues: Races with timing issues may still count if they were advertised to provide times and meet the criteria. This situation is rare.
Submission of Towns for Credit
- How to Submit: 1. Participants can submit towns for credit through the Run 169 Towns Society website. 2. Races completed before joining Run 169 are eligible for credit. 3. For those repeating the challenge (“Round 2”), credit is given for official races completed after the 169th town of the first round. 4. Members are not required to submit towns through the website and may track their completed towns by other methods.
Completion of Challenge
- Recognition: 1. Individuals who complete an official race in all 169 towns will be honored as Kings/Queens/Majesties. 2. Those achieving this feat multiple times will be recognized as “Double Crown,” “Triple Crown,” etc. 3. Special recognition will be given to non-human runners, if applicable.
- Milestones: 1. Members are encouraged to celebrate all milestones. 2. They should notify the Awards Committee of their milestone with as much advance notice as possible using the information provided on the website. 3. Celebrations or parties are typically organized by friends or the members themselves, as the Society does not arrange formal celebrations. 4. There is no formal method for celebrating, but it is encouraged. Members may purchase commemorative items to mark their achievements.
Upcoming Race Listing
- Maintenance: The Upcoming Race Listing page is managed by Society volunteers. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, it cannot be guaranteed.
- Verification: It is advised to confirm race details with race directors before registering, as start times and dates may change.
- Responsibility: Runners are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information, as updates and changes to races are beyond the Society’s control and may not be announced.
- Listing Gaps: Occasionally, eligible races may not appear on the list.
- Updates: The page is updated regularly, though there are no fixed intervals for updates.
- Submission: Members can submit unlisted races through the provided link. It is important to ensure the race meets the criteria and is not already listed.
- Criteria Check: The rules on the homepage should be reviewed to confirm if the race qualifies for "Run 169 Towns."
Elusive and Semi-Elusive Towns
- Elusive Towns: Towns that had 1 or fewer official races in the previous calendar year.
- Semi-Elusive Towns: Towns that had 1 or fewer official races and at least 1 eligible multisport event in the previous calendar year.
- Status Updates: Town status changes annually. Members are encouraged to track Elusive and Semi-Elusive towns each year, as a town’s status may change.
Emeritus Status
- Designation: 1. Members who are unable to engage in Society activities or who no longer wish to do so are designated as "Emeritus." 2. This status includes the founding individuals of the Society as of 02/13/2020, per their request.
Managing Run 169 Towns Society: Website, Database, Facebook, and Gear Operations
- A co-founder manages the Society's website and database, while also overseeing its Facebook page alongside with four other administrators. Run 169 Towns Society is a trademark, and currently, we have only one vendor where our gear is available for purchase. No one from the Society or its members benefits from the sale of the gear, as all profits go to the vendor. We encourage other members to get involved in the Society to collaborate in upholding the group’s mission.