Today, I will be recapping one of the races in the Northwestern CT YMCA Grand Prix race series. The race I participated in was the Highland Lake 5k.
Course Map
Town: Winchester, CT, USA
Distance: 5km
Conditions: The race was held on a very sunny morning with a light breeze in 2025.
Parking: It was very challenging to find parking. There is no designated parking area, as the race starts and ends by a small "beach" (which is a ~50ft patch of sand on the lakeshore) and the nearby parking lot is reserved only for fishing and boat ramp users. We all ended up parking on the residential roads around the lake, which are very narrow. Thankfully, the residents did not seem upset at our temporary intrusion.
Check In: Checking in was a fast, smooth process. There was no line at all for pre-registered runners and there was a small line at a separate table for same-day registration. I was given a bag with my name on it, which contained some YMCA flyers, a cotton tee shirt, safety pins for my bib, and some vouchers to a nearby brewery.
Course Description: This road race was an out-and-back course along Highland Lake. It was a pretty scenic run with lake views and elegant cottages lining the road, but there were a number of potholes and it was necessary to watch one's step. Roads were open to local traffic, but there were relatively few cars. there was also some community support from residents cheering on the runners.
Afterparty: There was ample water at the finish line, along with some oranges. The day was getting rather warm for mid-September, so I got a move on and went home shortly after the race
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