Race Report: Chilly Chili Run

 Today, I will be reviewing the annual Chilly Chili Run held each New Year's Day in Orange, CT.

Course Map

Date: 1 January, 2026

Town: Orange, CT, USA

Distance: 5km

Conditions: It was a bitterly cold and windy morning on New Year's Day 2026, though the sun was shining brightly. There was an inch or two of snowfall around midnight and that fresh powder was blowing around in the wind. It was 24F when the race started.

Parking: There was ample parking at the community center where the race was held, with overflow parking in a snowy field.

Check In: Quick with no line, held in the gymnasium of the community center.

Course Description: The course was a single loop with a few long hills. It was well-marshalled by the town police department, who controlled traffic for much of the route despite roads being open to traffic. The first mile was pretty flat, the second had a fairly large hill, but it was not very steep. I ran much of it but there was a patch of shade that was a bit icy so I walked to the top. The third mile was mostly downhill. 

I was told that this was the same course as the annual Thanksgiving Day run in Orange.

Afterparty: This race is known for providing a bowl of hot chili to participants. I was surprised to see most people leaving the race without refreshments in hand, so I want into the community center in search of sustenance. I soon realized that the line for chili was enormous and in a different part of the community center than I was expecting, so I did not wait and booked it out of the crowded building. It's been a very bad winter for respiratory illnesses and I did not want to risk getting sick while waiting for a snack.