Race Report: Bob and Peg Andrulis Memorial Sweetheart Run

Today, I'll be recapping the annual Bob and Peg Andrulis Memorial Sweetheart Run. This race is held each year in honor of a couple in Litchfield, CT.

There are multiple distance options for this event. Runners may choose to complete a 5- or 3-mile course, and walkers may also complete the 3-mile course.

Course Map

Date: 14 February, 2026

Town: Litchfield, CT, USA

Distance: 5 miles

Conditions: The weather was cold, overcast, and windy in 2026. It was 37 degrees Fahrenheit when the race began. The winter of 2025 - 2026 has been a snowy, cold one, and there was lingering snow and ice.

Parking: There is extremely limited parking in the vicinity of the Litchfield Community Center, and not enough folks directing traffic. I found it difficult even to get dropped off near the start line.

Check In: The process was held in a room near the entrance to the Community Center, which made it easy to find. There was no line to speak of.

Course Description: I chose the 5 mile course, which included road and trail sections. The first mile started off on roads, which were largely flat and cleared well of snow and ice. Around 2/3 of a mile in, the course turned onto a woodchip path, which had patches of ice and snow. After around a half mile, the course then turned into the White Memorial Conservation Area. This area's roads were not cleared well of snow or ice, and the next mile felt somewhat precarious.

The next mile comprised of straightforward road terrain with a turnaround close to the 3 mile mark, as this course had an unusual shape. The path back to the starting line stayed on well-cleared roads until the half-mile return sojourn along the woodchip path. That section was particularly unpleasant on the return trip, as the participants in the 3 mile walk were also taking the woodchip path. This made it very crowded, and the ice and snow did not help.

White Memorial Conservation Area

Afterparty: There were quite a lot of refreshments in the Community Center. I did not like the configuration of the offerings, as the water seemed to be "hidden" at the end of an extremely long buffet line. I skipped ahead to the water because I was very thirsty and did not eat any of the offerings. There appeared to be soup and donuts, along with fruit.