In this race report, I'll be recapping the Savin Rock Half Marathon and Marathon. This race is held annually by the Shoreline Sharks running club.
There was a 1-hour course limit for this race due to traffic constraints.
Date: 28 March, 2026Town: West Haven, CT, USA
Distance: 13.1 mi, 22.1 km (for the half marathon distance)
Conditions: The weather was chilly and windy in 2026. It was 30 degrees Fahrenheit when the race began. It was quite sunny throughout the race. The wind was very significant (and a headwind, to boot) along the shoreline of Long Island sound, which comprises ~4 miles of the race.
Parking: While the parking lot where Jimmie's of Savin Rock restaurant used to be (new place opening soon) is large, it could not hold all of us. I had to park at the lot next door, which is for normally for beach access. Serves me right, I turned up 25 minutes before the 8am start.
Check In: The process was held behind the now-defunct Jimmie's. The line was very organized and was arranged by bib number, which was sent out via email the day before the race.
Course Description: Roads were open during this race, and runners stayed on the right-hand side of the road for the most part. The race starts out behind Jimmie's along Long Island Sound for the first mile and change, then the course winds through several neighborhoods until around the four mile mark. This section of the race is pretty flat. There was an aid station at Mile 2.5 - all aid stations offered water and Gatorade. There were many road crossings and intersections to navigate, which were staffed by West Haven Police. At the four-mile mark, the course crossed back in front of Jimmie's.
The hills began right at the four mile mark. Runners turn right at Jimmie's and immediately begin a long hill climb. There was another aid station on the downhill at Mile 4.5, where I had my first gel (UCan orange mango). The pattern of 1 hill per mile continued from Mile 4 until Mile 11(!), although the race website said the last four miles of the race would be downhill or flat.
The aid station at Mile 6.55 (halfway) was an odd little out-and-back into a neighborhood, and it was also at the bottom of a small hill. There were multiple port-a-johns there, and their placement was probable a factor.
There was a steep climb just before Mile 8, followed by a very refreshing and prolonged downhill. The most significant climb of the race occurs just before Mile 8.5. There was an aid station at that point, as well. I ate my second and final gel (Honey Stinger salted caramel latte, caffeinated). The last major downhill was around Mile 9.75.
The last aid station is memorably located at a traffic roundabout at Mile 10.5, which was thankfully directed by West Haven Police. Around Mile 11.5, runners again reach Long Island Sound and run along the coast until turning into a park to proceed the last 1/3 mile or so until the finish line.
Course Map
Afterparty: There was beach access by the finish line and ample space to stretch and take photos. There were plenty of port-a-johns. Refreshments were a little thin on the ground - water, Gatorade, halved bananas, and some very good bagels cut into quarters.
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