Race Report: LYSB Midsummer Run

Today, I'll be reviewing the LYSB Midsummer Run held annually in Old Lyme, Connecticut. The race takes place during the Midsummer Festival in town.

Date: July 25, 2026

Town: Old Lyme, CT, USA

Distance: 5k

Conditions: It was a bright, sunny day for the 2026 event. It was a very cool morning for July, just 66°F (19°C) when the race started. However, there was no meaningful breeze and the humidity was over 80% so I did get very hot and sweaty during this race.

Parking: There are numerous parking lots designated for the Midsummer Festival, and there is some on-street parking. I parked close to the start/finish line at the Lyme/Old Lyme middle school.

Check In: Bib pickup took place at a tent in the backyard of the Lymes' Youth Services Bureau. There was no line for pre-registered runners, but there was a short line for same-day registration. The first 200 runners to sign up received a free tech shirt, and that included yours truly.

Course Description: The race started with a loop around the middle school parking lots. Luckily, after that the race moved onto the main road and past historic houses and town buildings. After about a mile, runners turned into a neighborhood, which had the support of locals who turned out to cheer on the runners from their yards. 

After that, the race continued down the main road until the turnaround point two miles into the race. The water station was just after the turnaround. From there, runners returned to the middle school to finish under the arch.

Course Map

Afterparty: There were were bottles of water available after the race. Otherwise, the Midsummer Festival seems to serve as the after-party. There was pop music playing over speakers at the start/finish and also at the turnaround.

Cute finisher's medal