Mine Hill Half Marathon & Gravel Challenge
SE
From Steep Endurance
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Past event
7:00 AM EDT
Roxbury, Connecticut
$65.00–$90.00 · 3 races
Half Marathon, Marathon
Event summary
Get ready for an exhilarating adventure at the Mine Hill Half Marathon & Gravel Challenge, hosted by Steep Endurance! This exciting event takes place on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in the picturesque Roxbury, located in the stunning Northwest Hills of Connecticut. Participants can look forward to a challenging yet rewarding experience, with race distances that include the scenic half marathon and a thrilling gravel challenge.
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mine Hill Distillery, runners and riders will be treated to breathtaking views of rolling farmlands, vibrant fields, and captivating vistas. While some of the course is paved, the majority is a delightful gravel path that promises to test your endurance and reward you with unforgettable scenery. And don’t forget to stick around for the fantastic after party at the distillery, where you can celebrate your achievements with fellow participants! Join us for a day of fun, fitness, and community at the Mine Hill Half Marathon & Gravel Challenge!
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mine Hill Distillery, runners and riders will be treated to breathtaking views of rolling farmlands, vibrant fields, and captivating vistas. While some of the course is paved, the majority is a delightful gravel path that promises to test your endurance and reward you with unforgettable scenery. And don’t forget to stick around for the fantastic after party at the distillery, where you can celebrate your achievements with fellow participants! Join us for a day of fun, fitness, and community at the Mine Hill Half Marathon & Gravel Challenge!
Mine Hill Half Marathon & Gravel Challenge
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Races
-
Half Marathon
Entries closed$65.00
-
Duathlon
Entries closed$90.00
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26/39 Gravel Race
Entries closed$70.00
Event information
You will experience sweeping country views past farms, fields, and vistas. Some of the terrain is paved, but most of it is gravel.
For starters, this is not an easy course. It is a beautiful one though and if you can get through the first half of the course, it is virtually downhill the entire second half of the race. The race starts at the distillery and quickly heads onto Route 67 for about 3/4 mile before turning left onto Sentry Hill Rd. At around 1.5 miles, riders take a left onto the soft dirt of Judds Bridge Road. Trending downhill for the next mile, you cross the iconic Judds Bridge and past a beautiful farm. Turning right in another 1/4 mile, is Walker Brook Rd. Don’t let the flat landscape along the creek fool you…the hills are coming. At 3.7 miles, the fun begins as you make your way onto Shinar Mountain Rd. It starts off with a gentle grade, but then turns quickly up. It’s about a mile climb with just a small false flat in the middle. Shinar Mountain turns into Lower Church Hill Rd at just over 5 miles and trends a little uphill before a steep downhill to the next left at West Church Hill Rd. This is 1/2 mile hill with almost 250′ of gain to reach the highest point on the course at the halfway point. At the top, riders will stay left to continue on West Church Hill and begin the downhill trek back to the distillery. After a jarring 1/2 mile downhill, riders turn left at 7.6 miles onto the gentle Walker Brook Rd., a gentle sloping dirt road with a babbling brook next to you almost the whole way. Another mile and half down the road, the terrain will start to look familiar as it’s time to retrace your steps back to the finish. Crossing back over Judds Bridge, riders take a right and head up the rolling dirt road before the right onto Sentry Hill and the penultimate right onto Route 67. It’s a fast finish as you running downhill next to the Shepaug River before making the quick right onto Mine Hill Rd. and the finish at the distillery!
For starters, this is not an easy course. It is a beautiful one though and if you can get through the first half of the course, it is virtually downhill the entire second half of the race. The race starts at the distillery and quickly heads onto Route 67 for about 3/4 mile before turning left onto Sentry Hill Rd. At around 1.5 miles, riders take a left onto the soft dirt of Judds Bridge Road. Trending downhill for the next mile, you cross the iconic Judds Bridge and past a beautiful farm. Turning right in another 1/4 mile, is Walker Brook Rd. Don’t let the flat landscape along the creek fool you…the hills are coming. At 3.7 miles, the fun begins as you make your way onto Shinar Mountain Rd. It starts off with a gentle grade, but then turns quickly up. It’s about a mile climb with just a small false flat in the middle. Shinar Mountain turns into Lower Church Hill Rd at just over 5 miles and trends a little uphill before a steep downhill to the next left at West Church Hill Rd. This is 1/2 mile hill with almost 250′ of gain to reach the highest point on the course at the halfway point. At the top, riders will stay left to continue on West Church Hill and begin the downhill trek back to the distillery. After a jarring 1/2 mile downhill, riders turn left at 7.6 miles onto the gentle Walker Brook Rd., a gentle sloping dirt road with a babbling brook next to you almost the whole way. Another mile and half down the road, the terrain will start to look familiar as it’s time to retrace your steps back to the finish. Crossing back over Judds Bridge, riders take a right and head up the rolling dirt road before the right onto Sentry Hill and the penultimate right onto Route 67. It’s a fast finish as you running downhill next to the Shepaug River before making the quick right onto Mine Hill Rd. and the finish at the distillery!
Every participant receives a bag of goodies at the beginning of the race, and top 3 finishers in all events receive a spot on the podium and prizes. There will also be a post-race celebration. We will have plenty of food throughout the day for everyone plus some awesome beverages from Athletic Brewing Company as well other non-alcoholic offerings. Mine Hill Distillery is at the start line, and we recommend doing a tasting before heading home!
There will be limited parking at the distillery with additional parking offsite nearby. Race headquarters will be located at near the start/finish by the old train station platform.
Roxbury is a very historic town in the Litchfield Hills of Northwest CT. There are plenty of places to stay near Roxbury if you want to make a weekend out of it.
Organiser's description
The Mine Hill Half Marathon & Gravel Challenge is one of the most beautiful, yet breathtaking (both visually and physically!) races you will run or ride! You will experience sweeping country views past farms, fields, and vistas. Some of the terrain is paved, but most of it is gravel. With the start/finish at the Mine Hill Distillery in Roxbury, CT, it creates a great backdrop and an awesome after party!
Location
Mine Hill Distillery, 5 Mine Hill Rd, Roxbury, CT 06783-1323, United States
Mine Hill Half Marathon & Gravel Challenge
SE
Steep Endurance
Steep Endurance hosts trail, ultra, & road running races featuring new and unique locations in or around Connecticut. Most of our events offer options for beginners, advanced runners, and everyone in between, but our goal is to always challenge participants to reach new achievements. We also host some mountain & gravel bike events throughout the year, usually as “festivals” alongside running events.
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