KS4MH Miles for Mental Health 5K and Family Hike

Join us on Sunday April 26, 2026 for the Daffodil Dash 5k and Kids Fun Run!

Proceeds go to all the great community causes the Meriden Parks & Recreation and Meriden Running Club support!

Race Location / Course

• Hubbard Park, 999 West Main St, Meriden, CT

• USATF Certified Course ( Out and Back along the beautiful Merimere Reservoir)

• Parking is located in the park and around Mirror Lake.

Race Day Schedule

• Check-In Opens: 7:45 am (Located in the main parking lot, near the playscape, under the big white festival tent!)

• Kids Fun Run start: 8:45 am

• 5K start: 9:00 am

• Award Ceremony to Conclude

Race Notes:

• 2026 Daffodil Dash Performance T-Shirts will be available for sale for $10 on race day while supplies last!

• Kids Fun Run Course Info:

• Kids Fun Run begins at the 5k starting line, turning left and running along Mirror Lake Drive. The route passes the large parking lot and playscape areas and turns left onto Reservoir Ave, finishing back where the participants started.

• Total distance: 4/10ths of a mile

• Please note, all kids are welcome to join! Parents are allowed to run, jog, walk with their children!

Entry Fees

• 5K (through March 15th): $20

• 5K(March 16th - April 5th): $25

• 5K (April 6th - April 20th): $30

• 5k (April 21- Race Day): $35

• Kids Fun Run: Free

• Registration is open until 8:45am on Race Day!

Awards

• Top 3 Overall Male & Female

• Age Groups: Top 3 Male & Female

• 19 - Under

• 20 - 29

• 30 - 39

• 40 - 49

• 50 - 59

• 60 -69

• 70 +

Kids Fun Run Participants will receive certificates!

The Gaylord Gauntlet 5K Trail and Obstacle Run is an annual event held on the 400-acre campus of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford, CT—a 137-bed long-term acute care hospital serving individuals recovering from life-changing injuries or illnesses. As a cornerstone fundraiser for the hospital, the event supports the Gaylord Sports Association, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with physical disabilities through adaptive sports and recreation.

The Gauntlet course features a mix of wooded trails and open fields, with 24 natural and manmade obstacles designed to challenge participants of all levels. The event is entirely planned, built, and run by Gaylord staff and volunteers, and includes a lively Festival Area with local vendors, live music, and food trucks.

Open to runners of all abilities, the Gaylord Gauntlet is a true community celebration that brings together participants, families, and supporters for a day of fun, fitness, and purpose.

Race Results can be found here: https://my.racewire.com/results/37904

ARC RUN 2026

Please join us for our largest fundraiser of the year to support our mission and community impact! The Arc Run 2026 includes two on-site races on September 19, 2026, as well as a virtual race spanning August 19 - September 19.

The on-site 5K and 10K races utilize our USATF-certified course beginning and ending at 200 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT. For us, our course passes through portions of Meriden and Wallingford to emphasize our deep roots and decades of service to both communities. For you, our course allows your race to be a marathon-qualifying time (stay tuned for details)!

Want to support the Arc Run but don't want to actually run? Consider becoming a sponsor or simply a sideline cheerleader! There are plenty of ways to show up and be part of our community. Contact us for more information.

RACE DAY EVENTS

8:00 AM | Check-In

9:00 AM | Opening Ceremonies

9:15 AM | Race Begins

10:15 AM | Award Ceremonies

Cash prizes are available for the top-performing male and female runners. All runners will be automatically entered into our prize raffle upon registration. Both cash prizes and raffle prizes will be announced during the award ceremonies. Runners do not need to be present to win.

This year, the Arc Run will also be hosting a vendor fair from 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM! To become a vendor, hit the "Become a Sponsor" at the top of the page and select the "Vendor Booth" option.

Almost 50 years ago, Johanna Manfreda Fishbein started a tradition in Wallingford that would grow and change significantly over the years, bringing organizations throughout the town together to collaborate in an effort to support residents in need.

The Wallingford Family YMCA is proud to continue this tradition as host of the annual Fishbein/YMCA Community Road Race on Sunday, October 4 in collaboration with Celebrate Wallingford.

Hope to see you there!

Note: Registration for this event is only available online and will remain open until 8:30AM on race day. Once you have registered, your race bib may be collected at advance packet pickup or on race morning. On Race Day, please allow plenty of time to park, check in and be ready to run at 9:00AM

Entry Fees

• 5K Race - 19+ Yrs - $30 before Jan 1, $35 from Jan 1-Oct 1, thereafter $40

• Race shirt included for first 200 participants - sizes by availability

• 5K Race - Under 19 - $5 (No shirt provided)

• 1 Mile Youth Race - Under 14 (Parents, Guardians & Teachers are welcome too!) - $5

• Healthy Living 1K Walk - $10 (FREE for LiveSTRONG at the Y participants)

• Walk shirt included for first 100 walkers - sizes by availability

• Note:

• Reduced 5K entry fee for under 19 will be shown at the checkout.

• Shirts will be available to purchase the day of the race for $10, if available.

Event Schedule

• Early Bib Pickup - Friday, October 2

• Race Day Check In Opens at 7:00AM

• Youth Race & Healthy Living Walk Start - 9:00AM

• 5K Run Start - 9:10AM

Awards

• Awards will be given to top three overall M/F 5K Race winners

• Top finisher in each 5K Race age category

• 1-9 yrs

• 10-14 yrs

• 15-19 yrs

• 20-29 yrs

• 30-39 yrs

• 40-49 yrs

• 50-59 yrs

• 60-69 yrs

• 70-79 yrs

• 80+ yrs

• Please note that while Non-Binary is an entry option, no awards will be offered in this category