Hamden, Connecticut · Saturday, December 5, 2026
The Tower Tag Challenge is an ultra event held on Saturday, December 5, 2026. It is located at 200 Mt. Carmel Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut.
Are you ready for the NEXT BIG THING in running?
As trend setters, the Shoreline Sharks are always on the cutting edge, and we are proud to introduce THE PERFECT TEN & Five Mile Road Race! We brought back the 10K a decade ago and now we are introducing a 10 Miler and 5 Miler that will be your new favorite! You've done a million Half Marathons and 5ks, so your next goal has arrived.
This course is 100% on the flat Rail Trail in Hamden with NO TRAFFIC AND NO STREET CROSSING! A simple out-n-back format. We start and finish from the Rail Trail Lot that we use for the Hamden Hills Half Marathon & Flat 5K and The Rail Trail 10K Race. We are sticking with what has worked for 15 years!
Click to see the 10 Mile Route on Strava
Click to see the 5 Mile Route on Strava
Men's and Women's cut short sleeve tech shirts for all.
Parking at all Rail Trail lots and on the street.
Poland Spring Water and Gatorade Endurance at the Aid Stations and finish.
Custom 3" Finisher Medals for Ten Mile Finishers
Custom Coffee Mug Awards for the Overall top 3 men and women as well as every 10-year division for both races.
Porto-Lets at the Venue
Free Finish Line Photos from EliteFeats
Chip timed with Live Text & Email Results streaming
Inaugural Race Pricing:
TEN MILER: $60
FIVE MILER: $30
On-line registration ends at midnight on 7/30/2026.
We will have race day entry if we do not sell out. $65 / $35 Cash, Checks made out to "CASH" and Venmo to ShorelineSharks. NO CARDS ON RACE DAY
No Refunds. No Transfers, No Deferrals
Event details and schedule
Our 10th Annual Rail Trail 10K Race!
The Road Runners Club of America Eastern Region 10K Championship!
START TIME IS 8AM
THE COURSE
100% on the Rail Trail with no cars and no street crossings.
Flat and picturesque out-n-back running through Fall's natural beauty.
Venue: New Haven / Northampton
Railroad Canal Line Main Parking Lot
4340 Farmington Heritage Canal Trail
Hamden, CT. 06518
Plenty of parking in all Rail Trail lots plus on-street
Poland Spring Water & Gatorade Endurance at Mile 2.4 and 3.6
Course Map on Strava
THE ENTRANT STUFF
Men's & Women's Cut Short Sleeve Tech T-shirts for all entrants.
Gorgeous 3” Custom Finisher Medals! BEST 10K MEDAL IN CT! You will have a choice of Medal Color!
Poland Spring Water & Gatorade Endurance at the finish line for Finishers
Results are texted, emailed and live streaming.
Custom awards to the top 3 Men and Women overall and in all 5 year divisions (from 5 years old to 80+)
Porto-Lets at the venue
FREE Downloadable Race Photos and Finisher Certificate by EliteFeats
TIMING AND RESULTS
Transponder Timing and Results with “Gun” and “Net” time. Awards based on gun time.
Results will be live streaming and emailed and texted to you once you finish.
CUTOFFS AND EARLY STARTS
There are no time cutoffs and no early starts for this race.
THE HISTORY
2017: Our inaugural Rail Trail 10K Race debuted with a large field of runners. We are bringing the 10K back!
2020: The race was cancelled due to Covid19.
2021: We are back!
2023: We are the 10K State Championship for the Road Runners Club of America!
2024: We are once again the RRCA State Championship 10K.
2025: We are the RRCA State Championship for the 3rd year in a row!
2026: Our 10th Anniversary and the Road Runners Club of America Eastern Region Championship Race!
PRICING STRUCTURE
10/19/2025 - 12/31/2025: $55
1/1/2026 – 10/1/2026: $60
10/3/2025: $65 In-Person Registration
(Cash, Venmo, Checks made out to "CASH" only.
*No Cards on race day
TRANSFER & DEFERRAL INFO
You may TRANSFER your registration to another athlete until 9/3/2026 for $25.
This is done by you on-line through Active
THIS IS A HARD DEADLINE. NO EXCEPTIONS.
You may DEFER your entry to the 2026 Race until 9/3/2026 for $25, paid through our Venmo (ShorelineSharks) and email [email protected].
We will confirm the deferral and you will be manually removed from 2026 and manually entered into 2027.
THIS IS A HARD DEADLINE. NO EXCEPTIONS
*Active.com offers an insurance plan for a fee but we are not involved with that. Active will refund you, not us.
RACE DAY
Saturday 10/3/2026
Dawn is 6:23am, Sunrise is 6:51am
7:00am: Registration and Bib/Shirt Pickup Opens
7:45am: Registration and Bib/Shirt Pickup Closes
8:00am: Race Starts
8:35am: First Finishers
10:00am: Final Finishers & Venue Closed
New Haven / Northampton
Railroad Canal Line Main Parking Lot
4340 Farmington Heritage Canal Trail
Hamden, CT. 06518
Bring photo ID
PARKING
Plenty of parking at all of the Rail Trail lots and on the street (where legal)
No Parking at the Dunkin Donuts / Amity Liquors Lot
Google Map Link
Event details and schedule