CT Open Water Championship

Flanders is excited for its 11th Anniversary Field & Forest 5K Trail Run/Walk on its property in Woodbury, CT. The 5K run/walk is a fun event, which exposes community members to the Flanders Van Vleck Farm & Nature Sanctuary. It promotes health and fitness, capitalizes on the growing interest in trail running/walking, and raises funds to support Flanders' mission to provide opportunities to appreciate nature’s wonders and preserve land, inspiring lifelong learning about our natural world.

Walk/run through the woods and fields of Flanders, officially timed by Fast Track Timing. Celebration after the run includes live music, food trucks, and more!

Register by May 5th to receive a FREE race shirt!

2026 Flanders Field & Forest 5K Trail Course Map

This event is rain or shine; however, Flanders reserves the right to cancel in the event of lightning. We apologize, due to the terrain this event cannot accommodate strollers or pets on the course. Registration fees are non-refundable.

2026 Flanders 5K Race Day Important Information/Instructions

Welcome! I’m your Race Director, Tom Wilkas. We are pleased to bring you both the original Pat Griskus Sprint Triathlon, which started in 1987, and the Olympic distance race, which was conceived in 2002. Since then, we have also added a duathlon and a second sprint triathlon run concurrently with the Olympic triathlon.

Key folks include: Dave Heller, Robin Griskus, Laura Griskus, Marty Cashin, Mike Maximenko, Dave Kunces, Kim Tessier, Jeff Sheldon, Tom Hill, Jim O’Rourke, Chris Hibbs, Sandra Heller, Kristin Heller, Meghan Curley, Tim Cipriano, Tim Ruh, Karen Mcwhirt, Rob Scott, Eric Pattison and Others. Pat Griskus was an amazing guy and credited with paving the way for the many amputee athletes to follow.

Both races are USAT Sanctioned and are held at Quassy Amusement Park on Route 64 in Middlebury, CT. The Sprint distance starts with a half-mile swim in spring-fed Lake Quassapaug, enjoy the challenging 10.5 mile bike around the lake, and the out-and-back 3.1 mile run. There is a First Timers division for those tackling their first Triathlon ever, with medals for all first time finishers. With close to 100 first-timers each year, this race has become a favorite for first time triathletes!

The Olympic distance race features a clean and clear one mile lake swim in Lake Quassapaug, enjoy a 25 mile challenging one loop bike course through classic New England farm country, and a 6.2 mile run on shaded back roads.

Race Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Location: Pies & Pub, One Store Road, Middlebury, CT

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Benefiting: American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Registration Fees:

• Early Bird (Before August 1): $35

• Kids under 12 : $25

• Standard (August 1 – September 26): $40

• Day of Race (September 27): $40

Perks for Participants:

• Free Race T-Shirt: Register by August 31, 2025, to receive a complimentary t-shirt.

• Free Pizza: All participants enjoy delicious pizza courtesy of Pies & Pub.

• Free Beer: Participants aged 21 and over receive a complimentary beer.

To ensure a smooth start, here's the key info on bib pickup, parking, and race day:

Bib Pickup:

• Tomorrow, Friday, September 26th: Swing by Pies & Pub (1 Store Road, Middlebury, CT) from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM during our Hops For Hope Happy Hour—grab your bib, t-shirt (if registered in time), and get in the spirit early!

• Race Day (Saturday, September 27th): Pickup available starting at 8:00 AM at Pies & Pub, right before the 10:00 AM start. We recommend arriving early to avoid any last-minute rushes.

Race Day Parking:

Help keep things flowing smoothly for everyone—here are the best spots:

• Across the street at the Vyne Restaurant lot.

• At Smokey the Bear behind Pies & Pub.

• On the streets near Westover School.

• For a great warm-up option: Park at Meadowview Park Playground and stroll along the greenway to the start line—it's a scenic way to get those legs ready!

Please avoid parking at the Middlebury Plaza, as local businesses rely on those spaces for their customers. Parking could be difficult and limited if you arrive last minute, so please come early on September 27th and give yourself plenty of time to park and get to the race start at Pies & Pub by 10:00 AM.

Perks & Gratitude:

All participants will enjoy free pizza, and those 21+ can savor a complimentary beer—special thanks to Pies & Pub and Counter Weight for their generous donations! Speaking of support, we’re deeply grateful to all our sponsors. Special Thanks to Major Sponsor: Connecticut Investment Advisors. Your contributions make this event possible!

Stay Updated:

Visit piesandpub.com for any last-minute info, or check our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Piesandpintstatatrot/ after the race for results. We can’t wait to see you tomorrow and Saturday!

Spread the Word:

It’s not too late—tell your friends to join us! They can sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Middlebury/PiesPubTaTaTrot5k and be part of this incredible community effort.

Race Map: Check out the course details with this QR code or visit https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52793047.

Let’s paint Middlebury pink and trot toward hope together!

With gratitude and excitement,

The Pies & Pub Ta-Ta Trot Team

Supporting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

#TaTaTrot5K #MiddleburyStrong