Julia's Run for Children

Our location is the beautiful and peaceful Edgewood Park, just off Whalley Ave in the Westville section of New Haven. This scenic park has a rich history! It was designed in 1910 by Frederick Law Olmsted JR. (His dad designed Central Park in NYC as well as many others in CT and beyond.)

OUR 5K COURSE- will stay within the park on its primary driveway/roads. You will travel by West River and the ponds within its borders. It’s safe, quiet, scenic, and NO Cars!

The 5k Course map link- https://onthegomap.com/s/g3lthi2k

Don't let the map scare you! Enlarge it so it is easy to see the OUT & BACK route.

The course starts and ends near the pavilion in the park and travels out on the park road 1/2 mile.

It then turns around and returns to the start area point. THE ONE MILE WALK ENDS THERE.

The 5K goes back out for one full mile. The second turn around of the 5k is at the far end of the park driveway. You then return to the finish to cover the 3.11 mi distance.

Please ENLARGE the course map so you can see the short half mile out & back followed by the one mile out and back. There will be cones, signs and volunteers at key points to make sure you are on course correctly and not impeding oncoming runners.

All abilities and ages are welcome and encouraged to join us to run, walk, and also enjoy the kids only run.

OUR MISSION-

Our events are dedicated to celebrating the life of Julia Rusinek and honoring the ideals for which she lived. Julia was a student at Yale and devoted herself to improving the lives of those in need. As a college student at Yale University, she dedicated her summers and her free time to working with or on behalf of underprivileged children.

The mission of the Julia Rusinek Memorial Fund is to support children through programming aimed at developing leadership skills, a love of literature and writing, and dedication to athleticism.

Our event proceeds benefit LEAP. Read more about LEAP (Leadership, Education & Athletics in Partnership, Inc.) below.

DONATIONS -THE JULIA RUSINEK MEMORIAL FUND - USE OUR DONATION BUTTON ON THIS PAGE. The Fund was established so that Julia’s commitment to children could live on through direct interactions with children and financial support of educational activities and enrichment programs. It is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization with virtually no operating expenses. The Fund has no paid staff and only accrues minimal operating costs.

If you'd like more information on Julia and her memorial fund please visit https://juliarun.org/

All donations from this event into the Julia Rusinek Memorial Fund will go directly to our charity partner -- LEAP (Leadership, Education & Athletics in Partnership, Inc.).

Founded in 1992, LEAP is a New Haven-based non-profit dedicated to empowering underserved youth by fostering their leadership potential. LEAP creates a nurturing environment where young leaders mentor, educate, and care for children through year-round programs, leading to positive academic and social outcomes. LEAP is the largest youth-serving agency in New Haven, employing over 300 young people annually and supporting their educational pursuits. Since its founding, LEAP has become a trusted community institution, serving over 1,600 local youth in 2024. LEAP empowers young people to become successful mentors and leaders, creating positive change in the New Haven community. More information about LEAP is available at https://www.leapforkids.org

RACE GOODIES - Specially designed shirts, guaranteed size until 4/16. After that shirts are 'as available' - and we could run out.

NOTE- We often hear "WE HAVE ENOUGH SHIRTS!" so you will have the option to NOT take a shirt.

REGISTRATION - is online only- even on race day!

NO paper entries and NO cash will be accepted.

This Runsignup site will remain open right up till the start of the run/walk.

TO ALL PARTICIPANTS - YOU HAVE THREE CHOICES:

YOU CAN BE COMPUTER TIMED AS YOU RUN OR WALK THE 5K

ONLY TIMED 5K Participants are eligible for awards.

You can walk the entire 5K and not be timed.

Your bib will not have a computer chip on it.

Or you can walk the ONE MILE UNTIMED WALK- perfect for families with younger kids who might not want to walk the 3.11mile course! Your bib will not have a computer chip on it.

Our kids' run will NOT be timed - it will be 1K (.62mi) or shorter if needed for the smaller tykes.

It is non-competitive. Parents/guardians can accompany their children.

All children finishing will receive a medal!

Registration fees are the same for all events- timed 5K run/walk, untimed 5k, & OUR one mile.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU USE THE CORRECT REGISTRATION BUTTONS ABOVE!

YOU CAN REGISTER FOR EITHER EVENT DISTANCE (5K or 1 mile) AND WHETHER TO BE ‘TIMED' OR UNTIMED

Family friendly youth pricing

1/17 - 1/31 $28 19 & up $20 18 & younger

2/1 - 2/28 $30 19 & up $20

3/1 - 4/19 $33 19 & up $20

4/20 - 4/26 $35 19 & up $20

$5 Kids Fun Run - We encourage 10 yrs & younger (registration is recommended) The fee does not change from now till race day. There are no shirts included with this nominal fee.

NOTE- All registration credit card fees are paid by the race - not by you!

SCHEDULE

April 16- cut off for guaranteed t-shirt sizing. After that 'as available'

Sunday April 26 from the Pavilion at Edgewood Park

8:30 am - pickup for bibs, shirts, swag, late reg. (online only)

9:40 am - Kids Fun Run - not timed

10:00 am - START of all 5k events and one mile walk -

snacks & fluids to follow

10:45 am - Awards given, (or sooner if the results are ready)

AWARDS - Only run/walk participants in the timed 5k are eligible

WOODBRIDGE RUNNING COMPANY

Julia’s Run Premier Prize Sponsor

Thanks to CHRIS DICKERSON for his support of our event.

WRC gift card awards to first place male, female & nonbinary finishers.

WRC Gift cards will also be awarded to age group champions.

WOODBRIDGE RUNNING COMPANY is located at 7 Landin St in Woodbridge

BRING YOUR BIB TO WRC BY MAY 31 for 10% off your purchase!

TROPHIES TO-

1st place M & F overall, 1st & 2nd for ages 9 & under, 10-13,

3 deep in 14-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

POST RUN - ready to go food & snacks, water bottles

PARKING - There are parking lots within the park that are also open to the public. There is also a great deal of street parking. BUT- Please arrive early! It is a Sunday, the park is open as are area businesses. Parking may be tight!

DIRECTIONS/PARKING- Edgewood Park is a wonderful venue and is also used by the public. There is tennis, basketball, a dog park, and a skate park open to the public and busy on weekends. Do your best to be on the early side for parking in the lot (which holds about 60 cars). After that, it is all on the street and local business lots.

GPS/GOOGLE MAP- You can use ‘MANJARES’ (a great coffee shop/restaurant) which is located at 382 West Rock Ave. New Haven as an address. The parking lot entrance is right across the street at the park. You can also park on W. Rock Ave. If there are no spots left you can cross Whalley Ave and go up Fitch St - less than a 1/4 mile north is a huge lot on the left, open to the public.

Use this link to the Edgewood Park Skate Park in your GPS it will also get you there. It is pinned to the entrance off of West Rock Ave where you can park.

DO NOT use (just) Edgewood Park because it could direct you to Edgewood Ave!

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD- Looking to stay for a bit? Besides Manjares there are some terrific places just a short walk away. You will love Bellas Cafe on Whalley Ave., and just North of that is the Cat Cafe and Pistachios.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER JOINING US AS 2026 SPONSORS AND PARTNERS -

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT- of our charity partner LEAP

Please contact Roza Rusinek [email protected] or Eliana Arroyo [email protected]

for information on how you can help fill in:

Lead Sponsor Level

Friend Level Sponsors

Neighbor Level Sponsors

In-Kind Sponsors

RACE DIRECTOR - Marty Schaivone has 35 years of experience managing over 30 running events each year which help to raise over $250,000 for local charities. For more information & other event details- [email protected]