Great Pumpkin Classic

THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 PARTNERS FOR THEIR DONATIONS TO THE TRUMBULL HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION.

Thanks to their generosity and your participation we were able to donate $10,000 to the THS Scholarship Foundation!!

PRESENTING SPONSOR 2022

Wishes to remain anonymous. 

GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS 2022

*My Smile Orthodontics

*River Road Pediatric Dentistry
 

Supporting Sponsors 2022   

*Grillo Services   

*USATUTORS.io   

Integrity * Commitment * Excellence

*Odin Capital Partners

*Stop & Shop- Trumbull  

In Kind Partner - Elegant Occasions DJ

https://www.elegantoccasionsdj.com 

AWARDS SPONSORS- NEW prizes this year!

*Trader Joes Fairfield

*SoundRunner Fairfield 

It’s 2022 and the 32nd Anniversary of the  Great Pumpkin Classic 5K Run!  We are looking forward to seeing you. Last year the actual Great Pumpkin was back, on a beautiful Fall day, and we had a blast!

We have had a race every year since 1991. Even in 2020 we were able to host the “Pumpkin Reboot” in November to celebrate our 30th year! More than 20 people of the 349 finishers from our first GPC in 1991 joined us for the historic occasion. 

This year we will again use the new course from last year- see the link below. This route is very much like our original course from 1991 with less uphill the first mile. But we do return to that short ‘Laurie Rd Hill’ at the start of the third mile some of you may remember... it’s only 1/10 mi! You can enjoy the downhill & flats right after! 

The untimed Walk For Health will be 1.7mi as in the past. We will have the Kids Fun Run again. The run, walk & kids committees, sponsors, and volunteers truly appreciate you joining us as we return to THS. You will be helping to add to our proceeds which have totaled over $310,000 in scholarships since our start in 1991.
 
Our charities include the Trumbull High School Scholarship Foundation, the Trumbull Schools PTO, Trumbull High School athletic Teams & Clubs AND elementary schools’ groups.         
 
PLEASE PRE REGISTER ONLINE ASAP to avoid race day stress and TO ENSURE SHIRT SIZING & AVAILABILITY.  Online reg only  on event day ends ten minutes before the start.
 
EVENT FEES: 

The 5k, 3.1mi distance is a computer chip-timed event. Participants of all abilities are welcome to run or walk this event.

Overall winners and age group awards are available for this event only
5K                    19 & over   18 & under
6/30 - 8/14           $27            $20   (2021 Pre-inflation/lower gas prices!!) 

8/15 - 9/14           $30            $22.50

9/15 - 10/14         $32.50      $22.50

10/15 & 10/16      $35            $25   REG IS ONLINE ONLY.
                                                           NO PAPER/NO CASH on site

1.7 MILE WALK - pay one price all the time, all ages - this event is not timed

6/30 - 10/16.          $27     REG IS ONLINE ONLY. NO PAPER or CASH 

KIDS FUN RUNS - varying distances and not timed. Kids get a shirt, finishing medal & snack!!

6/30 -10/16          $15

CALENDAR
7/30   Registration opened 

10/6  Guaranteed shirt sizing ends. After that ‘as available’ and we could definitely run out!

10/15  Early pickup 8:30-11am in the front (right side) foyer of Trumbull High School

10/16 - EVENT DAY - ALL REG IS ONLINE ONLY -  NO PAPER & NO CASH On site

7:30 am  Pickup & late reg online only for the 5k & walk - in the THS cafeteria 

7:45 am  Pickup & reg for the kids runs - on the track at the football field 

8:10 am  Kids Runs - various distances for age groups on the THS track

8:50 am  Introductions, Mens & Women’s Ensemble sing the National Anthem

START LOCATION - on the driveway of the 'A House' side of the building- near the big lot. Look for the balloon columns. 

9:00 am  GPC 5K & untimed Walk START

10:00 am Awards & prizes from Trader Joe’s & Sound Runner. Introduce honored guests - outside near the finish, weather permitting 

TRADER JOES FAIRFIELD AWARDS  - AWESOME MERCHANDISE AND TJ's PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM! 

1st, 2nd & 3rd in age groups 9 & under, 10-13, 14-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

SOUNDRUNNER AWARDS- 1st M&F overall champions $50 gift card each, 1st in age groups 19 and above ($20 GC)   

TROPHIES & MEDALS 1st, 2nd, 3rd for age groups 9 & under, 10-13, 14-18

SWAG- long sleeve shirts as available for 5K & walk. Please note- COVID has created inventory and supply chain issues in virtually every part of our lives. Tshirts are included in this dilemma. We may need to switch to short sleeves or even a different ‘give away’ without any warning. We appreciate your understanding.

The 5k course- you can run it, walk it, or any combination thereof. It has some hills, flat spots, and a GREAT DOWNHILL from 1 mile to 1.3mi that everyone seems to forget about, lol... it is Trumbull so enjoy the scenery.  https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/m/?r=7539973 

This 'New' course is actually a throwback. Over 75% of it is from the original 1991 course which 349 people ran the first year! It has some changes (at the suggestion of the TPD) and it does bring back the famous "Laurie Rd hill" that will challenge you in the last mile. But don't worry, the last 6/10 mi is downhill and flat!
NOTE- due to covid safety mandates there may not be any water stop on the course with open water cups. Please be prepared to pre-hydrate and carry your own fluids and NOT drop anything along our neighborhood! 

The 1.7mi non-timed walk only course- http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7620343 PRETTY DARN FLAT the whole way. 

The kids runs are on the track!

POST RACE- Snacks, fruits & fluids as determined by Town/State guidelines & health departments.  OUTSIDE NEAR THE START - weather permitting, otherwise indoors  

LOCATION DETAILS- Parking at Hillcrest Middle School (the best if you want to get out fast!), the back lot of Trumbull High, and the side lot of Trumbull High. The driveway between THS & Hillcrest Middle School will be closed at 8:45 am for the safety of our new course. Police will be on duty at the lot and at key intersections on the course.

HISTORY- The temperature was in the low 60's, warm for a late Fall run. It started at 10 am on Sunday, Oct 27, 1991, with Biology Teacher (now retired) Marty Schaivone yelling "GO!". The inaugural 5k run had 349 finishers- a very high number for a new, local event. Pat Swift and Allison Suchenski (Trumbull High alum) were the inaugural champions.

Within a few years, it became one of the top races in CT reaching a high of over 800 registrations in the late '90s. Featured runners included the iconic Bill Rogers, top American Laura Mykotok, Olympians, and champions from six different countries! Residents from nearly all 169 towns in CT have finished our event. It also played host to an amazing “Marisa’s Pasta Party” the night before for over 15 years.

THANK YOU ALL- As we celebrate our 32nd year we thank our past and current school administrators, faculty, students, neighbors, and friends who have contributed immeasurably. The countless committee members and most recently Dave Galla and the Trumbull Business Council have helped keep the GPC alive and fun. We thank YOU for joining us on any level whether live, virtual or as a donor. Our students will benefit from your commitment.

COVID DETAILS- As we set this up in June the plan is for a relatively normal event with a regular, mass start, post-race food & awards. BUT we must all be ready to “pivot” as they say now. The chip-timed start could convert to a rolling/safe spread version. Masks may be required prior to and after the run. The awards ceremony could be canceled. And the worst-case scenario- we could be required by the folks in charge to go virtual. Just BE READY & patient as we make our way through 2022.

WE WELCOME SPONSOR PARTNERS AT ANY LEVEL. There are many opportunities and a great need to cover our costs for shirts, timing, facilities, police, food and much more. Every partner helps us to donate to our scholarship fund, clubs teams, and the students involved. Sponsor a mile! Or the starting line. Or our student teams that are fundraising. Get your name on the shirts or even the bibs. Become a ‘named’ sponsor underneath the Great Pumpkin Classic! There’s a lot to choose from. 
CONTACT Marty Schaivone msrunningproductions@yahoo.com  ASAP! 

We will keep this site updated and let all pre-registered know what’s going on. If we are forced to go virtual please understand we can’t refund your registration. We purchase shirts, bibs, pins, etc., at least two weeks in advance. We pay nonrefundable deposits on some items and buy food and fluids ahead of time. 

IF THE PUMPKIN GOES VIRTUAL

This will occur only if mandated by Federal, State, Local, or School administrators. Your health and safety are our top priority.  We understand that this event has a great impact on the community, supports many wonderful causes, and is great for the town of Trumbull.  We encourage you to participate this year in a meaningful way and do so on your own terms.  You may decide to go virtual on your own though you entered to run or walk in person. If you chose to do this on your own you will be able to enter your time and see where you stack up!  Just let us know.

If you decide on your own to participate in a virtual form we would still appreciate it if you could pick up your swag ahead of time. It is difficult and very costly to mail these items. We will do our best to drop off locally after the event. 

MSRP helps to direct over 35 other events which (pre-COVID) raised over $250,000 for charities. Other events in Trumbull include the Cow Chip Cross Country Run, Jingle Bell Run, & Trumbull Sunset. Other races include the Colony Grill Hot Oil 5K & Bigelow Tea 5K in Fairfield, The Turkey Trot, Little Pub Margarita run & Cinco de Mama, Vicki Soto in Stratford, and many others in Milford, Bridgeport, Westport & beyond.   

The rest of the 2022 MSRP schedule:

10/22 NEW Seaside Park 5K

10/23 Weston Reservoir Half & 5K

10/29 Milford Trick or Trot  

11/5 Vicki Soto 5K  

11/11 NEW Run for our heroes on Veterans Day on Sherwood Island  

11/12 Colony Grill Hot Oil 5K  SOLD OUT! 

11/24 Stratford 5K Turkey Trot  

11/26 Cow Chip Cross Country Trumbull

12/3 Jingle Bell 5K Trumbull

12/11 Tentative Holiday Toy Run Stratford (May get moved to 11/27) 

ALL EVENTS CAN BE FOUND ON RUNSIGNUP.COM