Hartford Marathon Foundation Announces Return of RiMaConn Relay Race

The Hartford Marathon Foundation (HMF) today opened registration for the much-anticipated return of the three-state team RiMaConn relay race along the East Coast Greenway, presented by Webster Bank. The daylong endurance event will return on Saturday, August 28, 2021, and span 21 communities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Continued support from Webster Bank will enable HMF to execute extensive modifications to ensure social distancing and safe road race practices, a charge the Foundation has assumed for its calendar of in-person race events starting in May 2021. HMF’s ongoing partnership with Webster began with the bank’s support of the sold-out inaugural relay event in 2019 and continued with a family-focused hiking program in 2020 when the RiMaConn Relay had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.

To encourage enjoyment of the local East Coast Greenway trails by youth and families, HMF and Webster also will hold a free bike safety clinic in June and include a high school running program as part of RiMaConn Relay in August:

·      Welcoming up to 50 participants aged 5-12, the June 12 bike safety clinic will be held in Manchester with the support of Bike Walk Bolton 

·      The WilliHart Youth Relay 2021 will provide a pared down relay experience for up to five high school teams of athletes to run the final portion of RiMaConn, 26 miles from Willimantic to Hartford

“We are grateful for the continued support from Webster to deliver this special event that connects our communities and highlights assets of the region’s trail system through Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” said Beth Shluger, Hartford Marathon Foundation CEO and founder. “As we all hopefully plan ahead with optimism to return to outdoor race events, our attention to detail will remain steadfast to deliver a safe and unique event.”

Eighty-five percent of the RiMaConn course utilizes the scenic trails of the East Coast Greenway.

“Webster is excited to help the Hartford Marathon Foundation bring back the successful RiMaConn Relay for 2021,” said Brian Runkle, executive vice president, Operations, Webster Bank. “Not only do participants get to appreciate the beauty of the East Coast Greenway as the race winds through the communities we serve, the event also helps to support Webster’s focus on sustainability and the environment. After a year off, we can’t wait to get back on the trails.”

Runkle will once again captain Webster’s relay team made up of employees from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In addition to participating in the 2019 RiMaConn Relay, he is an experienced long-distance runner having participated in relay events throughout the country for more than a decade.

For more information about the RiMaConn Relay or to register a team, visit www.runthegreenway.com.

About the Hartford Marathon Foundation

The Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to create and manage fitness events that inspire people to be healthy and fit. Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, the Hartford Marathon Foundation organizes 32 annual athletic events, including the Eversource Hartford Marathon. For more information, visit www.HartfordMarathon.com and on Facebook at HMF Events.

About Webster
Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and its HSA Bank division. With $33.3 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, financial planning, trust, and investment services through 148 banking centers and 280 ATMs. Webster also provides mobile and online banking. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation; the equipment finance firm Webster Capital Finance Corporation; and HSA Bank, a division of Webster Bank, which provides health savings account trustee and administrative services. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.