Elijah's Race:
The Swanzey Covered Bridges Half Marathon

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The Swanzey Covered Bridges Half Marathon is held each year in memory of its founder, Elijah Barrett. Elijah organized the event to donate the proceeds to help the students of Monadnock Regional Middle-High School. He had attended MRMHS and eventually coached runners there. 
 

The race itself, mostly flat, fast terrain with a few gentle, rolling hills thrown in are par for the course along the Swanzey Covered Bridges Half Marathon - also called "Elijah's Race", in honor of the local runner who started it all. This race showcases the signature landmarks of the southwestern New Hampshire town, located just over 10 miles each from the borders with Massachusetts and Vermont. 

The race course - with between 300-400 feet of elevation gain - features views and scenery that captures perfectly the quaint, authentic feel of New England, taking runners through bridges with names of Thompson, Carlton and Cresson, most of which date to the pre-Civil War era. Participants race across a course made up mostly of paved roads - though shortly after the start of the race, participants will enter a section of improved railroad bed and about a mile of dirt trails. 

Thereafter, the race course returns to paved roads as it follows a counter - clockwise loop through the Swanzey area back to the finish at Monadnock Regional Middle-High School. 

After the runners have crossed the finish line, there will be a post - race barbecue, with  hamburgers and hotdogs, pasta salad and watermelon. Runners and joggers of all skill levels are welcome. 

The race being held at Monadnock Regional Middle-High School allows the use of bathrooms, locker rooms and post race showers. There are also 6 water stations spread throughout the course, with every other table supplying gatorade!