Submitted by Marc Adelberg
(October 1, 2026) — Connecticut may be a small state, but it packs in 169 towns. How many have you actually visited? Now imagine not just visiting each one, but getting out of your car in every single town and running an official race. That’s exactly what Higganum resident Marc Adelberg just did — and it took him a little over four years.
Adelberg’s journey began in Haddam, fittingly, at the Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services 5K Pumpkin Run. It ended this past September, more than 30 miles and four years away, at the Bozrah Volunteer Fire Department 5K — town number 169.
From Corporate Leagues to Endurance Sports
Adelberg used to stay active through corporate basketball, softball, and golf leagues, but those took a back seat once marriage and raising children became priorities. He picked up running during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 to relieve work stress, then returned to an old passion — swimming laps at Haddam-Killingworth High School through the HK Recreation program. Road biking rounded out his training mix soon after.
Discovering the “169 Town Society”
The turning point came in the summer of 2022, during a 5K road race in Old Lyme. Adelberg noticed a few runners wearing “Run 169” shirts and struck up a conversation — his introduction to the Run 169 Town Society, a community of runners dedicated to completing an official race in every town in Connecticut.
The group is free to join, welcomes runners of all ages and abilities, and has grown to more than 6,000 members. The rules are straightforward: each race must be at least a mile long, open to the public, timed, and have publicly posted results. Races can be road races, trail races, or multisport events, and runners get credit for the town where the race starts — even if the course crosses into others. The group’s website, run169towns.org, lists every upcoming qualifying race in the state.
Heat, Cold, and a “Survivor”-style Challenge
Along the way, Adelberg picked up some unforgettable race-day memories: a summer 5K trail race in Suffield in 94-degree heat, and a mile track race in Seymour in the dead of winter at -8 degrees. The most unusual event of all was a race in Rocky Hill styled after the TV show Survivor — obstacle courses and mental puzzles mixed in with the running. Most of his 169 races were standard 5Ks (3.1 miles), but he also completed sprint-distance triathlons, 10Ks, trail races, and half-marathons.
A Side Quest: 169 Town Signs
Connecticut runners of a certain habit may recognize a side project familiar to Run 169 members: the blue town signs, like the one on Route 154 near Walkley Hill Road, that each town erected nearly 50 years ago for the nation’s bicentennial. Adelberg has been photographing them along the way and has 160 down, with 9 more to go — their GPS coordinates are also listed on the Run 169 website.
Thanks, and Haddam’s own Hall of Fame
Adelberg credits neighbor Josh with getting him into running in the first place, through a community walk challenge during COVID; neighbor Eric for recommending Hoka shoes that saved his knees; and neighbor Prem, who carpooled with him to many of the 169 races.
He’s also quick to point out he’s not the first from town to finish the challenge: Haddam residents John Minervino (2016) and Deborah Olsen (2024) got there first. That makes three of the 284 people who have completed all 169 towns hailing from one small town — not bad for Haddam.
Photos provided by Marc Adelberg
