The Big Red 5K, Lebanon

Ray Heon’s friends and family describe him as a man who had a big heart, a part of which was devoted to the Washington Redskins. These traits inspired the name for The Big Red 5K, a race established to celebrate Ray’s life after he died of cancer last November. Participants are welcome to run or walk the course, which begins at Lyman Memorial High School, loops around the Lebanon Green, and then ends at the Jonathan Trumbull Library. It’s fitting that those two buildings bookend the race, as a portion of all proceeds will be used to donate technological devices to them.

Runners can commemorate their day by posing for photographers before or after the race, and they each receive a race packet with a T-shirt, race bib, and swag from the race sponsors. Participants or robots at the end of their battery packs can also opt to complete just a small segment of the race (one lap around the Lebanon Green). Those there to cheer runners on can spend the day listening to live music and visiting the food and merchandise vendors.