HARTFORD, CT – Saturday morning won't be a walk in the park for drivers in Hartford and three other nearby cities.

But Saturday, Oct. 19, the day of the 2024 Eversource Hartford Marathon/Half Marathon, won't be a leisurely stroll for those who put on running shoes.

One of Connecticut's largest sporting events, which requires runners to complete 26.2 grueling road miles, will see multiple road closures and traffic disruptions in Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford and South Windsor.

Officials with the Hartford Marathon Foundation, which organizes the event along with smaller road races across the state, said they expect nearly 8,500 runners of varying ability levels to fill the streets of these four communities.

And they said motorists need to be prepared early and be careful.

“On race day, road closures and travel delays will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will remain in effect throughout the City of Hartford and surrounding towns until 2 p.m.,” organizers said. “We thank you for your continued support and understanding”

The following roads are affected:

• Hartford: Asylum Avenue, Asylum Street, Atheneum Square, Broad Street, Buckingham Street, Capitol Avenue, Charter Oak Avenue, Clinton Street, Elm Street, Farmington Avenue, Fern Street, Ford Street, Founders Bridge, Gold Street, Jewell Street, Lafayette Street, Main Street, Market Street, Oxford Street, Pearl Street, Prospect Avenue, Prospect Street, Reverend Moody Overpass, S. Prospect Street, Sheldon Street, State Street, Van Dyke Avenue, Washington Street, Wells Street, West Street, Weston Street, Whitney Street .

• West Hartford: Asylum Avenue, Elizabeth Park, Fern Street, Penn Drive.

• East Hartford: Carroll Road, East River Drive, Main Street, Pitkin Street, Silver Lane Ext., South Prospect Street, Founders Bridge

• South Windsor: King Street, Old Main Street

The event begins around 8 a.m. near the State Capitol, with the race ending later in the morning near nearby Bushnell Park.

One issue that could cause more traffic problems is that the University of Connecticut is hosting a football game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford at noon Saturday, meaning the marathon will take place when many latecomers arrive for the game.

A similar situation occurred a year ago when the U.S. men's national soccer team played a game there on Marathon Day.

That game was sold out, but it was also later in the afternoon than this year's UConn football game, which is not expected to be sold out, making the impact on traffic this year uncertain.

The Hartford Marathon Foundation has an extensive website that contains all event times, maps, road closure details and other aspects of Saturday's program.

In addition, local police authorities have also issued warnings about the impact of the marathon via social media.

For more information about the 2024 Hartford Marathon/Half Marathon, click this link.