THE CAUSE
Medals4Mettle connects endurance athletes with children and adults fighting serious illness by delivering donated, hard-earned race medals as symbols of strength and resilience. This run helped launch the Connecticut Chapter of Medals4Mettle, in partnership with the Connecticut Children’s Foundation and the Hartford Marathon Foundation.
It was also a full-circle moment ✨ Shan’s first multi-day charity run in 2008 was for M4M. Seventeen years later he brought the mission home to Connecticut.
THE RUN
Run169 for Medals4Mettle. In fall 2025, ultrarunner Shan Riggs ran 1,100 miles through all 169 Connecticut towns — the first time anyone has ever completed such a journey. Starting in West Haven and finishing with a final lap at the Eversource Hartford Marathon, Shan and his crew (his wife, Josh) crossed the state’s every corner, meeting incredible people and communities along the way. Over 34 days, they were joined by runners, walkers, and cyclists who joined in celebrating endurance, kindness, and connection in the true spirit of Medals4Mettle.
BY THE NUMBERS
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Start: West Haven, CT
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Finish: Eversource Hartford Marathon
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Distance: 1,090 miles
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Duration: 34 days (including 3 rest days)
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Pace: 35 miles/day
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Crew: His amazing wife
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Participants: Dozens of runners, supporters
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Purpose: To connect, inspire, and give medals to those fighting their toughest races🏅
See our daily stories and highlights from the road in our social posts
Shan Josh
THE MISSION CONTINUES
The run may be over but you can be a part of what comes next
Donate race medals to patients who deserve a symbol of endurance and fight:
🏅 Drop them off with our friends at Fleet Feet West Hartford
📬 Mail them to Shan and Josh (see here for where)
📸 Share our story to help support Medals4Mettle CT
👟 Keep on running - there are a lot of CT Towns out there!
Huge thanks to Run 169 Towns Society for all of their encouragement
