WOLFPIT RUNNING CLUB: FIFTY YEARS OF MILES, MEMORIES & COMMUNITY Ridgefield Road Fest 50th Anniversary: 1/2 Marathon By Thomas Kimball WA8UNS of Ridgefield, CT

WOLFPIT RUNNING CLUB: FIFTY YEARS OF MILES, MEMORIES & COMMUNITY Ridgefield Road Fest 50th Anniversary: 1/2 Marathon

By Thomas Kimball WA8UNS of Ridgefield, CT 

A Family Arrival & the Birth of a Running Legacy (1979)

The story of Ridgefield’s running tradition begins in 1979, when the Kimball family moved from Miami to Ridgefield, Connecticut. Shortly after arriving, my father began working at Schlumberger‑Doll Research Center on Quarry Road. It was during this time that he first learned about a group of local runners who met at Yanity Gym.

While using the showers there, he met John Dougdale, one of the early anchors of Ridgefield’s running community. Those informal meetups became his entry into what would soon become the Wolfpit Running Club—a grassroots group that trained together, organized weekend runs, and laid the foundation for one of Connecticut’s most beloved races.

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A Running Life Shaped Abroad — Paris, 1984–1986

In 1984, Schlumberger transferred our family to Paris, France, where we lived for two years. I attended the International School of Paris, and it was there that my running journey accelerated. Paris had a deep endurance culture, and I quickly found myself training with local runners and entering major races.

During this time, I also ran with the Proselec Delacquis Déménagements Clamart, France Running Club, a local group based near Clamart. I believe this club operated independently from the nearby Études et Productions Schlumberger facility in 92140 Clamart, but it became an important part of my training and community while living abroad.

At just sixteen years old, I completed several iconic French races in 1985:

• •20 Kilomètres de Paris — 13 Octobre 1985
• •Paris–Versailles “La Grande Classique” — Dimanche 27 Octobre 1985 (10ème édition)

These races were stepping stones toward my biggest achievement that year: running the Marathon de Paris. By the time we returned to Ridgefield in 1986, I was already a marathoner—a teenager who had raced through the streets of Paris and discovered a lifelong passion for endurance sports.

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The Original Wolfpit Marathon

Before the Ridgefield Half Marathon became the town’s signature event, the Wolfpit Running Club organized a full marathon on local roads. It was a true community effort—local volunteers, friendships, and the growing excitement around distance running in the late 1970s and early 1980s. That marathon eventually evolved into the Ridgefield Half Marathon, preserving the spirit of endurance while making the race more accessible.

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A Club Born on Wolfpit Hill (1977–1980s)

The club’s roots trace back to 1977, when Thomas Nash began organizing informal weekend fun runs. These gatherings grew into a formal club named after Wolfpit Hill, one of Ridgefield’s defining landmarks. By the 1980s, Wolfpit had become a structured, thriving community of runners who met every Saturday and Sunday—often starting and finishing behind Yanity Gym, the spiritual home base of the club.

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The Original Start Line — Behind the Old Ridgefield High School

In the early years, the Wolfpit Half Marathon began behind the old Ridgefield High School, a detail preserved in race photos and personal archives—including my own blog documenting the 40th anniversary. Runners gathered in the back parking lot, stretching and chatting before heading out onto the familiar Ridgefield roads. That start line became a defining part of the race’s identity during the 1980s and early 1990s.

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How I Joined the Wolfpit Tradition (1989–1990)

By 1989, when I ran my first Ridgefield Half Marathon, I was already a marathoner thanks to my years in Paris. The race bibs from those years—often sponsored by The Athlete’s Foot—are still part of my personal collection.

Rick Favier, who later became the longtime co‑race director, was also the manager of The Athlete’s Foot at the Danbury Fair Mall. The store’s sponsorship was visible on the bib tags and helped support the race during its formative years.

Running the 1989 and 1990 races brought me into the Wolfpit circle, where I formed lifelong friendships and became part of the club’s living history.

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Wolfpit in the Early 1990s — A Close‑Knit Circle

By 1992, the Wolfpit Running Club was celebrating its 15th anniversary and had grown to 250 members. A News‑Times feature described Wolfpitters as a “close‑knit circle,” highlighting how members had known each other for years, watched each other’s children grow, and supported one another through both personal challenges and running goals.

One iconic photo from that era shows:

• •Kathy Barry, club president
• •me, wearing my CamelBak sweatband and Brooks T‑shirt
• •John Dougdale, in his signature orange hat, handing out newsletters and collecting dues

That image captures the heart of Wolfpit: runners gathering not just to train, but to connect.

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Kathy Barry — A Lifelong Friend and Keeper of the Wolfpit Spirit

Today, Kathy Barry still lives in Ridgefield, and she remains one of my closest friends. Her leadership during Wolfpit’s strongest years helped shape the club’s identity, and she continues to carry its history with her. Kathy may even be willing to contribute additional memories and stories for the 50th anniversary celebration—her perspective is invaluable, as she lived the Wolfpit era from the inside.

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The Tradition of the T‑Shirt History Line

One year, when we were still the Wolfpit Running Club, we created a history of the race using shirts from every year—hanging them on a long line so runners could walk through the decades. It became one of the most beloved displays the club ever put together.

For the 50th anniversary, I’ve worked to recreate that tradition. I was donated shirts from various years, added some of my own, and filmed a video documenting the full history—just like we did decades ago. The plan is to display the shirts again at the Runner’s Village during this year’s event, giving today’s runners a chance to see the race’s evolution in color, fabric, and memory.

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Yanity Gym & The Memorial Bench — A Spiritual Home Marked in Stone

For decades, the parking lot behind Yanity Gym served as the start and finish line for club runs and the Ridgefield Half Marathon. It was where runners laced up, caught their breath after tough workouts, and shared stories.

Today, a memorial bench sits in that exact spot, dedicated to Rick Favier, longtime Wolfpit president and co‑race director of the Ridgefield Half Marathon for more than 30 years. Rick spent countless weekends standing there, volunteering, encouraging runners, and making sure every event ran smoothly. Placing his bench at Yanity Gym was the ultimate tribute—a permanent marker at the spiritual home of the club.

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Continuing the Tradition — Running and Volunteering in the 50th Anniversary (2026)

As the Ridgefield Half Marathon celebrates its 50th anniversary—now known as the Ridgefield Road Fest 50th Anniversary: 1/2 Marathon—I will once again be completing the race, continuing a running journey that began for me back in 1989 and stretches all the way to 2026.

I also plan to volunteer before the race, helping with packet pickup, race‑day setup, Runner’s Village preparations, and supporting the shirt‑history display.

As a member of the American Red Cross Disaster Services Technology (DST) GAP, I remain on standby for national disaster deployments. If the Red Cross needs me to respond to a disaster, I will deploy to help others—but if not, I will proudly be at the start line once again for this historic 50th anniversary celebration.

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Guiding Athletes With Disabilities — Achilles International (2021–Present)

In 2021, I joined Achilles International – Connecticut Chapter as a volunteer guide, a role that has become one of the most meaningful parts of my running life. Born with lifelong disabilities myself, I understand how powerful it can be when someone opens the door to endurance sports and says, “You can do this.”

Achilles International gives athletes with physical challenges, mobility impairments, and vision impairments the chance to run, train, and race with support. As a guide, I help athletes safely navigate courses, maintain pacing, and build confidence — whether they are working toward their first 5 km, a 10 km, or even a half marathon.

Guiding these athletes has reminded me that running is not just about miles or finish times. It is about connection, courage, and giving someone the chance to achieve something they once thought impossible. The athletes I guide are truly incredible, and helping them reach their goals has become one of the most rewarding chapters of my four‑decade running journey.

Giving Back Through Service — NYC Marathon Amateur Radio Volunteer (2009–Present)

In addition to guiding athletes with disabilities through Achilles International, I also give back to the running community as a long‑time volunteer with New York Road Runners (NYRR) during the TCS New York City Marathon. Since 2009, I have served as an Amateur Radio Operator on the course, using my communications training to help ensure runner safety.

Ham radio volunteers play a critical role during the marathon. We report directly from assigned mile markers if a runner needs medical assistance, is injured, or must withdraw from the race. Our reports go to mile captains and medical teams, who can dispatch help immediately. It is a responsibility I take seriously, and one that allows me to support runners in moments when they need it most.

Over the years, I have been stationed at Mile 23 and Mile 24, watching thousands of runners push through the hardest part of the course. I know what that struggle feels like — because I also had the honor of running and finishing one New York City Marathon myself. Supporting runners from both sides of the barricade has given me a deep appreciation for the courage it takes to reach the finish line.

My work with NYRR and the amateur radio team is another way I stay connected to the sport I love, helping ensure that every runner, whether elite or first‑timer, has the support they need to finish safely.

Historical Resources Consulted

These personal archives were used to help reconstruct the 50‑year history:

• •Wolfpit Running Club 40th Annual Pamby Ridgefield Half Marathon (2016)

https://wa8uns.blogspot.com/2016/10/wolfpit-running-club-40th-annual-pamby.html

• •Pamby Ridgefield Half Marathon 1989–2019 — Wolfpit Running Club

https://wa8uns.blogspot.com/2019/10/pamby-ridgefield-half-marathon-1989.html

• •Wolfpit Shirt History Video

https://youtu.be/182HyOzqTD8

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Author’s Note

Due to my lifelong learning disabilities, I used Microsoft Copilot to help organize, structure, and write this historical article. All memories, facts, and personal history included here are my own.

From Disaster Deployment to Community Dinner: My First Night Back Serving in Ridgefield

Thomas Q. Kimball of Ridgefield, CT, also known as WA8UNS, Last night, I returned to the weekly Community Dinner at the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield — my first time volunteering locally since coming home from my American Red Cross deployment to Muncie, Indiana, where I supported flood and tornado recovery in my volunteer role with DST (Disaster Services Technology).

During that deployment, our team worked through severe weather conditions, including the afternoon when tornado sirens went off and a tornado touched down in Muncie. Thankfully, it wasn’t close to where we were operating, but it was a powerful reminder of how quickly conditions can change and how essential reliable communications and technology support are during disaster operations.

Coming back to Ridgefield and stepping into the kitchen again felt grounding. In the photo from the evening, I’m wearing a simple chef hat and my Red Cross shirt that reads, “We’re All In This Together.” That message fits perfectly with what the Community Dinner represents. People come to enjoy a freshly cooked meal, connect with neighbors, and support Ridgefield Social Services, which this dinner directly benefits.

My role last night was straightforward: helping make grilled cheese sandwiches and assisting with serving the meal. No apron, no formal chef setup — just showing up, putting on the hat, and helping prepare food for folks who appreciate a warm dinner and the chance to support an important local service.

The contrast between Muncie and Ridgefield stood out. In Indiana, the work was urgent and high‑pressure. Here at home, the work was calm and community‑focused. But both experiences reminded me of something important:

Service takes many forms, and each one matters.

Reflections from my first night back:

• Community strength grows through consistent, everyday support.
• A warm meal can bring comfort just as much as disaster relief can bring stability.
• Returning home simply shifts the mission — it doesn’t end it.

I’m grateful to the First Congregational Church for hosting this weekly dinner and to the volunteers who make it possible. Being part of it again reminded me why I volunteer — whether it’s responding to tornadoes in the Midwest or serving grilled cheese in my hometown.

The mission stays the same: help people, strengthen community, and show up when it matters.

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Disclaimer: Due to my lifelong learning disabilities, I used Microsoft Copilot to help write this. 

My American Red Cross Deployment to Muncie, Indiana — By Thomas Q. Kimball of Ridgefield, CT

Thomas Q. Kimball of Ridgefield, CT, also known as WA8UNS, is currently deployed with the American Red Cross in Muncie, Indiana, supporting tornado and flooding response as part of Disaster Services Technology (DST). Our team provides the communications backbone that keeps disaster operations running — and this week has shown just how essential that work is.

Yesterday afternoon, tornado sirens went off across Muncie, including right outside our Red Cross office. When severe weather hits during an active disaster response, reliable communication becomes mission‑critical for keeping volunteers safe and ensuring help reaches the people who need it most.
As part of DST, my role is to set up and maintain the technology that keeps our teams connected in the field and at Disaster Operation Headquarters. That includes:
Starlink deployment for high‑bandwidth connectivity
Cradlepoint networking for secure, stable internet
Field laptops and cell phones for volunteers heading into impacted areas
Technical support for sheltering, feeding, logistics, and casework teams
While I’m not using amateur radio on this deployment, I do have that capability as a licensed operator (WA8UNS), which strengthens my overall communications background and supports my work in DST.
And in true Muncie fashion, I had the chance to take a photo with Garfield, proudly dressed as a Red Cross worker. While Jim Davis wasn’t born in Muncie, he has strong ties to the area and chose Muncie as Garfield’s hometown — so it felt like the perfect local touch during a serious deployment.
Note: This post was written with the help of Microsoft Copilot due to my learning disabilities.
Grateful to serve this community and support the Red Cross mission.

“From Learning Disabilities to Ironman: A Lifetime of Endurance and Giving Back”

 I was born in July 1969 and grew up in Miami, Florida, where I faced significant learning disabilities from an early age. For several years I attended the Easter Seal School in Miami, a place dedicated to helping children who needed extra support. Learning was always harder for me, but sports became the first place where I found confidence. Before I was ten, I began swimming competitively with the Sheeler Winton Swim Club, a program known for developing strong young athletes. That early discipline taught me how to push through challenges and laid the foundation for a lifetime in endurance sports.

In 1979, my family moved to West Redding, right on the West Redding/Ridgefield border, and that area has been home ever since. Even though I attended Redding schools, almost all my time, activities, and friendships were in Ridgefield — the town where I grew up, worked, trained, and built my life.

My connection to cycling began early. In 1983, I completed the Bloomin’ Metric 100 km ride, a milestone that introduced me to long‑distance cycling. In 1988, my father bought me my first Cannondale road bike from the old Ridgefield Cycle Center, which used personal measurements — inseam, torso length, arm reach — to size riders correctly. It wasn’t the advanced technology of today, but it was a true measurement‑based fit that set me up well for the racing that followed.

From 1984 to 1986, my family lived in Paris while my father worked for Schlumberger‑Doll Research. During those years abroad, I attended the International School of Paris, ran my first marathon — the Marathon de Paris at sixteen — and joined ACBB (Athlétic Club de Boulogne‑Billancourt), one of France’s historic cycling clubs. I even had the chance to meet Greg LeMond, who would soon become the first American to win the Tour de France.

When we returned home, I jumped right back into Ridgefield life — including working at Caldor in the 1980s, a place everyone in town remembers. I joined the old Wolfpit Running Club, the group that organized the Ridgefield Half Marathon, and ran my first Wolfpit Half Marathon in 1989. Running remained a major part of my life for decades.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, I became deeply involved in the regional triathlon scene. In 1988, I raced in the Ridgefield Y‑athlon, a multisport event organized by the old YMCA on Barlow Mountain. Around the same time, I began racing Chuck’s East Coast Triathlon in Danbury, starting in 1988 and continuing through the early 1990s — one of the toughest and most iconic local triathlons of its era.

From 1990 to 1993, I worked for Cannondale Corporation in Georgetown, Connecticut during the company’s golden era, and rode with Cannondale’s in‑house cycling club/team. I also raced in the Bud Light United States Triathlon Series (USTS), the premier triathlon circuit in the country. In 1989, I was invited to compete in the USTS National Championship in Hilton Head, South Carolina. In 1991, I raced in the Connecticut Triathlon Series, placing 8th out of 134 in the Male 20–24 division and finishing 50th overall out of 1,545 competitors.

I completed four full Ironman‑distance triathlons, finishing two of them — the 1991 Endurance Triathlon in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire, and the 1994 Martha’s Vineyard Endurance Triathlon. During those years, I loved the long training days, especially swimming up to four miles in Lake Kenosia in Danbury, back when the lake still had a public beach and open‑water swimming was allowed. Those long swims were a core part of my Ironman training. Today, I continue that tradition through long lap‑swimming sessions at the Ridgefield Recreation Center, keeping the endurance foundation alive.

I also completed five Jack Bristol Lake Waramaug Ultra 50 km races in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2008. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 2006, and later completed my first New York Road Runners (NYRR) TCS New York City Marathon in 2019. I hope to run the NYC Marathon again someday. In 2013, while training for what would have been my fifth Marine Corps Marathon, I partially tore my right Achilles tendon and required surgery.

Alongside my athletic life, I also served in uniform as a Former Staff Sergeant (E‑6) in the New York Guard, supporting the New York National Guard. Following 9/11, I was activated for Operation World Trade Center with Task Force Liberty, serving at Camp Smith Training Site under Threatcon Charlie as part of the Military Police Detachment. We were unarmed, providing security and operational support during a critical moment in New York’s history.

Before joining the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department, I served with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). From March 2012 to July 2014, I was a member of the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department Fire‑Police, assisting with traffic control, scene safety, and public support during emergencies. I eventually had to medically resign from Fire‑Police after suffering a severe Achilles tendon tear that required more than six months of recovery, but the experience strengthened my commitment to community safety and service.

I also volunteered extensively with the American Red Cross, deploying to disaster zones across the country. My work was featured in several newspaper articles, including “Ridgefield man with ‘learning disability’ who volunteers in disaster zones wants to inspire others” and “Ridgefield volunteer helps California wildfire victims, working as the ‘Geek Squad’ for the Red Cross” by Sandra Diamond Fox. Additional articles such as “Ridgefielder lends a helping hand to Florence victims” by Peter Yankowski and “Ridgefielder aids CT Red Cross in tornado recovery efforts” by Alyssa Seidman highlighted my deployments and my message that people with disabilities can make a difference.

As WA8UNS, I have also volunteered as a NYC Marathon Ham Radio Operator since 2009, supporting New York Road Runners and the TCS New York City Marathon. I see it as a way to give back to the sport of running — a sport I’ve been part of since age sixteen, when I ran the Marathon de Paris. I understand the pain, struggle, and accomplishment of covering 26.2 miles. At the marathon, I look out for runners, offer encouragement, and help if they are having issues or medical problems. If a runner needs assistance, I can call through my ham radio to my mile captain, who can alert the medical tent. I have most often been assigned to Mile 23 or Mile 24, supporting runners in the hardest part of the race.

My commitment to community service began long before my return to cycling. In 2012, I became one of the early volunteers when the CT Foodbank Mobile Pantry first began operating at Halpin Ln in Ridgefield, Connecticut. When CT Foodbank later merged and became CT Foodshare, the Mobile Pantry moved to Saint Andrew’s Church, where it continues to operate every other Friday. At Saint Andrew’s, I hand out numbers and help manage the parking area, ensuring the line moves safely and smoothly. In 2025, I began helping with the Wednesday Community Dinners at the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield, serving meals and supporting neighbors who needed a warm place and a warm meal.

In 2021, I became a volunteer guide with Achilles International – Connecticut Chapter, supporting athletes with physical challenges or visual impairments from 5 km races to full marathons. These athletes are extraordinary, and guiding them has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life.

After being away from cycling for 25–30 years due to the rising cost of the sport, I finally returned in 2025/2026 thanks to a gifted bike that made it possible for me to re‑enter the sport. The team at Ridgefield Bicycle Company helped ensure the gifted bike was the right match for my needs, and their professional bike fitter took full personal measurements to give me a precise modern fit. Coming back reminded me of something athletes used to say long before modern gear took over the sport — the same message that appeared in a well‑known cycling book years ago: “It’s not about the bike.” It’s about the athlete. The heart. The drive. The feeling of being alive, moving forward, and refusing to give up.

Growing up, one of my favorite shows was Knight Rider, and I never forgot the line: “One man can make a difference.” Later in life, I found the same message in Admiral William McRaven’s famous speech about hope and perseverance — especially his reminders that “If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers,” and “SEAL training was a great equalizer… nothing mattered but your will to succeed.” His message that “one person can change the world by giving people hope” has stayed with me. I’ve also been inspired by former Navy SEAL David Goggins, who openly shares his own struggles with learning disabilities while pushing himself through ultramarathons. His story, like mine, shows that your challenges don’t define your limits.

Sports didn’t erase my learning disabilities, but they taught me resilience, discipline, and the belief that your starting point never determines your finish line. From Miami to West Redding to Paris and back to Ridgefield, every step of the journey has shaped who I am — and I share my story in hopes it will help others believe they can make a difference too.