This August, the Shawshank Hustle returns to Shawshank State Prison in Mansfield, OH for the annual running of this epic race! This event has become wildly popular for its fun and unique giveaways and the medal, its no pressure and fun atmosphere on the course which makes it great for first time racers and experienced runners alike and the unforgettable venue at the filming site of The Shawshank Redemption! After experiencing a QUICK sell-out in 2019, we know that many runners from around the country have earmarked this event as a Must-Do so you’ll want to sign up quick to secure your spot!
The Shawshank Redemption was filmed at fourteen sites in and around Mansfield Ohio with The Ohio State Reformatory serving as the primary location as The Shawshank State Prison at the Ohio State Reformatory. Featuring filming sites along the race route, actor autographs, T-shirt, custom medal, on-site Shawshank Redemption movie, food, music, water stations, electronic chip timing, costume contest, tour of the Ohio State Reformatory, a ride on the Carrousel and After Party at the Phoenix Brewing Company! Starting and ending at the Ohio State Reformatory, this family fun race welcomes 2,500 runners, walkers and those pushing strollers!
The Shawshank Hustle race course starts and finishes at The Ohio State Reformatory and covers 4.6 miles. Along the way you will view and have opportunities to visit and get pictures at the following filming sites:
* The Bissman Building which served as The Portland Daily Bugle and Brewer Hotel
* Carrousel Antiques which was the Pawn Shop window that Red looked through at the compass that would help him find the oak tree
* Brook’s Bench where Brooks sits down on the bench in Central Park to feed the birds, hoping his friend Jake (his pet crow) will show up to say hello, but he never does
* Shawshank State Prison: main filming site of The Shawshank Redemption. You can tour cell blocks, prison yard, iconic front entrance in addition to Andy’s escape tunnel, The Warden’s office with safe and desk, The Parole Board room and the Brewer Hotel room where “Brooks was here” is carved.
The course will take place on closed to traffic city streets from the Reformatory to The Carrousel District in Downtown Mansfield and back. Roads will be closed to traffic for your safety. Please make your spectators, fans, and family members aware of road closures. The course will offer rolling hills in a commercial area and a final Road to Redemption hill back to The Reformatory. All roads are paved and the course does cross railroad tracks twice. While race officials make every effort to alert the Railways that there will be an event crossing the tracks on our race date and time, we cannot guarantee that the race will not be impeded by a crossing. In this instance, there will be no adjustment to race times to accommodate any delays.
There will be four on course water stops. Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 2.7, Mile 3.6. There is a two-hour limit on the course. Course will reopen to traffic at 10:00am.
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"Get Busy Running...." Most Fun Race!
This race is so FUN! The race organizers do a fantastic job! It is a non-traditional race distance (4.6 miles), but there is a valid reason for that... the course … MORE
This race is so FUN!
The race organizers do a fantastic job! It is a non-traditional race distance (4.6 miles), but there is a valid reason for that… the course takes runners around Mansfield, OH to visit the filming locations for the movie, “Shawshank Redemption”. The race starts and finishes at the “prison” (aka Ohio Reformatory). All racers are assigned either “Guard” or “Inmate”. The Warden runs the race as well. The theme is great! The organization is FANTASTIC! Runners are treated to a private showing of the movie INSIDE the prison the night before the race. Also, the finisher medals are THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN!! The entire experience is top notch!!
One of my Favs!
This is one of the coolest races around! They always have the best metals and the race is always smooth as silk! Great race, and see some movie history all … MORE
This is one of the coolest races around! They always have the best metals and the race is always smooth as silk! Great race, and see some movie history all at the same time.
Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying!
This race is an absolute must for any "Shawshank Redemption" movie fans! The race starts and ends at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH where the movie was filmed. … MORE
This race is an absolute must for any “Shawshank Redemption” movie fans! The race starts and ends at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH where the movie was filmed. It’s an out and back course that gets you into downtown Mansfield where some other non-prison scenes were filmed as well. The race organizers are absolutely amazing. The communication up to the race is outstanding and you can join a Facebook group where all runners post their travel days and fun pictures. I believe this course is limited to 1,500 people in person. Before the start of the race, there is a costume contest as well as “Warden Norton” who shows up on a motorcycle to give a speech. The “warden” runs the race too in his suit! If you arrive on Friday before the race, you can tour the OSR, attend a Q&A with someone involved with the movie production, and then actually watch the “Shawshank Redemption” in the guard room with your fellow runners. The medal is one of the most elaborate (and heavy – 2 lbs!) I’ve ever received. This year’s medal had you opening up the Warden’s safe by turning a safe combination to reveal the Bible where Andy had stored his rockhammer. All runners received a technical shirt. Each participant is assigned to either the “Guard” or “Inmate” team, and the bibs are different according to your team.
The course itself has some hills, and though there is not much crowd support, they do have a water stop at every mile, which is pretty impressive considering it is only 4.6 miles. Race finish goodies include a popsicle, bottled water, banana and granola bar. Your bib contains a ticket for a ride on the carousel so if you are not so concerned about your time and just want to have fun, you can tear off your ticket and ride the carousel in downtown Mansfield while you are doing the race!
Overall, I give this race a huge thumb’s up for fun and Shawshank nostalgia. You’ll love it!
Best race medals ever!!
Awesome race!! Well put on! Take the time to ride the carousel in the middle of the race! What other race has that option!! Great finisher medals as well. This … MORE
Awesome race!! Well put on! Take the time to ride the carousel in the middle of the race! What other race has that option!! Great finisher medals as well. This year’s was really intricate, as well as big and heavy!
This is a must!
First, the medal is amazing! A different design based on the movie every year. You start at the reformatory where a lot of the movie was filmed and you can … MORE
First, the medal is amazing! A different design based on the movie every year.
You start at the reformatory where a lot of the movie was filmed and you can tour it before or after the race. The course runs through the small town where parts of the movie were also filmed. Even if you are not a fan of the movie it is a fun race. There are a few hills, but what goes up must come down.
Most fun you can have at a race!
This is the only race I've ever attended where I've been laughing while waiting for the race to begin! If you like the movie at all, you will love this … MORE
This is the only race I’ve ever attended where I’ve been laughing while waiting for the race to begin! If you like the movie at all, you will love this race. Runners get a free tour of the prison before or after the race. This alone is worth coming out for the race. There’s a costume contest every year where people are encouraged to dress up as prisoners or jailers to win prizes. The guy who runs in a full suit every year and who looks just like the character who played the warden in the movie is a riot. Half of the runners are called “inmates” and half are jailers. Whichever group of runners “beat the warden” get a discount on next year’s race. He’s so friendly and will pose with all the runners before, during (yes, runners take selfies with the warden while they pass him) and after the race. There are always nice prizes for the top three finishers in each age group. But the medals are the most amazing medals I’ve ever received. Check out the picture. They have multiple moving pieces (yes, the pick axe actually comes out of the Bible) and are the most creative medals I’ve ever seen. One warning about this race: This race is very hilly. I hate hills, but I run it every year anyway because the race is so much fun. Also, any money raised from the race is put towards keeping this historic landmark from being torn down.
One of the best races!
Covid has really f-ed me up mentally, but getting to run this race and see some of my favorite running friends really helped. This is one of the most enjoyable … MORE
Covid has really f-ed me up mentally, but getting to run this race and see some of my favorite running friends really helped. This is one of the most enjoyable races out there.
Such an interesting and fun race!
This was my first year running this race and it was one of the coolest races ever. The course has a lot of hills but dotted with movie land marks … MORE
This was my first year running this race and it was one of the coolest races ever. The course has a lot of hills but dotted with movie land marks the whole way and after the race you get a free entry into the prison. Such an interesting place and everyone was so friendly and fun. I could spend all day here. After the race the town is very cute and has many small good restaurants.
You'll be reformed
The race starts and ends at the Mansfield Reformatory where the movie Shawshank Redemption was filmed. There are several movie landmarks along the route that are well-marked and available for … MORE
The race starts and ends at the Mansfield Reformatory where the movie Shawshank Redemption was filmed. There are several movie landmarks along the route that are well-marked and available for photo opportunity. The town itself is very quaint and one of its pride-and-joys is a carousel which you will pass (you also get free tickets to ride it, post race). There are a few good hills, which adds to the nicety of the course. After the race, you get a ticket to tour the Reformatory, now defunct and in a state of disrepair (or renovation, more accurately).
Oh, and at the expo (a very little one), you can meet an actor from the film.
I would recommend watching the movie before and after the race. The race was great, but the tour afterward was even better because it is full of surprises. I would definitely repeat this one.