Hidden Gems Of Connecticut

MANCHESTER, CT — This week's Connecticut Hidden Gem is a Thanksgiving staple within a Thanksgiving staple.

Welcome to Mile 4 at the Manchester Road Race. The race is an event that draws about 10,000 runners to the north central Connecticut town every Turkey Day morning.

The start-finish line on Main Street and the Highland Park hill seem to generate the most publicity, but for spectating and running, Mile 4 is arguably where it's at.

Think about it. It's the flattest part of the 4.748-mile course and, strategically, it makes runners make decisions.

"Oh Mile 4 is where the decisions are made," said multiple Boston Marathon and MRR winner Amby Burfoot, who was also the editorial chief at Runner's World magazine. "If you're a kicker, you're probably going to wait into you get to Main Street and then go. But if you don't have a kick, you're probably going to go at Mile 4."

That makes Mile 4 a spectator's haven and folks certainly line the streets to cheer on the runners.

Oh, and Mile 4 is also known for its parties at the local business and social halls that line Center Street. And a band plays on Center Street just before the run down Main Street.

It's the spot to be - really - at the famed race.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Connecticut. Other columns in this series for 2021 include:

• The West Hartford Armory
• The Capitol's Nooks and Crannies
• Wickham Park Aviary
• 55 West Main, New Britain
• Fox Hopyard Golf Course
• The Dodd Center For Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• New England Civil War Museum and Research Center
• Avery's Soda
• Salt 2.0 Restaurant
• The Grave of Jonathan, The Original Husky
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• The Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus
• The UConn Dairy Bar
• Grove Hill Cemetery, Vernon
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Connecticut State Police Museum
• Berlin Historic District
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• The Benedict Arnold Trail
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner

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