2017 Manchester Road Race Is a Revelation for Legend's Daughter

MANCHESTER, CT — Mary McCluskey Cotard said she had a revelation when arriving in town from Paris for the 81st Manchester Road Race.

Yes, Cotard, 61, lives in France, but as the daughter of Manchester's greatest runner, Olympic medalist and four-time Manchester Road Race Champion Joe McCluskey, she always knew about the race.

But, she added, she never knew the race — until 2017 when she took part in the preparations.

"It's amazing — the atmosphere and the people," she said. "Now I know why my farther disappeared at 6 a.m. every Thanksgiving and we did not see him until 3 in the afternoon."

This year marks the 70th anniversary of her Dad's final win here in 1947 and Cotard is honoring the occasion by entering the road race for the first time. Her 32-year-old twin sons, Julien Cotard of New York City and Antoine Cotard of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will be running with her.

"It is a dream come true to be able to run in this race, and my father would be very proud to see his grandsons running, too," Mary wrote in a recent email to the Manchester Road Race Committee. "My entire family is grateful for all that Manchester has done to celebrate my father's athletic achievements; he had great pride in his hometown."

For details on the Manchester Road Race, click here. It is sated to begin at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day in downtown Manchester.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel