88th Manchester Road Race To Feature Stadium Seating

MANCHESTER, CT — This year's Manchester Road Race will have a new feature at the start/finish line — stadium seating in a natural setting.

At last week's annual pre-race Earl Yost News Conference, road race officials announced that the grassy hill in front of St. James Church will be used for spectators in 2024.

"It's a natural slope," Director of Race Operations Thayer Redman said.

The change is being made on the east side of the St. James lawn. Essentially, everything is being moved over to accommodate spectators. A large video board will be on the hill for full race coverage. Viewing from the hill is open on a first-come basis.

The area is traditionally used as the corral to organize the back of the racing pack.

The 88th running of the Manchester Road Race is on tap for Thanksgiving Day. The race starts and finishes on Main Street in front of St. James Church. A field in excess of 12,000 runners is expected to compete this year, and as many as 30,000 spectators are expected to line the race course.

The race, which is one of America's largest and most popular turkey trots and has been designated a World Athletic Label Road Race, is run on a 4.737-mile course through Manchester’s central streets.

Some of the world's best distance runners will be competing.

The starter's pistol will sound promptly at 10 a.m.