MANCHESTER, CT — Registration for the 2026 edition of the Manchester Road Race on Tuesday doubled that of previous years on the first day of live sign-ups.
And set a new first-day record.
A total of 1,825 entrants had registered for the 90th running of Manchester's iconic Thanksgiving Day run by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. Registration for the event opened at 5 a.m.
Last year, 946 runners signed up on the first day of registration and that was about average for first-day sign-ups over the three previous years, race officials said.
Then 2026 set a new Day 1 record Manchester Road Race Committee President Dr. Tris Carta said.
The field for this year's road race has been capped at 14,000 runners.
The race is presented this year by new title sponsor Hartford HealthCare.
It is also the 90th running of the event, considered one of America's oldest and most celebrated Thanksgiving Day runs.
The race takes place on a 4.737-mile loop course through Manchester's central streets. It starts at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day (Nov.26, 2026) on Main Street, in front of St James Church. More than 12,000 participants — who ranged in ability from Olympians to costume-clad joggers, walkers and crawlers — entered last year.
Online registration is available at:
The entry fee is $32 for runners who sign up prior to 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30.
The entry fee increases thereafter to $37 on October 1st, to $40 on NOV. 1 and to $42 on Nov. 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The field is limited to 14,000 runners.
Registration for the road race closes completely on Nov. 24, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
No entries will be accepted on the day of the race.
Runners will once again have the option either to pick up their bibs in person at no cost, or to have them delivered for a fee. The race committee has scheduled a number of events prior to the race when bibs can be picked up in person for no additional cost.
Details about the dates and locations of bib distribution events, and the fee that is charged for delivery can be found at at www.manchesterroadrace.com.
The race committee is reminding entrants that there will not be bib pickup on the morning of the race.
Rebuilding Together of Manchester and Habitat for Humanity of North Central Connecticut will be the primary charitable beneficiaries of the unallocated proceeds from this year's race.
Olympian Edwin Kurgat of Flagstaff, AZ won last year's road race in the course-record time of 20:54. Weini Kelati, an Olympic runner who also resides in Flagstaff, captured the women's championship for a record fifth consecutive year.
The Manchester Road Race Presented by Hartford HealthCare is organized annually by approximately 400 volunteers of the Manchester Road Race Committee, with generous support from the Town of Manchester.
More details are available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.
See also: Specialty Running Store Officially Opens At Manchester Road Race Start/Finish Line
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