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Manchester Road Race Offering Registered Finishers A Commemorative Medal For 90th Edition Of The Event

A commemorative medal embossed with the race's insignia will go to all registered participants after they cross the finish line.

A commemorative medal embossed with the race's insignia will go to all registered Manchester Road Race participants after they cross the finish line in 2026.
A commemorative medal embossed with the race's insignia will go to all registered Manchester Road Race participants after they cross the finish line in 2026. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

MANCHESTER, CT — Every registered runner who completes the course at the Manchester Road Race presented by Hartford HealthCare on Thanksgiving morning will receive a medal, race officials announced today.

That is registered runners, not poachers.

In celebration of the road race’s 90th running this November, the Manchester Road Race Committee will award a commemorative medal embossed with the race’s distinctive winged-foot insignia to all registered participants after they cross the finish line.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"This is a milestone year for our race," Manchester ARoad Race Committee President Dr. Tris Carta said, "We wanted to mark the occasion and thank all of our terrific runners with this token of appreciation."

The world-famous road race, which is run on a 4.737-mile loop course through Manchester’s central streets, will be staged as always on Thanksgiving, which is Nov. 26 this year.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The starting gun goes off at at 10 a.m.

The race starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church.

Last year's competition attracted a field of 12,382 registered runners. The field is limited to 14,000 runners this year.

The medals will be presented only to registered runners who complete the onsite road race on Thanksgiving Day and will not be available to entrants who participate remotely in the Virtual Manchester Road Race.

Registration goes to a good cause. The committee has selected Rebuilding Together of Manchester and Habitat for Humanity of North Central Connecticut as the primary charitable beneficiaries of this year’s road race.

"We are urging everyone to register and wear their bibs," Carta said. "You’ll earn a medal, but much more importantly you will be supporting the tremendous work that both of these organizations do to provide accessible and affordable housing for our neighbors."

Online registration for the Manchester Road Race presented by Hartford HealthCare is now available at www.manchesterroadrace.com. Additional information is also available on the event website.

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