Manchester Road Race Plans Expo, Kids’ Run Ahead of 90th Thanksgiving Race

MANCHESTER, CT — The Manchester Road Race Committee will host a health and fitness expo and a children’s race Nov. 21 as part of the lead-up to the 90th annual Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day.

The events, known as Road Race Saturday, will take place at Manchester High School, 134 East Middle Turnpike, four days before the 4.737-mile road race on Nov. 26.

The Health and Fitness Expo will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the high school cafeteria. Exhibits will cover topics including running, training, athletic gear and sports medicine. Manchester Road Race shirts and other apparel will also be available for purchase.

Runners will be able to register in person for the Thanksgiving Day race and pick up their race bibs at the high school from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Little Manchester Road Race will begin at 10 a.m. on the high school track. The event features fun runs of various distances for children ages 12 and younger, along with emergency vehicle displays, a skydiving exhibition, face painting, music and costumed characters.

All participating children will receive a medal and a knit cap.

Registration is free and will open online Nov. 1 at manchesterroadrace.com. Participation in the Little Manchester Road Race is limited to the first 1,000 children who register.

Registered children should check in at the Health & Fitness Expo in the high school cafeteria beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The committee asks participants to bring two nonperishable food items for donation to the MACC Charities emergency food pantry. Parents whose children register but later cannot attend are asked to cancel their registrations by email to free spots for other children.

The Manchester Road Race will begin at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. The course follows a 4.737-mile loop that starts and finishes on Main Street in front of St. James Church.

Hoffman Lexus is the presenting sponsor of Road Race Saturday, while Henkel Corp. is the presenting sponsor of the Little Manchester Road Race and Windsor Federal Bank is the presenting sponsor of the Health and Fitness Expo. Fleet Feet of West Hartford is the activities sponsor for Road Race Saturday.

Hartford HealthCare is the presenting sponsor of the Manchester Road Race. Principal sponsors include Pratt & Whitney, Hoffman Lexus and Orthopedic Associates of Hartford.

More information about the race and Road Race Saturday events is available at manchesterroadrace.com