Saturday Events To Kick Off 2024 Manchester Road Race Festivities
MANCHESTER, CT — Five days before they welcome thousands of runners and spectators on Thanksgiving morning, members of the Manchester Road Race Committee will be hosting guests at two special Road Race Saturday events.
The committee will stage the Little Manchester Road Race for children and the MRR Health & Fitness Expo on Saturday, Nov. 23. Both events will take place at Manchester High School.
Road Race Saturday is regarded as the traditional kickoff of the pre-race festivities that lead up to the running of the iconic 4.737-mile Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day. The Presenting Sponsor of Road Race Saturday is Hoffman Lexus, and plans call for them to feature the latest Lexus models on display at Manchester High School during the events.
The Little Manchester Road Race is a non-competitive fun run for children12 years old and under. It features races of varying distances for children of different ages. There will also be costumed characters, music, a skydiving demonstration, a fire truck display and other fun activities.
The LMRR is limited to the first 1,000 children who register online. While, at this time, the 1,000 runner capacity has been reached, vacancies may arise. Parents are welcome to periodically check the LMRR registration site to see if openings become available.
Registered runners are asked to sign in at the MHS cafeteria starting at 8:30 a.m. on November 23. The running events will begin at 10 a.m. on the high school track.
All LMRR participants will receive medals and t-shirts. Entrants are requested to bring at least two non-perishable food items for donation to the M.A.C.C. Emergency Food Pantry. Henkel-North America of Rocky Hill is the LMRRs Presenting Sponsor, and Klaus Larsen Roofing is sponsoring the children's activities at the event.
The MRR Health & Fitness Expo will be held in the M.H.S. cafeteria on Nov. 23 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. It is open to the public free of charge. Exhibits related to health, conditioning, running gear and apparel, and other subjects of interest to runners will be on display. MRR tee shirts will also be available for purchase. The Presenting Sponsor of the Health & Fitness Expo is Integrated Rehabilitation Services.
Walk-in registration for the 88th MRR, and bib pickup for runners who have elected to receive their bibs in person, will also take place on Road Race Saturday in the MHS cafeteria from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
"We are really looking forward to Road Race Saturday," said Dr. Tris Carta of the Manchester Road Race Committee. "It is the start of a wonderful week in Manchester that culminates with our big road race on Thanksgiving morning and the Ray Crothers Blood Drive on the day afterwards."
The 88th Manchester Road Race, a World Athletics Label Road Race, will take place at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28, 2024). Regarded as one of America's largest and most popular turkey trots, it is run on a 4.737-mile loop course through Manchester's central streets. The race starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. Church.
More information and online registration are available 24 hours a day at www.manchesterroadrace.com .