The Manchester Road Race is a 4.737 mile (7.623 km) footrace held annually on Thanksgiving Day in Manchester , Connecticut . Race proceeds are donated each year to Muscular Dystrophy research and about 18 other local charities. Beginning promptly at 10:00am every Thanksgiving Morning, the race attracts athletes of all ages and abilities. First run in 1927, the race regularly attracts accomplished runners from across the United States as well as internationally recognized competitors.
19-547: The race was first held in 1927 with only twelve runners participating in the race. The race was conceived and promoted by the captain of the Manchester High School cross country team Frank "Duke" Haraburda, who competed and placed second in the inaugural race. The race continued annually until 1934, when the economic crisis during the Great Depression resulted in the race's cancellation. Consequently,
38-533: A big part in the discovery that bats are in fact not blind, and just have very poor eyesight. She also helped produce a study about how orangutans and gorillas unconsciously stick out their tongues in matters of social aversion, just as people do. At the age of 53 in 1996, she became the oldest person to obtain a degree in medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University . She practiced child psychiatry and has worked at
57-401: A historic Manchester Road Race tradition preceding the race, "Safety Man" will lead the cavalcade of elite runners and alert spectators along the course that the race has begun and runners are approaching. Years won: 1930, 1931, 1932, 1947 Joe McCluskey was an American Olympic bronze medalist in the 1932 steeplechase who is recognized for winning the race four times. His brother John was
76-535: A year, but without success. In 1961 she did run the race, without permission, but then racing's governing body vowed to ban her from all competition unless she agreed to stay out of "men's" road races. She agreed to stay out. Two other women, Chris McKenzie and Dianne Lechausse, also ran the race, although McKenzie veered off onto the sidewalk before the finish line so as not to get in trouble with racing officials. Julia finished in 33 minutes 40 seconds, which would have given her 128th place, ahead of 10 men, if her time
95-530: A year, but without success. In 1961 she did run the race, without permission, but then racing's governing body vowed to ban her from all competition unless she agreed to stay out of "men's" road races. She agreed to stay out. Two other women, Chris McKenzie and Dianne Lechausse, also ran the race, although McKenzie veered off onto the sidewalk before the finish line so as not to get in trouble with racing officials. Julia finished in 33 minutes 40 seconds, which would have given her 128th place, ahead of 10 men, if her time
114-720: Is the record for the Manchester Road Race, breaking the record of barefoot runner, Charlie "Doc" Robbins , who ran 51, though missing two while serving in WWII. Burfoot later became a journalist, eventually becoming the Executive Editor of Runner's World magazine. Julia Chase-Brand Julia Chase-Brand (born in 1942) is a female runner and physician currently living in New London, Connecticut . Her great-grandfather and grandmother were leaders in
133-509: The American suffrage movement . She was born in Groton, Connecticut in 1942, where she grew up and was raised around four brothers. Her first inspiration to run was distance runner John J. Kelley who lived near her neighborhood. She studied zoology at Smith College . When she graduated she immediately took a liking to bats, and later appeared on Nickelodeon as "Bat Lady". Julia was also
152-590: The Montefiore Hospital , Hackensack University Medical Center , and as of 2012 is medical director of outpatient psychiatry at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, CT. She contributed the section Effects of Maternal Postpartum Depression on the Infant and Older Siblings to the book Perinatal and postpartum mood disorders: perspectives and treatment guide . Julia Chase-Brand's first race
171-579: The 2009 Race with a time of 21:40, beating Chicago 's Patrick Smyth by one second—Smyth was also the runner up in 2008. Alemtsehay Misganaw, an Ethiopian who lives in New York City , won the 2009 women's race, beating five-time champion Amy Rudolph by a second. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the 2020 edition of the race was held virtually. In 2024, the course was remeasured and found to be nearly 60 ft shorter due to various repaving projects over
190-414: The good spirit of the event. Also giving this race a unique and high-spirited atmosphere, runners and fans wear costumes and may enter a competition to see who has the best costume each year. Famous among these costumed runners are the "Blues Brothers" and "Safety Man." Of note, "Safety Man" also reminds runners and the crowd lining the streets that a safe morning means an enjoyable Thanksgiving afternoon. In
209-484: The race was not held for 10 years (from 1935 to 1944), but began running again from 1945 to 2019, and will resume in 2021. In 1967 the race was recognized as the second largest race in the country, with more than 200 participants. Due to growing interest and participation in this event, the race surpassed 1,000 runners in 1976 and just ten years later attracted more than 6,000 runners. In 1994 the number of runners had reached 10,000 and in 2009 over 12,000 people officially ran
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#1732780525339228-585: The race. "The Manchester Road Race has grown to be the largest race in Connecticut, the third largest in New England and in the top 25 largest distance races in the country." (Manchester Road Race Committee) In 1960, Julia Chase-Brand entered Manchester in hopes of participating in the road race, but she was turned down due to her gender. Race officials told her that if she ran she would be banned from racing for life. She lobbied to be allowed to race for
247-447: The winner of the first race held in 1927. Joe's final Manchester Road Race victory came in 1947, 17 years after his first. Years won: 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 Amby Burfoot is an American runner from New London, Connecticut who is known for winning the 1968 Boston Marathon. As of 2015, he had competed in the Manchester Road Race 53 times in a row, winning 9 times (7 consecutively). His 53 consecutive races
266-420: The year's fastest marathon in the world. Robbins completed his 50th consecutive Manchester Road Race in 2001 and participated in 20 Boston Marathons . In April 1944 he finished third in 2:38:31 at Boston to four-time winner Canada's Gérard Côté and two-time champion (and seven-time runner up) John A. Kelley . Nine years later, he ran Boston in 2:43:56. On November 12, 1944, while in the U.S. Navy, he also won
285-468: The years. The official registration has been over 9,000 every year since 1991, with the highest registration of 15,000 in 2010. In addition to registered runners, many registered walkers and unregistered runners participate. The race committee estimates that approximately 1,000 unregistered runners participated in the 2005 race. In addition to the competitive spirit of the road race, Manchester Road Race enthusiasts are attracted every year to further enhance
304-406: Was named a Hero of Running by Runner's World in 2012. Charles Robbins (athlete) Charles Robbins (1921-10 August 2006) was an American long distance runner and psychiatrist . He won Amateur Athletic Union national titles, including five 20-kilometer titles, two 25-kilometer, two 30-kilometer and two national marathon championships between the years of 1944–54. In 1945, he ran
323-469: Was officially counted. Lechausse finished with a time of 41:12. In 2011, at age 69, Julia returned to run the Manchester Road Race again, on the 50th anniversary of her historic run. She received a handwritten "thank you" letter from Joan Benoit . At the age of 70, Julia Chase-Brand was featured in an award-winning, brief Dick's Sporting Goods documentary/promotional video Link from her home in New London, CT for her contributions to women's sports. She
342-535: Was officially counted. Lechausse finished with a time of 41:12. In 1977, the race committee created male and female divisions, rather than a single open registration. Irish immigrant Ray Treacy finished second in the 1979 and 1981 races. He coached four Providence College runners who also won the MRR: Mark Caroll (1998 and 2000), Amy Rudolph (1995-97, 2000 and 2002), Kim Smith (2004 and 2005), and Emily Sisson (2017). Haron Lagat of Kenya won
361-645: Was the New England championship in the 880-yard run, held in July 1960, which she won. However, she had to list her hometown as being in Rhode Island because women from Connecticut were not allowed to compete. When she tried to run in the Manchester Road Race in Connecticut in 1960, which women were not allowed to run at that time, race officials told her that if she ran she would be banned from racing for life. She lobbied to be allowed to race for
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