Runners pack Main Street in Manchester, Connecticut for the start of the 77th Thanksgiving Day, Manchester Road Race.

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb

It was a good day to bundle up as sunny skies but c-h-i-l-l-y temperatures graced the 77th running of the Thanksgiving Day, Manchester Road Race on November 28, 2013 in downtown Manchester, Connecticut. Some 15,000 runners and walkers filled Main Street for the 10:00 a.m. start of the race. As usual, spectators lined the 4.748 mile course in numbers that easily rival turnouts for events in much larger cities.

Approaching the home stretch.

Sam Chelanga of Kenya took first place with a time of 21:31 and coming in first for the women was another Kenyan, Alice Kamunya with a time of 25:07.

Sign of the times…

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing last spring, beefed up security was apparent with uniformed Manchester police officers highly visible, as well as, what appeared to be an armored truck surrounded by armed personnel near the top of Main Street where it intersects with Center Street. Nonetheless, runners seemed to nonchalantly go about enjoying the event. Also as usual, bands turned out to play along the race route including Avon Brass from Avon, Connecticut.

Avon Brass.

“We’ve been coming here to play for 11 or 12 years now,” said one band member, “The people are just great.”