Write-Up & Photo by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com

One of New England’s premier sporting events is only three days away – the Thanksgiving Day Road Race, being held for the 78th year in Manchester, Connecticut. As of this morning online registration remained open with a total of 14,183 runners signed on to participate, according to their website.

This year the road race committee wants to chronicle longtime runners and “is establishing a program to record and recognize the longevity of its perennial participants.” A longevity record database is slated to be posted to the road race website at some point down the road …. no pun intended. The committee is said to be looking for men who have run the race 45 times or more and women who have run the race 35 times or more. Visit http://www.manchesterroadrace.com to click onto a form and provide personal longevity information.

Recognition will be given to men who have competed as runners a total of 50 times and women who have taken part as runners for a total of 40 years.

Something else new this year is a Manchester Road Race exhibit currently on display at MCC on Main not far from the starting line for the race. It opened on November 5 and continues through to November 29.