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Feaster Five Road Race

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Feaster Five Road Race
DateThanksgiving Day
LocationAndover, Massachusetts, United States
Event typeRoad
Distance5 miles (8K certified) and 5 kilometers (3.1 mi)
Primary sponsorMerrimack Valley Striders
BeneficiaryThe Merrimack Valley YMCA, Bellesini Academy, Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm, Merrimack Valley Striders, and Groundwork Lawrence
EstablishedNovember 24, 1988
Official sitefeasterfive.com
Participants10,720 (in 2012)[1]

The Feaster Five Thanksgiving Day Road Race, more commonly called the Feaster Five, is a 5-mile road race held annually in Andover, Massachusetts, United States, on the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day. It is one of the Bay State's largest five mile races (with an estimated 10,720 participants in 2012).[2] The race has been held every Thanksgiving morning since 1988, and is one of a number of races across the nation known colloquially as a "Turkey Trot."

Proceeds from the race benefit Merrimack Valley Striders Scholarship Program, the Bellesini Academy, Groundworks Lawrence and the Merrimack Valley YMCA.[3]

Children ages 2–12 can participate in a shorter, one-kilometer race called The Kids' K.[4]

History

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1980s

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On November 24, 1988 the first Feaster Five was held, and approximately 300 runners finished. The first men's winner was Ken Pliska, and Amy Legacki was the first women's winner.[4]

The second race in 1989 almost did not happen because of an early nor'easter that deposited more than six inches of heavy wet snow on the course at the start of the race. Approximately 400 runners completed the race in near whiteout conditions. In 1990, apple pies were given out to all runners, a tradition that continues every year.[4]

1990s

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In 1992, Johnny Kelley appeared as an honored guest at the start of the race. This was the first year that walkers were officially allowed into the race. In 1996, Lynn Jennings, the winner of the bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics for the 10,000 meters, placed first in the women's division.

2000s

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In 2000, FRID timing was used for the first time to obtain a more accurate time for each runner.[4]

In 2004, actor Matt Damon ran the race along with his father Kent.

In 2005, women participants outnumbered men for the first time.[4] In 2009, more than 9,147 runners and walkers registered for the race, and the first ever women's Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson won first place in the woman's division at the age of 52.

2010s

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In 2011, Senator Scott Brown officially started the 24th Feaster Five Road Race.[5]

Just before the start of the 2015 race, a small drone hit a tree branch near the start of the race and crashed into the crowd. Its rotors injured two runners with small lacerations.[6]

The 2017 race was the 30th anniversary, and the first 9,000 entrants were guaranteed a hoodie-style race shirt. The youngest runner was one year old, and the oldest was 93, with a total of 9,966 total entrants. Ruben Senca won the five-mile race for the fifth time.[7]

Due to record-setting cold weather, the 2018 race organizers were forced to cancel the five-mile race and the kids' run, leaving only run the five-kilometer race for all participants.[8] Of the 8,500 registered runners, nearly 4,000 took part in the race.[9] The 2018 race raised more than $75,000 for the five charitable partners.

2020s

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A virtual race was held in November 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Live races will resume in 2021.

Course description

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The Feaster Five Starting line in Andover, Massachusetts in 2015.
The Feaster Five starting line in Andover, Massachusetts in 2015

8-kilometer course

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The 8-kilometer race begins on Main Street at the intersection of Route 28 and Route 133. The first mile is mostly uphill and goes through the historic Andover Center. The course then turns left of Morton Street, left on Bartlett Street, and then a right onto Chestnut Street. It then makes a left onto Pasho Street. a right onto Summer Street, a left onto Washington Street, a left onto Elm Street, a right on Maple Street, and then a quick left turn on Walnut Avenue. When the runner take a right onto High Street they join up with the runners from the 5-kilometer race. The 8-kilometer runners keep to the right side of the street while the 5-kilometer runners keep to the left. The race then proceeds to a left on Haverhill Street for approximately 1/2 mile, then makes a right turn on York Street and uphill to the finish at the Brickstone Square parking lot.[4] There are typically stands in the Brickstone Square parking lot giving food and drinks to the runners, including apple pie.

5-kilometer course

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The 5-kilometer race begins at the same time and place as the 8-kilometer race, but takes a left turn at the top of the hill on Elm Street. The runners then make a left turn onto High Street and later merge with the runners from the 8-kilometer race at the corner of High and Walnut Streets. The race then proceeds to a left on Haverhill Street for approximately 1/2 mile, then makes a right turn on York Street and uphill to the finish at the Brickstone Square parking lot.[4]

Past winners

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5-kilometer

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Year Male winner Female winner
1995 Michael Cronin  United States 16:41 Mary Donahue  United States 18:20
1996 Guy Sterns  United States 15:51 Kara Molloy  United States 19:23
1997 Dan Leboeuf  United States 16:42 Jennifer Lincoln  United States 18:30
1998 Matthew Ely  United States 16:12 Jennifer Lincoln-Toomey  United States 17:44 (course record)
1999 Matt St. Germaine  United States 15:44 Kara Molloy  United States 18:43
2000 Matthew Ely  United States 15:55 Courtney Famiglietti  United States 20:07
2001 Doug Martyn  United States 16:13 Jessica Parrott  United States 18:52
2002 Tim Galebach  United States 16:18 Miae Jacobs  United States 19:02
2003 Matthew Ely  United States 16:14 Melissa Donais  United States 19:03
2004 Phil Shaw  United States 16:18 Melissa Donais  United States 19:04
2005 Harry Norton  United States 16:16 Meaghan Shaw  United States 19:09
2006 Harry Norton  United States 15:52 Katie Twarog  United States 18:46
2007 Harry Norton  United States 15:40 Allison McCabe  United States 18:04
2008 Glenn Randall  United States 15:57 Allison McCabe  United States 18:34
2009 Eric Narcisi  United States 16:31 Allison McCabe  United States 18:11
2010 Kevin Alliette  United States 16:00 Allison McCabe  United States 18:57[10]
2011 Kyle White  United States 17:45[11] Melissa Donais  United States 19:36[11]
2012 Pat Fullerton  United States 15:46 Allison McCabe  United States 17:56[1]
2013 Pat Fullerton  United States 15:08 (course record) Alanna McDonough  United States 19:16[12]
2014 Mike Carleone  United States 16:04 Anna Willard  United States 18:26[13]
2015 Eric McDonald  United States 16:15 Christina Supino  United States 18:37[14]
2016 Neal Darmody  United States 15:37 Allison McCabe  United States 18:32[15]
2017 Neal Darmody and Jacob Johns (Tie)  United States 15:57 Alanna McDonough  United States 19:00[7]
2018 Neal Darmody  United States 15:45 Catherine Beck  United States 18:37[9]

5-kilometer wheelchair

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Year Male winner Female winner
2017 Brian Gauthier  United States 24:26 Katie Adie  United States 34:06[16]

8-kilometer

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Year Male winner Female winner
1988 Ken Pliska  United States Unknown Amy Legacki  United States Unknown
1989 Unknown  United States Unknown Unknown  United States Unknown
1990 Unknown  United States Unknown Unknown  United States Unknown
1991 Unknown  United States Unknown Unknown  United States Unknown
1992 Unknown  United States Unknown Unknown  United States Unknown
1993 Scott Bagley  United States 24:07 Gina Sperry  United States 28:04
1994 George Yiannelis  United States 24:18 Lisa Senatore  United States 28:04
1995 George Yiannelis  United States 24:07 Joan Samuelson  United States 27:39
1996 Dave Dunham  United States 24:38 Lynn Jennings  United States 27:33
1997 Chris Teague  United States 25:00 Lynn Jennings  United States 28:08
1998 Chris Teague  United States 24:18 Terri-Anne McGettrick  United States 28:44
1999 Dave Hinga  United States 24:04 (course record) Terri-Anne McGettrick  United States 28:21
2000 Chris Teague  United States 25:01 Terri-Anne McGettrick  United States 29:41
2001 Michael Smith  United States 24:56 Suzy Walsh  United States 29:29
2002 Dave Hinga  United States 25:19 Kara Haas  United States 29:33
2003 Casey Moulton  United States 24:40 Terri-Anne McGettrick  United States 28:40
2004 Dave Hinga  United States 25:42 Simonetta Piergentili  United States 30:09
2005 Matt Pimental  United States 25:55 Terri-Anne McGettrick  United States 30:38
2006 Patrick Moulton  United States 25:15 Terri-Anne McGettrick Arpin  United States 30:07
2007 Tobias Lundgren  Sweden 25:27 Kim Webster  United States 29:31
2008 Harry Norton  United States 25:24 Kim Webster  United States 29:52
2009 Nate Jenkins  United States 24:44 Joan Samuelson  United States 30:10
2010 Nate Jenkins  United States 24:10[10] Catherine Beck  United States 29:44[10]
2011 Nate Jenkins  United States 24:25 Joan Samuelson  United States 30:21[5]
2012 Nate Jenkins  United States 24:43 Catherine Beck  United States 28:10[1]
2013 Ruben Sanca  Cape Verde 24:19 Kirsten Kasper  United States 27:48[12]
2014 Ruben Sanca  Cape Verde 25:13 Catherine Beck  United States 29:20[13]
2015 Ruben Sanca  Cape Verde 24:34 Catherine Beck  United States 29:08[14]
2016 Ruben Sanca  Cape Verde 24:44 Danielle Poto  United States 30:19[15]
2017 Ruben Sanca  Cape Verde 24:43 Maggie Mullins  United States 29:13[7]
2018 Race cancelled NA NA Race Cancelled NA NA[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Burt, Bill (23 November 2012). "It's official: Feaster Five tops the 10,000 mark". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
  2. ^ http://www.feasterfive.com/Home_Page.htm Archived 2009-11-12 at the Wayback Machine title=Feaster Five Main Page accessdate=2009-11-25 Merrimack Valley Striders
  3. ^ http://www.eagletribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_313023356.html The Lawrence Eagle Tribune Online Feaster Five Road Race is coming 2009-11-25
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "The Eagle Tribune Feaster Five, 2010 Official Program", Eagle Tribune, North Andover, Massachusetts, pp. 4–9, November 2010
  5. ^ a b "Benoit does it again ... she wins". The Eagle-Tribune. Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. November 25, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  6. ^ Cruz, Gabriella (2015-12-01). "Feaster Five drone crash under investigation". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  7. ^ a b c "Feaster Five 2017". Granite State Race Services LLC. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  8. ^ Copeland, Dave (2018-11-20). "Cold Forces Feaster Five To Scale Down Event". Patch.com. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
  9. ^ a b c "Feaster Five 2018". Granite State Race Services LLC. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  10. ^ a b c Bill Burt (November 26, 2010). "Feaster Five breaks record with 10,123 participants". Eagle Tribune. Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  11. ^ a b "5k Top 10 M&F". The Active Network, Inc. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Burt, Bill (2013-11-29). "Bradford's Fullerton shatters mark for Feaster 5K". EagleTribune.com. Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  13. ^ a b Burt, Bill (2014-11-27). "Without a hitch". Eagle-Tribune. Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
  14. ^ a b Burt, Bill (2015-11-27). "Perfect weather for Feaster Five". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  15. ^ a b Burt, Bill (2016-11-25). "Mannequin Challenge hits Feaster Five". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  16. ^ "5kWheelchairs". Retrieved 2017-11-29.
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