Manchester Road Race to Be Held as Scheduled

Despite the snow, the Manchester Road Race is a go for Thanksgiving Day.

But the weather is making it more difficult for organizers to get everything ready. Nearly 15,000 people are expected to race starting at 10 a.m.

“The biggest challenge seems to be the number of people that we require to setup our race and those people are going to be pulled away because they have to go and plow snow for the people of Manchester,” said Tris Carta, president of the Manchester Road Race committee.

Public works crews will go straight from snow removal to race setup. Some are expected to work 30 hours straight to get everything ready for runners and spectators.

“We’re going to make sure the road is cleared of snow. The runners are going to have a great experience down here in Manchester. One of the challenges we’re going to have is getting the sidewalks cleared,” said Mark Carlino, director of Manchester Public Works.

Because town workers are tied up dealing with the snow, race organizers expect to now have to pay extra for help with setup. That could impact the amount of money given to charities from the race proceeds.

“If expenses are a little more this year we might not be able to give out so much at the end,” said Carta.

Organizers say the race will only be cancelled if the governor declares a State of Emergency for Thursday. They’re asking people to arrive early, especially because parking might be an issue.

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