Feaster Five Thanksgiving Day Road Race Features Meet and Greet with Running Legends Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Team Hoyt

State Sen. Barbara L’Italien to serve as Grand Marshal of Nov. 24 road race, one of New England’s largest running events and featuring an apple pie for every finisher

ANDOVER, Mass. (November 14, 2016) – The annual Thanksgiving Day Feaster Five Road Race will feature a meet and greet session with running legends Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Team Hoyt the day before the race on Nov. 23 at the Expo and Bib Pickup.

Race officials also announced that State Senator Barbara L'Italien will serve as Grand Marshal of this year’s Feaster Five. She was recently re-elected to a second term, serving the 2nd Essex and Middlesex District.

Rodgers and Samuelson will be featured from 4 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 23 and Team Hoyt from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Number Pickup & Expo Nov. 21-23 in the newly renovated Andover/North Andover YMCA.

Samuelson, winner of the first women’s Olympic Marathon in 1984, continues to be an inspiration for women runners around the world. Rodgers is a former American marathon record holder best known for winning the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon four times each. Team Hoyt (www.teamhoyt.com) is the inspirational team of father Dick and son Rick Hoyt, who has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic. For 39 years, the pair has competed in some of the most grueling athletic events imaginable with Dick pushing Rick in his wheelchair. They will be joined by Bryan Lyons, another member of Team Hoyt.

Registration continues at www.feasterfive.com for the 29^th edition of the popular, family-friendly race. Approximately 10,000 runners are expected. The event, a Thanksgiving Day tradition for families and groups of friends across the region, will again provide an old-fashioned apple pie from Table Talk, a long-time New England favorite, to every finisher.

Hosted by the Merrimack Valley Striders (MVS) and managed by DMSE Sports, the Feaster Five Road Race’s 5-mile and 5K races will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Kid’s Fun Run at 7:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.  All three races – which welcome walkers as well – begin near Brickstone Square on Main St. in Andover at the corner of Route 133 and Route 28.

Proceeds from the race benefit the Merrimack Valley YMCA, Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm, Bellesini Academy and the Merrimack Valley Striders.

For those who intend to walk the course, the Feaster Five will continue a tradition started last year by again offering a dedicated ‘walker lane’ – a rarity for competitive road races. Last year, about 3,000 participants preferred the safety of the walker lane, making it a popular new addition to the event.

The 2016 Feaster Five will again feature bands and music along the course, digital clocks posted at each mile, and holiday refreshments following the race.

In addition, every 50^th runner in the 5K or 5 mile will receive a $25 gift certificate to Whirlaway Sports, and every child in the kid’s race will receive a medal.

In addition to Samuelson, Rodgers and Team Hoyt, other VIPs who will take part in the Feaster Five include:

• Ruben Sanca - 2012 U.S. Olympian at 5,000m
• John Young - Physically Challenged Ironman Triathlete and Marathoner
• Dan Roche - WBZ Sports Anchor
• Steve Cooper - WHDH News Reporter
• Barry Burbank - WBZ Meteorologist
• Gerry Callahan - WEEI Talk Show Host
• Tom Grilk - BAA Executive Director
• Lou Peters - Merrimack Valley Strider for 37 years (age 92)
• Esther Pelletier - Merrimack Valley Strider, swimmer, triathlete (age 91)
• Glen Johnson - Senior Advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry
• Fred Doyle - Athletics East

To learn more about the race and to register, go to the race’s website at www.FeasterFive.com. Once runners or walkers have registered, they can update their details via the www.myevents.active.com link on the website.

Volunteers also are needed. Detailed information about how to sign up to help on race day can be found on the volunteer page at www.feasterfive.com/Volunteer or by e-mailing Crissy Licciardello at crissyL26@yahoo.com. 

In addition to Schneider Electric, the Feaster Five’s Presenting Sponsor, Whirlaway Sports Center is also returning as a Gold Level sponsor. To become a sponsor, contact dmse@dmsesports.com.

The non-profit Merrimack Valley Striders was founded in 1979 to encourage and enhance running at all levels – from beginners to seasoned marathoners to members who run to improve their health. Though founded in the Merrimack Valley north of Boston, the running club has members from as far away as Florida and Arizona. For additional information, visit www.mvsruns.com.

Founded by Dave McGillivray in 1981, DMSE Sports is a leader in sports event management, specializing in creating, marketing and producing mass participatory athletic events throughout the U.S. and abroad. In addition to the Feaster Five, DMSE manages the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, the TD Beach to Beacon in Maine, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod, the Finish at the 50 at Patriot Place, the Across the Bay 10k in Annapolis, Md., the Bellin Run in Green Bay, Wis., and the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, among others. For more info, visit www.dmsesports.com.

#  #  #

Here is more news and information about DMSE Sports.