This race attracts thousands and thousands of people so I knew I wasn't going to break any record because it's just so damn crowded. It started pouring just as the race began, so I just wanted to get this over with. It took me 5 minutes to get to the starting mat, and it never really opened up until about mile 3. I just enjoyed the spectacle that is the Manchester Road Race: thousands of spectators along the route drinking and cheering and playing music, people of all kinds chugging up Heart Break Hill, splashing through poorly draining streets, runners in costume. I did this race beause I wanted to do something fun and different on Thanksgiving.

Get to the start earlier and try to get a little closer to the front.

There was nothing warm about this warm-down. I was soaked and frozen, and after the race I promptly began walking in the wrong direction to get back to the shuttle pick up. After about a half mile I realized my idiocy and turned around and walked back where I had come from. Once I got to the shuttle pick up area I stood in line for about 20 minutes waiting for a friggin school bus to schlepp my cold wet self back to my car. After a tough drive home (you try driving in wet clothes with fingers that can't move!) I got into a hot bath for a half hour :). I earned my turkey yesterday.


The crowd and the rain, but that was to be expected.


I did this race for fun, and it was fun, and I'll be back next year.