Manchester Road race Honoring Front-Line Workers For 2020

MANCHESTER, CT — The coronavirus is the reason for shutting down the on-course traditions of the Manchester Road Race for 2020 and race organizers have turned to the virtual edition to honor those fighting it.

The Manchester Road Race Committee announced this week today that it would continue its decades-long tradition of annually naming an honorary chairperson and named the community's health care professionals, first responders and essential workers for the distinction.

The move was made "in recognition of their heroism and selflessness during the pandemic," committee members said.

"They are physicians, nurses, and healthcare providers," according to the announcement. "They are first responders, government workers, delivery drivers, teachers and store employees. They are all the essential workers who have been working daily on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic to keep us safe and look after our well-being. They are all heroes, and the Manchester Road Race Committee will be remembering them with gratitude this November."

Manchester Road Race President Dr. Tris Carta said it the proper move.

"In years past, we've selected former champions, Olympic medalists and prominent citizens who made important contributions to our race to serve as our honorary chairpersons," Carta said. "But this year is obviously different due to the Covid-19 epidemic, and we wanted to symbolically recognize and thank these essential personnel for all they are doing to keep us safe and well."

Carta said that many of the race’s longtime volunteers are medical professionals, first responders and essential workers. He also pointed to the support that the road race has always received from Manchester’s police, fire, public works and emergency medical personnel, as well as from financial sponsors such as Manchester Memorial Hospital and Pratt & Whitney, whose employees are all essential workers.

"Our road race would not exist if it were not for all of them," Carta said.

Carta added that because the pandemic has prevented his committee from staging the road race as an on-site event this Thanksgiving, it will not be possible to schedule a public event or ceremony honoring the essential workers this year.

"But we plan to do something special to recognize and thank all of them next year, when we will hopefully gather on Main Street for the 85th running of the Manchester Road Race," Carta said. “They are all heroes, and we will never forget what they have done for our community.".

The Virtual Manchester Road Race will be held from through Nov. 25. More information about the race, and on-line entry applications, are available online at www.manchesterroadrace.com.