Running Legend Burfoot Keeping Manchester Road Race Streak Alive

MANCHESTER, CT — A running legend will continue his record streak for participating in the Manchester Road Race.

Nine-time champion Amby Burfoot will runs in the event for the 58th consecutive year this November. It will, however, be a totally new experience for the former Boston Marathon Champion and renowned author from Mystic.

Because of coronavirus pandemic, the Manchester Road Race is taking place virtually this year. The Manchester Road Race Committee has indicated that anyone who runs in the virtual race will be credited as an official 2020 MRR finisher. The effort will count towards all longevity streaks, most notably Burfoot's.

Runners who register for the Virtual Manchester Road Race will download an app on their smartphones that will permit them to run the MRR's 4.748-mile distance, between November 19 and 25, at any location of their choice. An event map depicting the Manchester Road Race route will be displayed on their smartphones, and the runners will be able to monitor their progress on the actual course as they run.

The names and times of all entrants will be uplinked to MRR officials when they complete the run.

"The Virtual Manchester will be very important to all us streakers, so we are very happy to have the opportunity to log another year and keep the streak alive," Burfoot said. "I don’t think anyone is going to care very much what their time is this year but we're all going to care about putting another (Manchester) race in the history books."

Burfoot, 74, first competed in the MRR in 1963. He won the Turkey Day race nine times between 1968 and 1977, and has had 18 top-25 finishes.

Burfoot, the editor emeritus Runner's Works magazine, said he plans to run the Virtual Manchester Road Race with a small group of his friends.

"We are discussing when and where,: he said. "We may decide that we want to run the real Manchester course, just not on Thanksgiving, but within the assigned dates.”

The longtime president of the race was delighted.

"We are so glad that Amby Burfoot will continue his streak and participate in our virtual road race," said Dr. Tris Carta, the president of the Manchester Road Race Committee. "Amby is one of our great champions, and we are looking forward to next year when he’ll hopefully run down Main Street in his 59th straight MRR on Thanksgiving morning."

Registration for the Virtual Manchester Road Race started began Oct. 1 and will remain open through Nov. 24. On-line entry applications and more information about the event are available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.