Feaster Five Road Race facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Feaster Five Road Race
Date	Thanksgiving Day
Location	Andover, Massachusetts, United States
Event type	Road
Distance	5 miles (8K certified) and 5 kilometers (3.1 mi)
Primary sponsor	Merrimack Valley Striders
Beneficiary	The Merrimack Valley YMCA, Bellesini Academy, Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm, Merrimack Valley Striders, and Groundwork Lawrence
Established	November 24, 1988
Participants	10,720 (in 2012)

The Feaster Five Thanksgiving Day Road Race, more commonly called the Feaster Five, is a 5-mile road race held annually in Andover, Massachusetts, United States, on the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day. It is one of the Bay State's largest five mile races (with an estimated 10,720 participants in 2012). The race has been held every Thanksgiving morning since 1988, and is one of a number of races across the nation known colloquially as a "Turkey Trot."

Proceeds from the race benefit Merrimack Valley Striders Scholarship Program, the Bellesini Academy, Groundworks Lawrence and the Merrimack Valley YMCA.

Children ages 2–12 can participate in a shorter, one-kilometer race called The Kids' K.

History

1980s

On November 24, 1988 the first Feaster Five was held, and approximately 300 runners finished. The first men's winner was Ken Pliska, and Amy Legacki was the first women's winner.

The second race in 1989 almost did not happen because of an early nor'easter that deposited more than six inches of heavy wet snow on the course at the start of the race. Approximately 400 runners completed the race in near whiteout conditions. In 1990, apple pies were given out to all runners, a tradition that continues every year.

1990s

In 1992, Johnny Kelley appeared as an honored guest at the start of the race. This was the first year that walkers were officially allowed into the race. In 1996, Lynn Jennings, the winner of the bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics for the 10,000 meters, placed first in the women's division.

2000s

In 2000, FRID timing was used for the first time to obtain a more accurate time for each runner.

In 2004, actor Matt Damon ran the race along with his father Kent.

In 2005, women participants outnumbered men for the first time. In 2009, more than 9,147 runners and walkers registered for the race, and the first ever women's Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson won first place in the woman's division at the age of 52.

2010s

In 2011, Senator Scott Brown officially started the 24th Feaster Five Road Race.

Just before the start of the 2015 race, a small drone hit a tree branch near the start of the race and crashed into the crowd. Its rotors injured two runners with small lacerations.

The 2017 race was the 30th anniversary, and the first 9,000 entrants were guaranteed a hoodie-style race shirt. The youngest runner was one year old, and the oldest was 93, with a total of 9,966 total entrants. Ruben Senca won the five-mile race for the fifth time.

Due to record-setting cold weather, the 2018 race organizers were forced to cancel the five-mile race and the kids' run, leaving only run the five-kilometer race for all participants. Of the 8,500 registered runners, nearly 4,000 took part in the race. The 2018 race raised more than $75,000 for the five charitable partners.

2020s

A virtual race was held in November 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Live races will resume in 2021.

Course description

The Feaster Five starting line in Andover, Massachusetts in 2015

8-kilometer course

The 8-kilometer race begins on Main Street at the intersection of Route 28 and Route 133. The first mile is mostly uphill and goes through the historic Andover Center. The course then turns left of Morton Street, left on Bartlett Street, and then a right onto Chestnut Street. It then makes a left onto Pasho Street. a right onto Summer Street, a left onto Washington Street, a left onto Elm Street, a right on Maple Street, and then a quick left turn on Walnut Avenue. When the runner take a right onto High Street they join up with the runners from the 5-kilometer race. The 8-kilometer runners keep to the right side of the street while the 5-kilometer runners keep to the left. The race then proceeds to a left on Haverhill Street for approximately 1/2 mile, then makes a right turn on York Street and uphill to the finish at the Brickstone Square parking lot. There are typically stands in the Brickstone Square parking lot giving food and drinks to the runners, including apple pie.

5-kilometer course

The 5-kilometer race begins at the same time and place as the 8-kilometer race, but takes a left turn at the top of the hill on Elm Street. The runners then make a left turn onto High Street and later merge with the runners from the 8-kilometer race at the corner of High and Walnut Streets. The race then proceeds to a left on Haverhill Street for approximately 1/2 mile, then makes a right turn on York Street and uphill to the finish at the Brickstone Square parking lot.

Past winners

5-kilometer

Year	Male winner			Female winner
1995	Michael Cronin	United States	16:41	Mary Donahue	United States	18:20
1996	Guy Sterns	United States	15:51	Kara Molloy	United States	19:23
1997	Dan Leboeuf	United States	16:42	Jennifer Lincoln	United States	18:30
1998	Matthew Ely	United States	16:12	Jennifer Lincoln-Toomey	United States	17:44 (course record)
1999	Matt St. Germaine	United States	15:44	Kara Molloy	United States	18:43
2000	Matthew Ely	United States	15:55	Courtney Famiglietti	United States	20:07
2001	Doug Martyn	United States	16:13	Jessica Parrott	United States	18:52
2002	Tim Galebach	United States	16:18	Miae Jacobs	United States	19:02
2003	Matthew Ely	United States	16:14	Melissa Donais	United States	19:03
2004	Phil Shaw	United States	16:18	Melissa Donais	United States	19:04
2005	Harry Norton	United States	16:16	Meaghan Shaw	United States	19:09
2006	Harry Norton	United States	15:52	Katie Twarog	United States	18:46
2007	Harry Norton	United States	15:40	Allison McCabe	United States	18:04
2008	Glenn Randall	United States	15:57	Allison McCabe	United States	18:34
2009	Eric Narcisi	United States	16:31	Allison McCabe	United States	18:11
2010	Kevin Alliette	United States	16:00	Allison McCabe	United States	18:57
2011	Kyle White	United States	17:45	Melissa Donais	United States	19:36
2012	Pat Fullerton	United States	15:46	Allison McCabe	United States	17:56
2013	Pat Fullerton	United States	15:08 (course record)	Alanna McDonough	United States	19:16
2014	Mike Carleone	United States	16:04	Anna Willard	United States	18:26
2015	Eric McDonald	United States	16:15	Christina Supino	United States	18:37
2016	Neal Darmody	United States	15:37	Allison McCabe	United States	18:32
2017	Neal Darmody and Jacob Johns (Tie)	United States	15:57	Alanna McDonough	United States	19:00
2018	Neal Darmody	United States	15:45	Catherine Beck	United States	18:37

5-kilometer wheelchair

Year	Male winner			Female winner
2017	Brian Gauthier	United States	24:26	Katie Adie	United States	34:06

8-kilometer

Year	Male winner			Female winner
1988	Ken Pliska	United States	Unknown	Amy Legacki	United States	Unknown
1989	Unknown	United States	Unknown	Unknown	United States	Unknown
1990	Unknown	United States	Unknown	Unknown	United States	Unknown
1991	Unknown	United States	Unknown	Unknown	United States	Unknown
1992	Unknown	United States	Unknown	Unknown	United States	Unknown
1993	Scott Bagley	United States	24:07	Gina Sperry	United States	28:04
1994	George Yiannelis	United States	24:18	Lisa Senatore	United States	28:04
1995	George Yiannelis	United States	24:07	Joan Samuelson	United States	27:39
1996	Dave Dunham	United States	24:38	Lynn Jennings	United States	27:33
1997	Chris Teague	United States	25:00	Lynn Jennings	United States	28:08
1998	Chris Teague	United States	24:18	Terri-Anne McGettrick	United States	28:44
1999	Dave Hinga	United States	24:04 (course record)	Terri-Anne McGettrick	United States	28:21
2000	Chris Teague	United States	25:01	Terri-Anne McGettrick	United States	29:41
2001	Michael Smith	United States	24:56	Suzy Walsh	United States	29:29
2002	Dave Hinga	United States	25:19	Kara Haas	United States	29:33
2003	Casey Moulton	United States	24:40	Terri-Anne McGettrick	United States	28:40
2004	Dave Hinga	United States	25:42	Simonetta Piergentili	United States	30:09
2005	Matt Pimental	United States	25:55	Terri-Anne McGettrick	United States	30:38
2006	Patrick Moulton	United States	25:15	Terri-Anne McGettrick Arpin	United States	30:07
2007	Tobias Lundgren	Sweden	25:27	Kim Webster	United States	29:31
2008	Harry Norton	United States	25:24	Kim Webster	United States	29:52
2009	Nate Jenkins	United States	24:44	Joan Samuelson	United States	30:10
2010	Nate Jenkins	United States	24:10	Catherine Beck	United States	29:44
2011	Nate Jenkins	United States	24:25	Joan Samuelson	United States	30:21
2012	Nate Jenkins	United States	24:43	Catherine Beck	United States	28:10
2013	Ruben Sanca	Cape Verde	24:19	Kirsten Kasper	United States	27:48
2014	Ruben Sanca	Cape Verde	25:13	Catherine Beck	United States	29:20
2015	Ruben Sanca	Cape Verde	24:34	Catherine Beck	United States	29:08
2016	Ruben Sanca	Cape Verde	24:44	Danielle Poto	United States	30:19
2017	Ruben Sanca	Cape Verde	24:43	Maggie Mullins	United States	29:13
2018	Race cancelled	NA	NA	Race Cancelled	NA	NA