ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR 26TH FEASTER FIVE THANKSGIVING DAY ROAD RACE UNDERWAY AT FEASTERFIVE.COM

Iconic family-focused road race – one of the New England’s largest with field of 10,000+ – provides an apple pie to all finishers

ANDOVER, Mass  Registration for the Thanksgiving Day Feaster Five Road Race November 28 – one of New England’s largest and most festive running events – is underway at www.feasterfive.com.

Given the growing popularity of the event, Race Director Dave McGillivray of DMSE Sports, who also directs the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, New Balance Falmouth Road Race, and TD Beach to Beacon 10K in Maine, advises runners to sign up soon to secure a spot at the starting line for either the 5-mile or 5K.

“The Feaster Five brings participants from throughout New England,” McGillivray said. “It’s a popular, family-friendly event, and each year we have more and more runners who want to participate, so signing up early makes sense in case we reach our limit.”

Race officials took 10,720 registrations in 2012, which resulted in a record-setting 9,297 runners crossing the finish line.

The Feaster Five is a Thanksgiving Day tradition for a growing number of families and groups of friends across the region. The mood is festive and every race finisher goes home with an old-fashioned apple pie provided by Table Talk, a long-time New England favorite.

“Entries are coming in at a record pace already,” said Tom Licciardello of the Merrimack Valley Striders. “We are at double the rate of the record-breaking 2012 field, so participants should sign up soon to take advantage of the early registration discount and to guarantee the commemorative race shirt.”

Hosted by the Merrimack Valley Striders 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. 28).  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 will benefit the Ironstone Farm, Merrimack Valley YMCA and the Merrimack Valley Striders.

The race offers a “family-friendly” early-entry discount fee of $30 for both the 5K and 5-mile races through Oct. 31 for entrants over 12 and $20 for those under 12. The Kids Fun Run entry fee is $5, regardless of when sign up occurs.  Find more information about the race and register at www.FeasterFive.com.

Among the VIPs, Feaster Five will again welcome New England running legends  Rick and Dick Hoyt, Joan Samuelson, and Bill Rodgers at the 2013 Feaster Five Road Race with meet and greet opportunities at the Expo during race week.