Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan will serve as grand marshal of this week’s 2015 Feaster Five Thanksgiving Day Road Race in Andover.
Hanigan welcome kids and adults Wednesday as they pick up their bibs for the race and sign gloves and baseballs from 3 to 6 p.m. at the race’s Expo in the Sakowich Center at Merrimack College. He joins running legends Joan Benoit Samuelson, Bill Rodgers, Team Hoyt and John Young at the meet and greet event.
The Feaster Five’s 5-mile and 5K races will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Kid’s Fun Run at 7:45 a.m., Thanksgiving morning, in Brickstone Square. Registration and more information, including a schedule of events, is available online at www.feasterfive.com.
Hosted by the Merrimack Valley Striders and managed by DMSE Sports, the Feaster Five is a holiday tradition. Every finisher at this Thanksgiving Day race goes home with an old-fashioned apple pie provided by Table Talk, a long-time New England favorite, hence the slogan “Will Run for Pie” found on t-shirts available for sale, officials said.
Race director is Dave McGillivray, who also directs the BAA Boston Marathon and was recently named by Runner’s World as one of the 50 most influential people in road racing.
Race proceeds benefit the Merrimack Valley YMCA, Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm, Bellesini Academy and the Merrimack Valley Striders.