It was a day to give thanks and to give back as over 7,000 runners and walkers laced up their sneakers for the 36th annual Andover Feaster Five Thanksgiving road race. At an event that has become synonymous with Thanksgiving in New England, participants came together not just for a run but for a moment to remember and to foster community spirit. Former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara energetically kicked off the race, which organizers tout as the largest Thanksgiving Day road race in Massachusetts according to WHDH.
In the spirit of the holiday, the Feaster Five event was brimming with family-friendly festivities, including a 5 mile race, a 5K run/walk, and a special kids fun run aptly named Sidney’s Rainbow Run. This newly named kids' run aimed to definitely keep alive the loving memory of Sidney Mae Olson, a 5-year-old tragically killed by a tractor-trailer in May. "It’s going to be a celebration of who she was, what she stood for, her family," race director David McGillivray told WHDH in a heartwarming tribute.
The run wasn't just for the athletes, but for everyone who wanted to feel connected. "People are here to be with family," McGillivray said in a statement obtained by WHDH. As the Thanksgiving feast awaited at home, each Feaster Five finisher would not leave empty-handed; a Table Talk Apple Pie was the tasty reward for their efforts. And for those with luck on their side, every 25th finisher snagged a $20 Whirlaway Sports Center gift certificate as reported by the event’s official website.
The event also offered a slice of hope. Proceeds from the Feaster Five supported multiple local causes, including the Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund, established to nurture safer neighborhoods and offer children educational opportunities. And in the way she loved, Sidney's legacy continued to color the community. "For her fifth birthday party, she asked for a rainbow birthday party because it was all the colors of her friends," her father, Eric Olson, recounted during a WHDH interview, reflecting on his daughter's inclusive and loving nature.
The Andover community also welcomed participants to join a free training program led by coaches with over 50 years of combined experience. The program, details of which were mentioned on the Feaster Five website, aimed to properly prepare enthusiasts and novices alike for the main event, warming up hearts as much as muscles on the Thanksgiving course. It was more than a race; it was a confluence of memories, aspirations, and the enduring spirit of a little girl who loved rainbows, as well as the love of a community coming together as one colorful tapestry of resilience and joy.
