Get Ready To Smile Over A New Twist At The Manchester Road Race

MANCHESTER, CT — The 89th running of the Manchester Road Race has an added twist at the famed Mile 4 marker.

It's the Smile Board.

Mile 4 is known as the location — in the middle of a straight, flat section of the course — where many runners make their final strategic decisions before the tricky and often grueling downhill finish.

But the Smile Board is adding a little levity and perhaps some inspiration to the blue Mile 4 stripe.

Runners, family members and fans can go to the race website — www.manchesterroadrace.com — click on the "Cheer Board" tab and leave a personalized message. A timing mat will be placed near the Mile 4 stripe, pick up the runner via the chip in the bib and transmit the cheer on a 10-foot screen.

Hartford HealthCare is sponsoring the board.

"It's really going to add a fun element to a part of the course that is not only key, but can be stressful for some runners," Manchester Road Race President Tris Carta said at Thursday's annual pre-race Early Yost News Conference. "And It will make a lot of people smile."

The 89th Manchester Road Race is slated for Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m. It is staged on a 4.737-mile course through central Manchester that starts and finishes on Main Street in front of St. James Church.

More details, and online registration for the race are available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.