MANCHESTER, NH – On Thursday, August 11, the annual Cigna/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race will be held again in Manchester.
In its 24th year, the race is the largest road race in New Hampshire, and one of the largest 5K road races in New England. Thousands of elite and recreational runners, walkers and wheelchair entrants will stride through downtown Manchester as the running of the 24th Annual Cigna/Elliot Corporate Road Race gets underway at about 6:20 p.m.
In addition to the approximately 5,000 walkers and runners who participate each year, the event draws spectators from around New England who gather along the race route to cheer on the participants. The event draws extensive media coverage as athletes from around the globe come to New Hampshire to participate in the race – the Cigna/Elliot 5K is the fastest race in New Hampshire, recording a sub-14 minute finish in 2003.
Veterans Park is the official race “headquarters,” where the crowd of thousand collects prior to the firing of the starting gun. Participants will begin arriving in the park after work with a critical mass assembling by 5:30 p.m. After the race, participants again reconvene in the park for refreshments and the awards ceremony.
Due to the volume of runners and staff working the race, motorists should anticipate encountering significant road closures and delays on Elm Street and in the surrounding area, according to Manchester Police, who have released the following advisory:
In order to accommodate the set-up of the race, Merrimack Street will be closed from Elm Street to Chestnut Street at noon, and Elm Street between Stark Street & Mechanic Street will be closed at 3 p.m. The race will require additional street closures on Elm Street from Lake Avenue to Carpenter Street, and on Canal Street/River Road from Ready Street to Granite Street at 6 p.m. This will also include temporarily closing the side streets between Elm Street/River Road/Canal Street until the runners have completed the race.
Both the Amoskeag Bridge and Bridge Street Bridge will also be closed during the race.
Areas of Merrimack Street, Central Street and Elm Street around Veterans Park will be posted “NO PARKING” on Wednesday night (the day before the race.) Areas of W est Merrimack Street, Franklin Street, Elm Street, Mechanic Street, and Amherst Street will also be posted “NO PARKING” to accommodate the Start and Finish Lines for the race. The No Parking Ban will remain in effect until all road race activity is completed.
Motorists leaving the downtown area or traveling into Manchester are asked to allow extra time and seek alternate routes to their destinations.
