It’s too late to register, but spectators are always welcome. If you’d rather watch from home, this year’s 22nd Annual Cigna/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race on Aug. 14 will be televised live on WMUR-TV.
Did you know: It’s one of the largest 5K road races in New England, drawing as many as 5,000 of elite and recreational runners, walkers and wheelchair entrants who will stride through downtown Manchester.
Race begins as 6:20 p.m.
Veteran’s Park is the official race “headquarters” and 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 re-convene in the park for refreshments and the awards ceremony.
Take a virtual run through the course below, via YouTube:
For motorists and those who might be affected by road closures, here’s the scoop from Manchester Police:
Due to the volume of runners and staff working the race motorists should anticipate encountering significant road closures and delays on Elm and Canal streets, and River Road as well as the surrounding areas.
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 is scheduled to begin at 6:20 p.m. and 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 and 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 West 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.
