The 43rd running of the Port Washington Thanksgiving Day 5 Mile Run, co-presented by the Community Chest of Port Washington and the Town of North Hempstead, will once again take place on Thanksgiving morning at 8:30 a.m. Runners, walkers and spectators take part in this annual event as a highlight of the Thanksgiving holiday. Family, friends and neighbors are invited to join together to celebrate the giving spirit, donating their race fees to the Community Chest of Port Washington.
“The town is excited to co-present this iconic local event,” said Councilwoman Dina DeGiorgio. “Runners of all levels participate for the well-being of community residents. It’s an event the town is very proud to support.”
The race will be held on Thursday, Nov. 22, with a start adjacent to Manorhaven Beach Park (Manorhaven Boulevard at Edgewood Road) in Port Washington. The start time is 8:30 a.m. As this is a USATF sanctioned race, baby strollers, skateboards, bicycles and dogs are not permitted. The run is held in all weather unless the police close the roads. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, the run will not be rescheduled.
Early bird registration fees are $35 for adults and $25 for ages 9 through 21. Visit www.portchest.org/calendar for a link to register online. Fees for the race go up on Nov. 20 and the race is capped at 3,000 runners, so early registration is strongly recommended.
All registrants receive a long-sleeved t-shirt and a race medal as they cross the finish line. Awards based on gun time will be given to the first, second and third place finishers in each age division, male and female and to the top three male and female athletes overall.
Runners and walkers alike can enter in a pie raffle at race packet pick up and 100 lucky winners will go home with a farm-fresh pie courtesy of the Peter & Jeri Dejana Family Foundation. Om Sweet Om Yoga and Yoga Life jointly warm up the crowd with a race stretch at 8 a.m.
“Runners’ fees, donations and our incredibly generous sponsors make this race our largest fundraiser of the year and enable us to keep grant funding at current levels,” said Julie Meer Harnick, executive director for the Community Chest. “The large participation in this event typifies the generous hearts of the people of Port and others. It’s a symbol of giving thanks and Thanksgiving.”
The Community Chest gives grants to 28 nonprofit organizations who serve Port Washington residents and provides low cost rent to nonprofit organizations in their building.
