“When we got home from that race that night, Rick wrote on the computer, 'Dad, when I run it feels like my disability disappears.' ”
Dick Hoyt
Until his death in 2021, Dick competed in countless marathons with his son, Rick Hoyt, who is wheelchair-bound with cerebral palsy. (My inspiration for getting out there.)
Waking up in the half-dark on a bone-chilling November morning in New England to join thousands of people to run or walk for charity and a store-bought pie brings fond memories? You bet.
I still miss the camaraderie of meeting up with friends on the corner of Main Street in Andover Massachusetts near the start line of the Feaster Five Road Races on Thanksgiving morning. I don’t miss the races because they’ve ended. 2025 will be the 38th annual, and the event remains the largest Thanksgiving Day Road Race in Massachusetts. We just haven’t been there in person since we moved to Florida.
My husband started the tradition for our family when he ran in the 1993 race and came home with a souvenir white sweatshirt and an apple pie. He continued running most years until 2017, the year before our move. During that time, he won or placed in the top three of his age category many times.
I started joining him in the early 2000s, but mostly run-walking with a friend, while he ran with friends and occasionally our daughter. She made it fun by joining some of the costume-wearing runners. One year, she was the Grinch and another time, she was Jody the Elf. By that time, the heavy souvenir sweatshirts were replaced with long-sleeve shirts in bright colors and breathable fabric. We always registered early so we would be among the first five thousand to be assured of a shirt. And we all received apple pies after the finish line.
The first Feaster Five was held on November 24, 1988, and approximately 300 runners finished. By 2012, the number of participants was over ten thousand!
The fun actually starts a few days before the race, because there is a Race Expo at the Andover-North Andover YMCA with vendors and sponsor booths where you pick up your bib and race swag.
Even though the weather on Thanksgiving Day in New England can be unpredictable, the Feaster Five goes on rain or shine or snow. The second race in 1989 almost did not happen because of an early nor’easter, but 400 runners completed the race in near whiteout conditions! We experienced some frigid blue-sky days, as well as wet and slushy ones, but we dressed in layers and made the best of it. One year, we arrived back home so cold and wet, we warmed up with post-race drinks of potent Italian Grappa.
It's a family friendly event with a kids’ fun run starting at 7:45 am and a 5 mile race and 5K run/walk starting at 8:30 am. People start getting into position much earlier, runners at the front in groups based on estimated speed, followed by walkers who include people pushing baby strollers and walking with leashed dogs.
One of the highlights of the race each year, is the participation by celebrity guests like actor Matt Damon and Senator Scott Brown, as well as world-class marathoners and Olympians like Johnny Kelley (Berlin 1936 and London 1948), Bill Rodgers (Montreal 1976), Joan Benoit Samuelson (Los Angeles 1984), and Lynn Jennings (Barcelona 1992).
The last race we did in Andover in 2017 was the 30th anniversary, and the first 9,000 entrants were guaranteed a hoodie -style race shirt. I still have mine. The youngest runner that year was one year old, and the oldest was 93, with a total of 9,966 total entrants.
Our last Feaster Five was a virtual one in 2020 during Covid. We registered online and walked five miles near our home in Florida. After the documentation was submitted, we received medals of participation. I had to make my own pie, however.