Registration Underway for 2015 Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day 5k

DERBY-SHELTON--  It was fourteen years ago which seemed like yesterday when a small group of people decided to bring some attention to a well known local historical figure, Commodore Isaac  Hull, Commander of the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides)during the battle of 1812 who had lived in both Derby and Shelton.  A road race honoring him on Thanksgiving Day was developed and the committee was hoping to get at least one hundred runners.  The start/finish line is at the Farmer’s Market along the Shelton Riverwalk then crosses into Derby along the Derby Greenway and turns around to return with the race starting at 8am. 

Three hundred signed up that first year and it had not been under 300 runners since and now has a cap of 750 runners.  That first race was very sunny but very cold but there were young and old alike starting their Thanksgiving morning with a brisk run and as promised by the organizers were finished before the start of the local High School football games.  

The 2015 registration has been open for less than a month and there are over 300 runners already signed up. To sign up or to see how one can be a sponsor or a volunteer please check out http://electronicvalley.org/derby/HullRace/index.htm  All registration is done online at this site.  If one does not have access to a computer at home they can visit their local library to get online.

Presently, those 750 runners also include families, which is this year’s theme and so far has runners coming from 8 states and D.C.   The Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day 5k touts the best “Race Goodie Bag” in the area and local merchants include items like coupons and other discounts and area merchants and businesses sponsor space on the back of the race tee shirt that has also been sponsored by the flagship sponsor, Greco and Haines each year.  Businesses also supply free raffle prizes so although not everyone will win the race, every participant will have a chance to win a raffle prize.

The race is also one of the most photographed races in the area and chances are most participants have been captured on film or video with the video of the race usually available online later that night so the traveling runners can share their experience with family and friends back home. 

If thinking about starting your Thanksgiving morning running this race or volunteering this year, don’t delay sign up today or come on down to the start finish line or anywhere along the course that morning to cheer the runners on.   
(This is a press release from Markanthony Izzo)