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Boston Billy: Andover is the place to be

By Bill Burt
bburt@eagletribune.com
Published: November 28, 2008

ANDOVER — Bill Rodgers' friend was trying to pry him away for their Thanksgiving Day road trip to Portsmouth, N.H.

It had been more than a half-hour after he completed the five-mile course of the Feaster Five Road Race. But he was in the middle of signing autographs and smiling for pictures. And, of course, talking about one of his favorite races.

He wasn't ready to leave.

"This race reminds me of the Boston Marathon," said Rodgers, referring to the world's most prestigious road race, which he won four times over his illustrious career. "You think I'm kidding. But I'm not.

"This race now has a rich tradition. You've had great runners like Joan Benoit, Lynn Jennings and Andy Palmer," said Rodgers. "But more importantly, you have the other side, the nitty, gritty runners. Look at all of these people. All of them have smiles on their faces."

The 60-year-old Rodgers, who also won four New York City Marathons, has made periodic stops at the Feaster Five over the last 15 years. In fact, his daughter Elise, now 23, ran the Feaster Five as an 8-year-old.

"The fact that you have Dave McGillivray, who is the best race director in the world, obviously helps," said Rodgers. "Every time I'm here it runs smoothly. This isn't a race. It's an event. You consider the charity, Merrimack Valley Hospice, is benefitting as well. How can you beat it?"

He plans on coming back next year. He said he spoke with Joan Benoit on Tuesday and he thinks she'll return to Andover for another Feaster Five visit.

As for Rodgers, you can tell when he's been in Andover on Thanksgiving Day. He leaves with an apple pie, which is given to all participants.

"I love the fact that you get a pie," he said. "That's so cool."

A late rush to enter

Of the record 8,434 entries, race director Dave McGillivray said 2,634 entries came over the final four days, including 715 yesterday morning.

He also said the on-line registration consisted of 85 percent of all entrants.

"We had just enough bibs and 'Champchips,' maybe 25 of each left," said McGillivray. "We also had about 20 pies left. We guessed right again. Maybe it's time to play the lottery."

If anyone still has their Championchip "chip," mail them back to at Dave McGillivray, DMSE, Inc., 77 Bear Hill Road, North Andover, MA 01845.

Turkey hats were in

A year ago, a family from Andover wore "turkey" hats as a sign of unity.

Yesterday, there were more than 100 sightings of turkey hats, which were on sale at the Christmas Tree Shops.

"A few weeks ago I was in the store and saw the hat," said Cindy Cromer, of Andover. "I put it on and wore it around the store. It cost only $5, so I bought it."

Cromer's son, Mitch Nesteruq, 8, wasn't keen on wearing one.

"He was embarrassed that I wore it," she said. "I got a lot of compliments the entire way."

Santa delivered candy canes

Ed Cleckner, of Haymarket, Va., walked his fourth Feaster Five yesterday. For this race he wanted to do something different and brought his Santa Claus suit and delivered 200 candy canes to children along the route.

Cleckner has had the suit for about a dozen years and wears it for special occasions.

"I wanted to do something different this year and brought it here," said Cleckner, who had a sack over his back with the candy canes. "It was great seeing the kids' faces. I had a ball."

Cleckner said the Santa suit has special meaning for him.

"I proposed to my wife Carol in it," he said.

Local celebs make Feaster visits

The Feaster Five has a long tradition of bringing out local celebrities. Yesterday was no different.

Among those here were WEEI's Gerry Callahan (43:52 in 5-mile) of Andover, WBZ-TV's Dan Roche (40:15 in 5K) of Andover, Ch. 7's Steve Cooper (27:53 in 5K) of North Andover, and long-time WBZ-TV weatherman Barry Burbank (41:59 in 5-mile) of North Andover.

They also brought their families.

Callahan's son Jackson and wife Tracy, Roche's wife Pam, son Harry and daughter Victoria, and Cooper's wife Joann and twin boys, Ben and John were seen on the course.

Other celebrities included the famed father-son team of Dick and Ricky Hoyt (25:42 in 5K), Boston Marathon announcer Tom Grilk (44:05 in 5-mile) of Lynnfield and WEEI program director Steve Ciaccio (43:57 in 5-mile) of Winchester.

12 minute start for some

You can tell how big a race is by the amount of time it takes for all of the participants to cross the starting line. It took 12 minutes for everyone to reach the start, which is about three minutes short of the first finishers in the 5K race.

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