Changes are coming to the annual Thanksgiving Day Run for Fun in Montauk.
John Rooney, East Hampton Town’s superintendent of recreation, told the town board on Tuesday that the popularity of the race, proceeds of which are donated to the town’s food pantries, has caused logistical difficulties and increased costs, thus decreasing the amount that can be donated.
“Back in 2006 we had just under 200 people registered, and last year we hit just under 1,000 registered,” Mr. Rooney told the board. “Because it grows, it’s great for the community, it’s great for our local food pantries who receive the net proceeds from the town for the race. But at the same time, we need to make some adjustments because of these changes.” This year’s race will be the 47th, he said.
Since 2016 the entry fee for the race has remained $10 for preregistration and $15 for day-of-race registration, which Mr. Rooney said is well below similar races in the region. Entrants are “shocked” at the nominal fee, he said. “So going with $20, I think, is reasonable. That would be helpful.”
At the same time, “Expenses have been increasing with the growth of the race,” he said, including a 32-percent increase in 2022 over the previous year. The cost of T-shirts, hundreds of which are typically given to participants, almost doubled last year, he said.
“We have a timer. They kept the price close to where we had it, but with the increase in registrants . . . that changes how much you pay. As the numbers go up, that fee goes up.” Medals must also be bought, he said. “All these different things factor into what it costs to run a race, and as it grows it gets more and more expensive.”
He told the board that, while volunteers help during the race, town staff must also be paid. “We had also done more with advertising starting last year, and we’ll probably keep doing that going forward as well,” he said.
“I think changing the fee makes a lot of sense,” Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said. “You’re talking about 200 people running in Montauk versus 1,000-plus. That’s a lot more town resources. Our Buildings and Grounds Department, our police, whatever emergency services, etc.”
In 2019, expenses were just under 57 percent of the money taken in. In 2021, the figure was just under 53 percent, but last year it jumped to 65.8 percent of gross receipts. (There was no race in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.) This impacts the amount of money raised, and thus what can be donated to the food pantries.
Day-of-race registration has also become problematic, Mr. Rooney said. “It was great when the race was small and quaint and local, you come down and sign up. Now, with the amount of people we get in the morning, it’s so overwhelming. We’ve started the last two races late because of just getting through registration. It’s rough in the morning.”
“That makes complete sense,” Mr. Van Scoyoc said, “especially given the size of the event now.” It was decided that preregistration would now be required, and day-of-race registration abandoned. “We’ll just need to make sure we’re advertising ‘preregistration necessary, there is no onsite registration day-of,’ “ he said.
Donations would still be accepted on the day of the run and for a few days after it, Mr. Rooney said.
Councilman David Lys suggested a sign, at the entrance to Montauk’s commercial center before Thanksgiving, featuring a QR code for preregistration and an explanation of the changes Mr. Rooney and the board agreed to.
“We may even want to consider running ads this year with the QR code in advance,” Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said. “We really want to get the word out. It’s not just folks from Montauk that are participating” in the run.
The board will vote on a resolution, possibly as soon as today, to make the changes discussed with Mr. Rooney.