News #99: Sri Chinmoy Thanksgiving Day Runs 2025 • Sri Chinmoy Inspiration-Heart-World

Joyful start of the Thanksgiving Day Runs 2025 in New York

The Thanksgiving Day 5K & 10K 2025 set a beautiful new record at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. On Thursday, 27 November, 841 runners – 555 in the 5K and 286 in the 10K – gathered in this historic urban oasis to celebrate the holiday with joyful running and heartfelt gratitude. Cloudy skies couldn’t dim the festive spirit. Instead, they added a soft, reflective glow to the morning. The flat, scenic loops around the Unisphere and 1964 World’s Fair landmarks amplified the festive spirit. Runners, families and friends gathered early, turning ordinary streets into lanes of gratitude and movement. Volunteers, ever the heartbeat of these events, set up aid stations with smiles and encouragement. Organisers thanked every participant and volunteer for making it the largest turnout in the event’s 15-year history.

The Heart of Thanksgiving Day Runs: Gratitude in Motion

First, these runs honor the holiday’s core: giving thanks through action. Second, they welcome all paces and ages. Third, they emphasize harmony over competition. Together, these elements create an atmosphere unlike any other. For instance, in Flushing Meadows Corona Park—the historic site of the 1964 World’s Fair—runners looped flat, scenic paths under the Unisphere. Even with scattered clouds, the air buzzed with positivity. This year, the turnout swelled, proving the runs’ timeless appeal. Participants felt the same gentle pull: run not just for fitness, but for the quiet peace that follows.

5K Highlights: Festive Starts and Swift Finishes

The 5K races ignited the day with pure energy. Fast starters clocked sub-18-minute times in the men’s under-50 group, weaving through autumn leaves with determination. Women led with graceful sub-21-minute efforts, blending speed and poise. Age-group heroes shone too. For example, masters runners in their 50s and 60s posted consistent, inspiring splits. Veterans over 70 brought wisdom to every step, often finishing to roaring applause. With over 100 finishers per site, the 5K embodied inclusivity. Families ran side by side, turning the distance into a shared adventure. Kids’ races added whimsy—tiny legs pumping to the finish, medals dangling like treasures. Despite the clouds, the mood stayed light. Volunteers handed out water and high-fives, reminding all that every lap counted as gratitude. In Queens, the loop around the park’s meadows felt especially symbolic—a circle of thanks in the heart of the city.

10K: Extended Joy and Reflective Strides

Doubling the challenge, the 10K invited deeper immersion. Leaders in the men’s open category pushed sub-36-minute paces, navigating longer loops with focused grace. Masters groups excelled, with 50+ athletes maintaining steady rhythms that belied their years. Over-60 finishers, in particular, drew cheers for their unyielding spirit. As a result, fatigue gave way to fulfilment. Finish lines became gatherings, where strangers became friends over shared stories of the morning’s gifts.

Building a Legacy: Sri Chinmoy’s Vision Lives On

Since Sri Chinmoy founded the Marathon Team in 1977, these events have grown from small New York loops to global phenomena. The Thanksgiving Day Runs capture his essence perfectly: sport as a path to inner harmony. What began as a handful of joggers now draws thousands annually. Sri Chinmoy himself ran marathons into his later years, teaching that “run and become, become and run.” Today, that mantra echoes in every finisher’s glow.

Since Sri Chinmoy’s students began this event 15 years ago, the Thanksgiving Day 5K & 10K has become a beloved Queens holiday ritual. As part of the annual tradition, a portion of proceeds supports Flushing Meadows Corona Park – like last year’s generous $3,000 donation announced here, turning every run into ripples of good for the community.

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Full Results: Thanksgiving Day Runs 2025 Results
Free Photo Gallery: Download Thanksgiving Day Runs Photos

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.