Turkey trot

Last updated
Man dressed as a turkey takes part in a 10K run on Thanksgiving Day Kabul Satellite Turkey Chase 10K run, 2011.jpg
Man dressed as a turkey takes part in a 10K run on Thanksgiving Day

Turkey trots are footraces, usually of the long-distance variety, held on or around Thanksgiving Day in the United States. The name is derived from the use of turkey as a common centerpiece of the Thanksgiving dinner. A few races in the United Kingdom during the Christmas period are described as turkey trots. (Turkey is traditionally eaten at Christmas there.) [1] In the United States, many courses used for these Thanksgiving events are run at a certified USA Track & Field road race distances between 5Ks and a half marathon; others are informal fun runs between 1.0 mile (1.6 km) and 5 km. The fun runs are often run as charity benefits and feature runners in costumes, particularly as turkeys. The oldest documented turkey trot, a still-ongoing annual event in Buffalo, New York, dates to 1896. [2]

The Atlanta Marathon, which ran on Thanksgiving from 1981 to 2009, was the last full 26.2-mile (42.2 km) marathon to be run on the holiday. Since 2010, the Atlanta Track Club eliminated the marathon distance on Thanksgiving but continued to host a half marathon. Both the Yonkers Marathon and the Detroit Free Press Marathon (then known as the Detroit Motor City Marathon) started out as Thanksgiving Day races before moving to other dates. [3]

In 2021, Molly Seidel participated in the Berbee Derby held in Fitchburg, Wisconsin and set the record for the fastest run for an individual dressed as a turkey. [4]

Notable races

Cuero, Texas, holds a turkey trot every November where hundreds of turkeys parade through the town (1912). PostcardCueroTXTurkeyTrot1912.jpg
Cuero, Texas, holds a turkey trot every November where hundreds of turkeys parade through the town (1912).
Turkey trots
NameLocationInaugural raceDistanceNotes
American Turkey Tradition(various, 27 locations)(various)A series of races in multiple cities; [5] [6] claims to be the world's largest Thanksgiving running festival and listed 27 races across 12 US states in 2019. [7]
Berwick Run for the Diamonds Berwick, Pennsylvania 19089 miles (14 km)Name changed from Berwick Marathon in the early 1980s. [8]
Buffalo Turkey Trot Buffalo, New York 18968 kilometres (5.0 mi)The oldest continually running public footrace (established in 1896) in the United States. [9] 14,000 runners annually. [10]
Concord Turkey Trot Concord, Massachusetts
Cuero Texas Turkey Trot Cuero, Texas Features a unique twist on the tradition in which the participants are all actual domestic turkeys. This event is now held on the second weekend of October (coincidentally the same weekend as Canadian Thanksgiving).
Dallas Turkey Trot Dallas, Texas 1940s8 miles (13 km)More than 25,000 racers annually.
Dana Point Turkey Trot Dana Point, California 1977Attracts over 18,000 people to the Dana Point Harbor in Southern California, and has donated over $500,000 to local charities. [11]
Feaster Five Road Race Andover, Massachusetts 19885 miles (8.0 km)
Hyde Park Pilgrim Run Kansas City, Missouri
Invesco QQQ Half Marathon Atlanta, Georgia Was the nation's largest half marathon run on Thanksgiving morning, originally a marathon and half marathon from 1981 to 2009, but was raced only as a half from 2010-19. The race was cancelled in May 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that moved the Peachtree Road Race to the Thanksgiving date. [12] Between 1981 and 2009, the event also coincided with the Atlanta Marathon, making it the longest distance for a turkey trot in the United States. [13]
Kitchener–Waterloo_Oktoberfest 5K Fun Run Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)Held on Canadian Thanksgiving
Manchester Road Race Manchester, Connecticut 19274.748 miles (7.641 km)
Mile High United Way Turkey Trot Denver, Colorado Held on Thanksgiving Day in Washington Park for over four decades. [14]
Plymouth Turkey Trot Plymouth, Massachusetts Part of America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration
Run to Feed the Hungry race Sacramento, California 1994Attracts over 31,000 runners annually.
San Francisco Turkey Trot San Francisco, California Takes place in Golden Gate Park on Thanksgiving Day.
Schuylkill Navy RunPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania18995+5/8 miPut on by Boathouse Row in Philadelphia.
Silicon Valley Turkey Trot San Jose, California 20045km, 10 kmHas over 25,000 participants.
Smoke the Turkey Trot Sylvania, Ohio 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)Goes through Saint James Wood neighborhood and regularly has over 2,000 participants. Many participants adorn costumes or wear Michigan/Ohio State colors (the OSU/UM football game is generally played on the fourth Saturday in November).
Tampa Bay Times Turkey Trot Clearwater, Florida Annual attendance for this event reaches over 17,000 registered racers.
ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot Austin, Texas 19905 miles (8.0 km)20,000 people normally participate [15]
Troy Turkey TrotTroy, New York19165km, 10km, 1 mile [16] There were six runners in the inaugural race, but it is now one of the largest and oldest turkey trots in the United States.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road running</span> Sport of running on roads

Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road. This differs from track and field on a regular track and cross country running over natural terrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Marathon</span> Annual race in the U.S. since 1976

The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) is an annual marathon held in Washington, D.C., and Arlington County, Virginia. The mission of the MCM is to promote physical fitness, generate community goodwill, and showcase the organizational skills of the United States Marine Corps.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is a 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) race run every third Sunday in October in Detroit, Michigan, United States, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, since 1978. The marathon course is international and has featured the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel for all but two years of its existence. The current course crosses the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel between Detroit and Windsor. Due to its use of the tunnel, the race is able to boast that it has the only official underwater international mile in the world, as the tunnel runs underneath the Detroit River. The race is a USATF-certified, Boston-qualifier course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Turkey Trot</span> Annual footrace held in Dallas, U.S.

The Dallas Turkey Trot is an annual turkey trot footrace over an 8.2 miles (13.2 km) course through the city of Dallas, Texas (USA). There is also a 5k fun run/walk. Participants may choose to register for the 5k as a timed or untimed runner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peachtree Road Race</span> Annual 10-kilometer run in Atlanta, Georgia, US

The Peachtree Road Race is a series of two American 10-kilometer runs held annually in Atlanta. After being held on Independence Day from 1970 to 2019, the race was cancelled temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic after originally being set for Thanksgiving. It is the world's largest 10k race, a title it has held since the late 1970s. The race has become a citywide tradition in which over 70,000 amateur and professional runners try to register for one of the limited 60,000 spots. The event also includes a wheelchair race, which precedes the footrace. In recent years, the race also has a special division for soldiers stationed in the Middle East. The race attracts some of the world's elite 10K runners and has served as both the United States' men's and women's 10K championship.

The Crim Festival of Races is an annual road running event with several races and walking events. The original distance was 10 miles and is the marque race as "The Crim" with its infamous Bradley Hills and blue line to keep runners on course. The Crim has been held in August in Flint, Michigan since 1977. It draws runners from around the world from countries such as Kenya, Russia, and Ukraine. The race attracts approximately 50,000 people each year. The festival is one of the Flint Parade of Festivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Marathon</span>

The Atlanta Marathon is an annual marathon held in Atlanta, Georgia, except in 2021 where it was held in Hampton, Georgia on the premises of Atlanta Motor Speedway because of governmental restrictions. On the same day, a half marathon is also held, and some years also feature a 5K run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feaster Five Road Race</span>

The Feaster Five Thanksgiving Day Road Race, more commonly called the Feaster Five, is a 5-mile road race held annually in Andover, Massachusetts, United States, on the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day. It is one of the Bay State's largest five mile races. The race has been held every Thanksgiving morning since 1988, and is one of a number of races across the nation known colloquially as a "Turkey Trot."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah Valley Marathon</span> Annual marathon foot-race in Northern Utah

The Utah Valley Marathon (UVM) is an annual marathon foot-race in Northern Utah held on the first Saturday of June. The marathon course is USA Track & Field (USATF) certified and is a Boston Marathon qualifier.

Lisa Uhl is an American runner. She is a four-time NCAA Division One champion, former NCAA record holder in the 10,000 meters, and the sixth fastest American woman to ever cover that distance. She competed in the 10,000 meters in the 2012 Summer Olympics. She competed for Iowa State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molly Huddle</span> American long-distance runner

Molly Huddle is an American long-distance runner who competes in track and cross country running events. She held the American record in the 5000 meters set in 2014 in Monaco (14:42.64), which has since been lowered by Shannon Rowbury, Shelby Houlihan and Alicia Monson. Huddle held also the American record in the 10,000 meters set at the 2016 Rio Olympics with a time of 30:13.17, which has since been lowered by Alicia Monson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Turkey Trot</span> Annual footrace held in Buffalo, New York

The Buffalo Turkey Trot is an annual 8K Thanksgiving footrace held in Buffalo, New York each Thanksgiving Day. The Buffalo Turkey Trot, a popular fundraiser for the local branch of the YMCA, runs five miles down Delaware Avenue in Buffalo.

The Walt Disney World Marathon is an annual marathon held every January in Bay Lake, Florida by runDisney. The race has been held since 1994. The marathon is part of a weekend race series that also includes a 5K, a 10K, and a half marathon, as well as a number of challenges involving one or more of these races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbey Cooper</span> American runner

Abbey Cooper is an American middle- and long-distance runner. Cooper is the most decorated Ivy League athlete in track and field and cross country running. She is the first Dartmouth female distance runner to win an NCAA title. She won a total of seven NCAA titles in her career. In 2014, she became a professional runner for New Balance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Sisson</span> American long-distance runner (born 1991)

Emily Sisson is an American long-distance runner. She set the North American record in the marathon on October 9, 2022, when she ran 2:18:29 to finish second at the Chicago Marathon. Sisson also held the American record in the half marathon from May 2022 until July 2023. She represented the United States in the 10000 metres at the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, finishing 9th and 10th. In June 2021, she won the 10000m at the 2020 US Olympic Trials and placed 10th in the 10000m final at the 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2024, she placed second in the marathon at the US Olympic Trials, qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics. She competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics Women's marathon on 11 August 2024, where she finished 23rd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellyn Taylor</span> American long-distance runner

Kellyn Taylor is an American long distance runner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natosha Rogers</span> American long-distance runner

Natosha Rogers is a long-distance runner from the United States. Rogers won the gold medal in the 5000 meters at the 2022 NACAC Championships. She is the 2012 National runner up in the 10,000 meters. Rogers placed 23rd at 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 34:47.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molly Seidel</span> American long-distance runner

Molly Seidel is an American long distance runner. Seidel represented the United States at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in 2012, 2013, and 2018. In her first-ever marathon, Seidel placed second at the 2020 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials. Later, she went on to win the bronze medal in her third career marathon at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. At the University of Notre Dame, Seidel was a 4-time NCAA champion, 6-time NCAA All-American, 6-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion and 2016 female ACC Athlete of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Bruce</span> American long-distance runner

Stephanie Bruce is an American long-distance runner.

References

  1. "Turkey Trot Half Marathon". www.turkeytrot.org.uk. December 2020. The Turkey Trot is the primary fundraising activity for the 1st Keyworth Scout Group.
  2. "The YMCA Buffalo Turkey Trot". Ymcabuffaloniagara.org. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  3. Rock, Brian (2024-12-02). "When the Turkey Trot Was More Than Just a 5k: A Brief History of Marathons On and Around Thanksgiving". Running with Rock. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  4. Dickinson, Marley (25 November 2021). "Molly Seidel sets an official FKT for fastest known turkey". Canadian Running Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  5. Pendleton, Marc. "ORRRC Turkey Trot an annual event for area runners and families". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  6. Register, Des Moines. "Things to do this holiday season in Des Moines (and central Iowa)". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  7. "Participating Events". American Turkey Tradition. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  8. "untitled". arrs.run. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  9. Graham, Tim (November 24, 2011). Pollow takes third consecutive Turkey Trot amid the goofballs. The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  10. Runners fill Turkey Trot registration Archived November 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine . WIVB-TV (November 13, 2012). Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  11. "Dana Point Turkey Trot – Run the Race Before You Stuff Your Face!". www.turkeytrot.com. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  12. "11,000 to participate in Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, nation's largest". Northside Neighbor. November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  13. Larkin, Duncan (November 24, 2010). "No More Thanksgiving Marathon For Atlanta". Competitor . Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  14. "Mile High United Way Turkey Trot | Mile High United Way". www.unitedwaydenver.org. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  15. "Turkey Trot goes virtual to keep 30-year tradition alive". kvue.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  16. Schneider, H. Rose (2023-11-12). "Troy Turkey Trot 5K new race route will cross Green Island Bridge". Times Union. Retrieved 2023-11-22.