Turkey trot

Last updated
Man dressed as a Turkey takes part in a 10K run on Thanksgiving Day 111127-A-HN782-207.jpg
Man dressed as a Turkey takes part in a 10K run on Thanksgiving Day

Turkey trot 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.) [1] In the United States, many courses used for these Thanksgiving events are run at major certified USA Track & Field road race distances between 5Ks and a Half marathon 13.110 miles (21.098 km); 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 Atlanta Marathon, which ran on Thanksgiving from 1981 to 2009, was the only full 26.219 miles (42.195 km) marathon to run on the holiday. It has since been reduced to a half-marathon, was the nation's longest Thanksgiving Day race, while the city's full marathon is held earlier in the year, but was cancelled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, when it was replaced by a shorter race, the Peachtree Road Race. The oldest documented turkey trot, a still-ongoing annual event in Buffalo, New York, dates to 1896. [2]

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; [3] [4] claims to be the world's largest Thanksgiving running festival and listed 27 races across 12 US states in 2019. [5]
Berwick Run for the Diamonds Berwick, Pennsylvania 19089 miles (14 km)Name changed from Berwick Marathon in the early 1980s. [6]
Buffalo Turkey Trot Buffalo, New York 18968 kilometres (5.0 mi)The oldest continually running public footrace (established in 1896) in the United States. [7] 14,000 runners annually. [8]
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. [9]
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. [10] 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. [11]
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. [12]
Plymouth Turkey Trot Plymouth, Massachusetts Part of America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration
Run to Feed the Hungry race Sacramento, California 1994Attracts over 27,000 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 [13]
Troy Turkey Trot1916There 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">Boston Marathon</span> Worlds oldest regularly run marathon

The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of six World Marathon Majors. Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Copley Square in Boston.

<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">Ultramarathon</span> Any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres

An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres. Various distances are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of 50 kilometres (31 mi) to over 100 kilometres (62 mi). 50k and 100k are both World Athletics record distances, but some 100 miles (160 km) races are among the oldest and most prestigious events, especially in North America. Around 100 miles is typically the longest course distance raced in under 24 hours but there are also longer multi-day races of 200 miles (320 km) or more, sometimes raced in stages with breaks for sleep. While some ultras are road races, many take place on trails, leading to a large overlap with the sports of trail running and mountain running.

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

The Two Oceans Marathon is a 56 km / 35-mile ultramarathon and 21 km half-marathon held annually in Cape Town, South Africa on the Saturday of the Easter weekend.

The Great North Run is the largest half marathon in the world, taking place annually in North East England each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.

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

The Twin Cities Marathon (TCM) is an annual marathon in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area which normally takes place the first weekend in October. The race is often called "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America" due to a course that winds through downtown districts, then along parkways that hug lakes and waterways all throughout dense urban forests in the neighborhoods of both cities.

<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, 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.

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

The Little Rock Marathon, started in 2003, is an annual marathon held in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event, which is traditionally held the First Weekend of March each year, attracts participants from all 50 states and over 15 different countries. The mission of the Little Rock Marathon is to provide a premier event open to athletes of all abilities, while promoting a healthy lifestyle through running and walking and raising money for Little Rock Parks & Recreation. In January 2016, Runner’s World named the Little Rock Marathon as a “Bucket List Race: 10 Great Marathons for First-Timers”. It also ranked #5 on American Town Media's "The Dream 26: The Best and Most Unique Marathons In America" list and voted one of the best Half Marathons in the nation on the 100 Half Marathons Club 2017 list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Turkey Trot</span>

The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is an annual footrace over an 8 miles (12.9 km) course through the city of Dallas, Texas (USA). There is also a 5k run/walk. Participants may choose to register for the 5k as a timed or untimed runner. In 2005, 3,843 harriers completed the 8-mile (13 km) Trot, in addition to 22,668 runners in the 3 miles (4.8 km), making the Dallas Turkey Trot the largest Thanksgiving race in the United States and the second-biggest footrace in the state of Texas, with 26,511 total registered runners. The 2011 race attracted a record attendance of 36,820.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thanksgiving (United States)</span> American federal holiday in November

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is sometimes called American Thanksgiving to distinguish it from the Canadian holiday of the same name and related celebrations in other regions. It originated as a day of thanksgiving and harvest festival, with the theme of the holiday revolving around giving thanks and the centerpiece of Thanksgiving celebrations remaining a Thanksgiving dinner. The dinner traditionally consists of foods and dishes indigenous to the Americas, namely turkey, potatoes, stuffing, squash, corn (maize), green beans, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. Other Thanksgiving customs include charitable organizations offering Thanksgiving dinner for the poor, attending religious services, and watching television events such as Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and NFL on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is regarded as the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season, with the day following it, Black Friday, being the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States.

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

The Peachtree Road Race is an American 10-kilometer run held annually in Atlanta. After being held on Independence Day from 1970 to 2019, the race was cancelled because of the COVID 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 Podgorica Marathon is an annual road running event in Montenegro, which features a full-length (42.195 km) marathon, half marathon as well as a 5 km fun run race.

The IMT Des Moines Marathon is a marathon held annually in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. It serves as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10K run</span> Road running competition over a distance of ten kilometres

The 10K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of ten kilometres. Also referred to as the 10K road race, 10 km, or simply 10K, it is one of the most common types of road running event, alongside the shorter 5K and longer half marathon and marathon. It is usually distinguished from the 10,000 metres track running event by stating the distance in kilometres, rather than metres.

<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.

The CNO Financial Group Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and Monumental Half Marathon are a pair of concurrent road races run annually in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The Monumental Marathon, first held in 2008, is a 26.2 mi (42.2 km) road race. Since 2016, it has been the only full fall marathon run in Indianapolis. In 2015, it claimed to have become one of the 20 largest marathons in the United States. "A beautiful place to set your pace" is the tagline of the Monumental Marathon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Turkey Trot</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Track Club</span> Running association in Georgia, USA

Atlanta Track Club is a non-profit, running organization for the Atlanta metropolitan area in Georgia, United States. It hosts over 30 events a year including the Thanksgiving Day Atlanta Half Marathon/5K and the AJC Peachtree Road Race. Atlanta Track Club was established in 1964 and is the second largest running organization in the United States. Its mission is to inspire and engage the community to achieve health and fitness through running.

Mamiko Oshima-Berger, also known professionally as Mamiko Oshima, is a marathon runner from the Northern Mariana Islands.

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. Pendleton, Marc. "ORRRC Turkey Trot an annual event for area runners and families". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  4. Register, Des Moines. "Things to do this holiday season in Des Moines (and central Iowa)". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  5. "Participating Events". American Turkey Tradition. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  6. "untitled". arrs.run. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  7. Graham, Tim (November 24, 2011). Pollow takes third consecutive Turkey Trot amid the goofballs. The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  8. Runners fill Turkey Trot registration Archived November 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine . WIVB-TV (November 13, 2012). Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  9. "Dana Point Turkey Trot – Run the Race Before You Stuff Your Face!". www.turkeytrot.com. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  10. "11,000 to participate in Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, nation's largest". Northside Neighbor. November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  11. Larkin, Duncan (November 24, 2010). "No More Thanksgiving Marathon For Atlanta". Competitor . Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  12. "Mile High United Way Turkey Trot | Mile High United Way". www.unitedwaydenver.org. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  13. "Turkey Trot goes virtual to keep 30-year tradition alive". kvue.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.