IS A TURKEY TROT FOR YOU?
I’m posting this article a few weeks before Thanksgiving, giving you plenty of time in case you want to sign up and prepare for your first Turkey Trot.
Thanksgiving often centers around family and friends—and indulgent feasting. But how about adding a new tradition—participating in an annual Turkey Trot? Most of these Thanksgiving morning events are not only fun but also raise money for a charity.
And don’t worry; you don’t have to “trot”! Many participants simply walk part or all of the course, especially if they’re not regular runners. Turkey Trots are usually short—around 5 kilometers or 3 miles. If you’re walking it shouldn’t take you much more than an hour. Of course, you can jog or run if you want to finish sooner. (If you’re interested in starting a running routine, check out my July 2021 post, Try Running—You Just Might Like It.)
You probably have a Turkey Trot in your area. To find one, search at the online directory Running in the USA. For example, I located one near me in Ojai California.
To give you further encouragement to join in this fun event, here are highlights from the November 14, 2023 article on the FleetFeet.org blog by Kate Schwartz, titled 8 Reasons to Run a Turkey Trot.
Turkey trots have been an American tradition for more than 120 years, and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.
The YMCA Turkey Trot in Buffalo, New York, held its inaugural race in 1896 and now hosts up to 14,000 runners each year. Today, there are too many turkey trots to count.
Most cover 5K distances and are held on or just before or after Thanksgiving day. They support local charities, encourage quirky Turkey Day costumes and often include out-of-the-ordinary prizes, such as actual frozen turkeys.
If you’ve never joined the Thanksgiving Day fun, here are 8 reasons to join in the fun.
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Food
There’s nothing like running a 5K race to rev up your appetite. Many turkey trot races give out turkeys as prizes, or provide tasty treats at the finish. Whether or not your race of choice provides pie at the end, a turkey trot is sure to ready your appetite and make your holiday meal taste even better.
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Fall weather
Many runners argue that autumn is the best time of year for running and racing. Besides, a turkey hat feels surprisingly comfy in freezing temperatures. Embrace the cool weather, colored leaves and the things that make fall feel special.
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Gratitude
If you are fit and healthy enough to complete a race, you have plenty to be thankful for. Run a turkey trot to thank, challenge and celebrate your body for the incredible things it lets you do. Expressing gratitude is good for your health. Intentionally grateful people experience all kinds of benefits ranging from better sleep and higher self-esteem to fewer physical aches and pains.
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Community
What better way to connect to your community than to spend time running on neighborhood streets and trails in support of local causes? If you are visiting family or enjoying a Thanksgiving getaway, a turkey trot is the perfect place to take in the culture of another town. Feast your eyes on the best people-watching opportunity of the year.
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Giving
Many turkey trots give a portion of race proceeds to food drives or other local initiatives that help families in need. Find a mission-based race in your area for a fun way to contribute.
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Family
Whether it’s your biological family or your chosen one, a turkey trot is a fun and light-hearted way to bond with your people. Many families will run or walk races together, come up with group costumes, race each other or compete to see who can donate the most canned goods.
- Tradition
Yearly rituals help us mark the passage of time. Take a family turkey trot photo year after year and see how everyone changes. Watch the kids in your life progress from the fun runs to the full-length races over the years. Engage in an ongoing tradition or create a new one to reflect on where life has taken you.
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Celebration
Holidays are the perfect time to take a break from everyday life and celebrate what’s meaningful to you. You’re alive! Life is good! So, sign up for a turkey trot and have a blast.
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