One late November day in 1899, John Coleman decided he’d had enough of the race he was running in Buffalo, New York. According to local lore, he hopped into a wagon and finished that way instead. Officials found out he cheated and subsequently disqualified Buffalo’s team, giving a victory to their rivals from nearby Rochester.
“We are still living with the guilt, both for this and for losing four Super Bowls,” jokes Geoffrey Faulkner, the communications director at the Buffalo Niagara YMCA.
Faulkner’s YMCA has the distinction of hosting the oldest continuously running turkey trot in the country, which happens on Thanksgiving morning every year. Faulkner notes proudly that Buffalo’s 8K race is older than the Boston Marathon. The first was in 1896, just three years prior to Coleman bringing ignominy upon the chilly town. Only six people ran it. This year, the Buffalo Turkey Trot celebrates its 123rd anniversary, and 14,000 people will run the sold-out race. (To put this in perspective, about 50,000 ran the NYC Marathon this year.) The trot even has a “quarter-century club,” which includes about 300 people who have been running the race for more than 25 years.
Buffalo is far from alone. Turkey trots have become a national tradition on Thanksgiving morning itself, or on the weekends before or after, in communities all over America. It’s the most popular type of road race in the country and draws the participation of whole families. While some races are competitive and offer prize money, most are refreshingly inclusive, require zero training, and are meant to be for fun only. People often dress up in silly costumes. Pie is a common prize. The starting line at the Buffalo Niagara YMCA Turkey Trot. Buffalo Niagara YMCA
The boom in turkey trots is due to a recent surge in interest in running and fitness in general, but of course, we can’t forget that Thanksgiving is all about gluttony. A lot of people hope that loping along with a turkey hat on their heads for a few miles will mitigate some of the calories they’ll be consuming a few hours later. And really, what’s more American than eating a huge meal and feeling guilty about it? But the races are now about something closer to what the holiday should represent: family and community.
The turkey trot – a fun Thanksgiving tradition that has been around for over 100 years. But what exactly is a turkey trot? And why has it become so popular across America? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history traditions and reasons for the popularity of the turkey trot road race.
A Brief History of the Turkey Trot
Turkey trots are long distance foot races, usually between 3-13 miles, that take place on or around Thanksgiving day. The name comes from the traditional Thanksgiving meal centerpiece – the turkey.
The first turkey trot was held by the local YMCA in Buffalo, New York in 1896. It was an 8km cross country style race held on Thanksgiving day that only attracted 6 runners, with just 4 finishing
Over the next 20 years, more trots started popping up along the east coast and midwest. Some of the earliest trots were held in New Orleans (1907), Berwick PA (1908), Cincinnati (1909) and Troy NY (1916).
The popularity slowly grew over the first half of the 20th century. In 1927, one of New England’s biggest races, the Manchester Road Race, got its start on Thanksgiving day. The famous Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot kicked off in 1967 with just 107 runners.
Participation started to swell in the 1970s and 80s as running became more mainstream. Costumes also became popular during this time, with runners dressing up as turkeys, pilgrims and other autumnal characters. Races across the country started capping participation as interest grew. The Buffalo trot hit 10,000 runners in 2008 and other big races can see 20,000+ finishers.
Why Are Turkey Trots so Popular?
There are a few key reasons these Thanksgiving runs have become so widespread:
Family Friendly Fun
Turkey trots are all about fun for the whole family. Many people use them as a tradition to kick off the holiday. The costumes and overall festive vibe make it a lower key race that anyone can participate in.
Balance Out the Feast
Running 3-13 miles before the big meal provides a bit of calorie balancing for a day of feasting! People enjoy being active before sitting down for the holiday.
Charitable Component
Many turkey trots partner with charities and use the race as a fundraiser. Runners feel good supporting a cause while also having fun with family and friends.
Tradition
For many runners, trotting has become part of their family’s Thanksgiving tradition. People of all ages participate year after year, continuing the Turkey Day legacy.
Turkey Trot Participation is Booming
In 2011, around 684,000 runners finished a turkey trot. By 2016, that number grew to over 961,000 finishers. And new trots are starting each year in communities across the country.
The Des Moines trot started in 2014 and already draws 4,000 participants annually.
Some of the largest trots today include:
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Buffalo Turkey Trot – One of the original trots from 1896 still going strong with over 14,000 finishers
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Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot – 20,000+ finishers make it one of the largest trots
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Atlanta Turkey Trot – This trot was part of the Atlanta Marathon, the only full marathon held on Thanksgiving
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Dana Point Turkey Trot – Southern California race that draws 18,000+ participants
Finding and Participating in a Turkey Trot
If you’re looking to take part in a turkey trot this year, here are some tips:
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Search online – Look for turkey trots in your area. Sites like RunningintheUSA.com list hundreds of trots.
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Check local race calendars – Local running stores and clubs often list upcoming races.
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Plan ahead – Popular trots fill up fast. Register early to guarantee your spot.
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Have fun with costumes – Channel your inner turkey or pilgrim! Costumes are encouraged.
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Bring family & friends – Many make trots a family tradition. Make it a group outing.
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Support a charity – When possible, participate in a trot that supports a good cause.
So put on your running shoes and pilgrim hat and take part in this fun Thanksgiving tradition! Turkey trots are a great way to celebrate the holiday with family, friends and your community.
The Spirit and Tradition of the Turkey Trot
While the history and popularity of turkey trots is interesting, what really makes this event special is the spirit and tradition behind it.
For many trotters, the race has become an annual family tradition going back years. Parents bring their kids to participate, carrying on the legacy they experienced themselves growing up. The community camaraderie of the event is what keeps people coming back.
The costumes and holiday cheer make turkey trots more light-hearted than most races. Rather than being about competition, these events are about having fun together before the big feast. Some trots are organized by charities as fundraisers for good causes, which adds to the spirit of generosity on Thanksgiving.
My dad shared a story of walking the local Louisville Turkey Trot back in 2018 with my uncle and cousins. For him, what made it meaningful was getting our family together to connect through a favorite holiday activity. Now they plan to make it an annual tradition.
This connectivity through charity, costumes, competition and family is at the heart of the turkey trot experience. The traditions unite communities and remind us that the holidays are about more than just food. They’re about celebrating what we’re grateful for.
My Take on Turkey Trots
While I don’t remember my very first trot, I now know they will be part of my annual traditions going forward. I always have fun dressing up, catching up with friends and working up an appetite before our feast. There’s just something special about starting off Thanksgiving Day by raising money for charity with a brisk run.
This year I’ll be participating in my hometown Fort Collins trot, carrying on my own new little tradition. Maybe I’ll even win a turkey like my dad!
I encourage you to join in the turkey trot experience if you never have before. Sign up for a local trot, get your family and friends together, and come prepared to gobble. You may just find, like so many others have, that trotting becomes your family’s newest Thanksgiving tradition.
Why turkey trots are so popular
When a national brand tries to capitalize on something, it’s a probably a good sign that it’s pretty trendy. This year, Michelob Ultra, the 95-calorie beer that has been trying to align itself with fitness culture, announced a promotion: If you post a picture of yourself running a turkey trot on social media and tag it #WillRunForBeer, the brand will send you a coupon for free beer.
Think that’s random? Then here’s some interesting news out of Wisconsin: According to an article in Milwaukee’s Journal Sentinel this month, the most Googled term in that state last November was “turkey trots.” While Wisconsin is not necessarily a surrogate for the whole country, turkey trots are very much front of mind.
“In 2017, there were more than 1 million finishers at over 1,000 [turkey trot] events. That trend is expected to continue this Thanksgiving,” says Rich Harshbarger, the CEO at Running USA, a nonprofit running industry group. That’s up from about 680,000 in 2011. A few years ago, Thanksgiving surpassed the Fourth of July as the most popular day to run a race. In Buffalo, the number of participants has doubled in the past 20 years, up from about 6,000 in the mid-1990s.
Jeff Dengate, the “runner-in-chief” at Runner’s World magazine, says the popularity of turkey trots over the past few years correlates with an increased interest in races in general and a surge in new runners taking up the sport over the past decade. In the past year, though, interest in some formal road races, especially trendier ones like mud runs, has waned. One of the reasons may be that some races became too expensive, as per an article in the New York Times last year.
But as Dengate notes of turkey trots, “A lot of them are very cheap.” Entry fees are commonly in the $30 to $40 range, and this usually includes a commemorative T-shirt and all the selfies with people wearing pilgrim hats that you could hope for. The New York City Half Marathon for 2019 costs $145, for comparison.
Then there’s the motivation of knowing you’re going to eat a week’s worth of carbs in one hour. Depending on how much alcohol you drink, a typical Thanksgiving dinner can pack in 3,000 to 4,500 calories. Normal daily caloric intake needs, depending on your age, weight, activity level, and a slew of other factors, are usually 1,800 to 2,400 for the whole day.
But most turkey trots are in the 3- to 5-mile distance category — not nearly enough to burn off your dinner.
“We’re totally lying to ourselves. If you run a 5K [3.1 miles], you’re probably going to burn 300 to 500 calories,” says Dengate. “The math doesn’t work there. You’re definitely not burning off what you’re going to eat, but it makes us feel good for a day.”
Feeling good should probably be your prime motivator, not eating an extra helping of pecan pie. After all, there’s the “runner’s high” phenomenon, that feeling of well-being some people get after exercising. You’ll need all that goodwill to buoy you for the angry political argument you’ll inevitably have with your problematic uncle at dinner.
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Thanksgiving is now the most popular race day in America.
One late November day in 1899, John Coleman decided he’d had enough of the race he was running in Buffalo, New York. According to local lore, he hopped into a wagon and finished that way instead. Officials found out he cheated and subsequently disqualified Buffalo’s team, giving a victory to their rivals from nearby Rochester.
“We are still living with the guilt, both for this and for losing four Super Bowls,” jokes Geoffrey Faulkner, the communications director at the Buffalo Niagara YMCA.
Faulkner’s YMCA has the distinction of hosting the oldest continuously running turkey trot in the country, which happens on Thanksgiving morning every year. Faulkner notes proudly that Buffalo’s 8K race is older than the Boston Marathon. The first was in 1896, just three years prior to Coleman bringing ignominy upon the chilly town. Only six people ran it. This year, the Buffalo Turkey Trot celebrates its 123rd anniversary, and 14,000 people will run the sold-out race. (To put this in perspective, about 50,000 ran the NYC Marathon this year.) The trot even has a “quarter-century club,” which includes about 300 people who have been running the race for more than 25 years.
Buffalo is far from alone. Turkey trots have become a national tradition on Thanksgiving morning itself, or on the weekends before or after, in communities all over America. It’s the most popular type of road race in the country and draws the participation of whole families. While some races are competitive and offer prize money, most are refreshingly inclusive, require zero training, and are meant to be for fun only. People often dress up in silly costumes. Pie is a common prize. The starting line at the Buffalo Niagara YMCA Turkey Trot. Buffalo Niagara YMCA
The boom in turkey trots is due to a recent surge in interest in running and fitness in general, but of course, we can’t forget that Thanksgiving is all about gluttony. A lot of people hope that loping along with a turkey hat on their heads for a few miles will mitigate some of the calories they’ll be consuming a few hours later. And really, what’s more American than eating a huge meal and feeling guilty about it? But the races are now about something closer to what the holiday should represent: family and community.
Little Eva – Let’s Turkey Trot
FAQ
What is the point of a Turkey Trot?
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 1675.
What is the history of the Turkey Trot dance?
The turkey trot was a dance made popular in the early 1900s. The Turkey Trot was done to fast ragtime music popular in the decade from 1900 to 1910 such as Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag.
Who came up with Turkey Trot?
When was the first turkey trot? The YMCA Turkey Trot in Buffalo, New York, which was established in 1896, is considered the oldest consecutively-run footrace in the world. The inaugural race featured six runners competing on dirt roads in a five-mile cross-country race.
How many miles is a Turkey Trot?
- Torrance Turkey Trot: A 3-mile fun run
- Dallas Turkey Trot: An 8.2-mile road race with a 5K fun run
- Buffalo Turkey Trot: An 8K (4.97-mile) race
- Irvine Turkey Trot: Has a 1-mile, 5K, and a combo race option
What is a turkey trot?
A turkey trot is a fun Thanksgiving tradition that has been around for over 100 years. It is a long distance foot race, usually between 3-13 miles, that takes place on or around Thanksgiving day Turkey trots first started in Buffalo, New York in 1896 and have since become one of the most popular races in America
What are turkey trot races?
Turkey Trot races are festive Fun Runs held around Thanksgiving. It’s all about community, getting healthy, and of course charity. Runners, usually donning holiday-themed attire, join in runs or walks spanning various distances, from a mile to a 10k. Unlike competitive races, Turkey Trots prioritize fun and enjoyment over winning.
What do you wear to a turkey trot?
As running grew in popularity, so did the number of turkey trots. Over time, competitors began to dress up at the turkey trot in Buffalo. Runners wore everything from turkey costumes and superhero gear to banana suits, and the fun trend stuck. Turkey trots are also sometimes known as Thanksgiving 5ks, but each event has its own way of doing things.
Why is the turkey trot so popular?
Much of the Turkey Trot’s modern-day popularity can be attributed to its family-friendly draw. The number of participants in the Buffalo race surpassed 10,000 in 2008, and in recent years, reached 14,000, which is where it’s now capped, making it the fourth largest Turkey Trot in the country.
When did the Turkey Trot start?
The Turkey Trot tradition dates back to 1896, when the YMCA held the first Buffalo Turkey Trot in Buffalo, N.Y. Only six runners participated in the race that year, running on stretches of dirt road for roughly five miles. What is the Turkey Trot tradition?
Does Buffalo have a turkey trot?
The trot even has a “quarter-century club,” which includes about 300 people who have been running the race for more than 25 years. Buffalo is far from alone. Turkey trots have become a national tradition on Thanksgiving morning itself, or on the weekends before or after, in communities all over America.