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This year, make your quick morning run into a fun Thanksgiving tradition! No need to sneak off to a run at 6 AM - turkey trot traditions are fun for the entire family!
A Thanksgiving turkey trot is one of the most universal traditions for any avid runner. As time-honored as they are wacky, turkey trots have become an integral part of Thanksgiving for many families (whether it be for the road race or the fun costumes). Foot races are so popular on Thanksgiving it is now the number one running day of the entire year (my money would have been on New Year’s Day).
I tend to stick to a shorter race on Thanksgiving. I say it’s to reserve my energy for the kitchen gauntlet later, but I think my family has figured out that I’m really saving my energy for the family football game after dinner. What started as kids getting bored and tossing a football outside has now turned into a full can’t-miss family tradition! If your family is as married to the TV as mine is on Thanksgiving, a virtual race is an easy and awesome way to keep your love of running part of your celebrations! Once coverage on your favorite parade wraps up, go for a short run or even a walk or hike with your family. You can earn finishing medals together on your own time and at your own pace, making virtual races one of the best ways to introduce others to the sport you love and has all the makings of your next great holiday tradition!
Let’s be honest, not all road races are fun for non-participants, but a Thanksgiving race? Those are the best! Spectators join in the costume fun as much as the runners do and so many races are followed shortly by the local Thanksgiving parade! Get the whole family geared up and ready to go with our race costumes and festive apparel! Start with a local turkey trot with your family and before you know it, it might turn into your family’s favorite part of the holiday and you’ll want to join new and bigger races!
If you’re looking for a change from your local runs, these three turkey trots are worth the travel time! Whether you’ve gotten your entire family addicted to running with you or your fam is just your personal cheering section, turkey trots are especially known for being fun for the whole family! Birds of a feather truly do flock together as racers head to these races every year decked out in crazy outfits and ready to earn every single calorie of their dinners later that night.
What better way to turn Thanksgiving into a mini-vacation than with a trip to Plymouth? The annual Running of the Pilgrims is a quick and scenic 5k that runs along the waterfront and through the center of Plymouth. The starting line and the finish line overlook Plymouth Harbor and the Mayflower II, a full-scale recreation of the original Mayflower. After your 5k, join in on all the other festivities at America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration with concerts, food, music, and a parade for the whole family!
Next on our list is quite literally the most historic race on the list. The YMCA Turkey Trot in Buffalo, NY is the oldest consecutively-run foot race in the entire world, continuing their tradition through multiple health pandemics and multiple world wars. This year’s 5-mile race will mark the 127th annual trot!
They say that everything is bigger in Texas and their turkey trot is no exception! This annual turkey trot is one of the largest foot races in Texas and the largest Thanksgiving race in the country! Dallas’ turkey trot absolutely thrives on the fun in fun-run! If you weren’t impressed with the huge turnout for this race, then maybe you’ll be impressed to know that the Dallas turkey trot currently holds the world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as turkeys! So grab your outfit and join in this year!
Shop here for your next Turkey Trot race outfit!
