A national tradition

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MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Thursday, November 27th.

Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day.

Good morning. I’m Mary Reichard.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: And I’m Myrna Brown.

Coming next on The World and Everything in It: an emerging Thanksgiving Day tradition. Not parades or football, or even a big turkey dinner with friends and family.

But it’s a tradition that involves the Thanksgiving themes of gathering and giving.

WORLD’s Jenny Rough brings us the story.

JENNY ROUGH: This morning, on the streets of Buffalo, New York, Paul Stockman expects a gathering of 14,000 people for a community celebration—people from all over.

STOCKMAN: People from 42 different states in the U.S. People from other countries coming to run this race, Canada, Great Britain, Columbia, Chile, France. People want to come and run this particular race because it is the oldest, consecutively run footrace in the U.S.

He’s talking about the Turkey Trot. A race held on Thanksgiving Day, or in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Like this one in Tysons, Virginia.

AUDIO: For this race… [sounds of racers gathering, cheering]

Google your hometown, and there’s a good chance someone has organized one although perhaps by a different name: the Gobble Wobble, Feathered Feet, Pie Pursuit, Stuffing the Pantry.

But Buffalo is home to the first-ever Turkey Trot. That one happened 130 years ago. It’s older than the Boston Marathon by one year.

STOCKMAN: Well, the first turkey trot was 1896. And it was basically six people decided that they were going to run in this competitive 5-mile race on Thanksgiving Day.

Nobody knows why the six gentlemen decided to race that day. But records show a man named Henry Allison won.

STOCKMAN: I think it kind of grew into this huge thing over time and now it’s officially just become this thing where if you don’t do it then, you know, you’re missing out. It’s a good holiday kickoff.

Today, the YMCA, where Stockman works, sanctions the Buffalo race. But road races in general, especially 5Ks—a slightly shorter distance than the original 5-mile—have exploded in popularity. And none more so than the Turkey Trot.

Perhaps because they’re designed for runners and non-runners alike.

STOCKMAN: They walk the race, they run the race, they run and walk, folks just power walk their way to the finish line and they don’t care if they come in last. It’s not about that. You don’t have to qualify. Sign up and you’re a Turkey Trotter.

TAGGART: It’s just an awesome way to spend Thanksgiving morning.

Madison Granger Taggart began running in high school and discovered she was fast. Super fast. She almost won her first Turkey Trot.

TAGGART: I think in that one, the winner got a pie, and I really wanted that pie and did not get it. But my older sister who is also a runner, she won like a whole butterball turkey. I think we ate that turkey.

Today, Taggart is a personal trainer. She recommends that new runners—or those picking it up after a long time off—find a training plan and accountability group. Upward Running and Run with Christ are two faith-based ones.

TAGGART: If it’s something you can do with others and with loved ones, it’s more likely to stick.

Many Turkey Trots raise money for a good cause. Like the Tysons Turkey Trot held a few weeks ago in Virginia and put on by the local Rotary Club. Here’s former president Dana Ruff:

DANA RUFF: So what we do is we support local organizations in the area like Insight Memory care, Second Story for wayward children. Basically, this is all about community and trying to help build the community and support the community.

A typical Turkey Trot can cost anywhere from 20 to 60 dollars per person. Some people register and don’t even run, they simply want to give the donation. But for those who do come out—

STOCKMAN: We’re all just out here to have some fun. We all have to earn our turkey dinner because if you run five miles, I think you get an extra plate.

And that’s true no matter your age. From those like 5-year-old Miles:

ROUGH: Are you ready to run or are you going to walk?

MILES: Ruuuun!

To those in the senior division:

ROUGH: How old are you?

RUNNER 1: 81.

RUNNER 2: 82. We figured, Hey, we might be in our 80s, but we can still do it. [Laughs]

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Jenny Rough

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