thanksgiving Mornings are often a blur with last-minute meal preparation and busy housework. But for Beth Thomas, who usually hosts her family at her Boston-area home, most of the work in the kitchen is already done.
Instead, she’s lacing up her sneakers and getting ready to run the 5-kilometre Turkey Trot with her two sons.
“It’s just fun for us because we know that probably seven hours later everyone’s going to have eaten too much and passed out on the couch. It’s great that we can be a part of it.” That’s the point,” Thomas said. “Why not start your day doing something you really love, and then eat lots of delicious food?”
The Turkey Trot has become an enduring tradition for many people during and around Thanksgiving. From about 1 mile full marathon.
Sign upa platform where runners can register and raise money for races, calls Thanksgiving “the biggest American running day of the year.” More and more people are participating, it said. In 2023, the site registered more turkey runners than ever before, with nearly 1 million runners registered nationwide.
Some people do it for fitnessothers raise money for their families and communities, and many for charities. The race attracts both beginners and serious runners.
Turkey Trot also has other names such as Gobble Wobble, Drumstick Dash, and Huffing for Stuffing. Most races are held on Thanksgiving Day, but some races are held on the weekends before or after.
Thomas and his sons have been running in the Thanksgiving race for the past few years. Sometimes other relatives also participate. Plus, some people cheer them on from the sidelines.
Part of the appeal is the community
Thanksgiving athletic events are not a new idea. Just ask the 14,000 participants in the local YMCA’s 129th annual Turkey Trot race in Buffalo, New York.
Mike Baggerman, Communications Director YMCA Buffalo Niagarasaid that the Buffalo race is officially one year older than the Buffalo race. boston marathon — has become a hallmark of the community.
While some runners enter 8K races out of a competitive spirit and break records, the overwhelming majority are people like you and me who just want to do something fun on Thanksgiving Day.
Baggerman said children and people who use wheelchairs often attend.
“One of the most memorable races,” he said. “It’s a fun run.”
Another part is fitness and health
Many novice runners train for the Turkey Trot in the weeks and months leading up to Thanksgiving. Even if you don’t run regularly, the impact of the activity is probably combination of walking and running — You’ll feel better.
Casey Young, a Michigan-based nutritionist and fitness instructor, says it’s often difficult to prioritize exercise and exercise during a week with long to-do lists and multiple stressors. For her, Thanksgiving races not only help people reach their physical activity goals, but also help stabilize mood and reduce stress.
“The holidays can be a stressful time for many people, and some people travel, which can add even more stress and take them out of their usual routine,” Young says. “So any time you have an opportunity to move your body, it’s a positive thing.”
Young points out that exercising may make you “more mindful and intentional” when eating later, but that the purpose of exercise isn’t to score a decadent Thanksgiving meal or to eat it later. He warns against the idea that it is a matter of consumption. It can foster an “unhealthy relationship with food.”
She says Turkish trotters should instead emphasize physical activity and its health benefits.
And the fundraising campaign begins
Beyond the physical and emotional benefits, many turkey walkers lean into the spirit of gratitude and giving back this holiday.
Some races are held as fundraisers in conjunction with local organizations. Participants’ registration fees and donations made on their behalf often benefit causes such as food banks, homeless shelters, and community programs.
Baggerman said the Buffalo Niagara YMCA’s turkey trot is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year, raising money for affordable child care, community classes, health and wellness programs, and efforts to combat food insecurity. He said he is doing so.
“It’s more than just a fun five-mile run on Thanksgiving Day, it’s something that helps fulfill the YMCA’s mission to strengthen communities in Western New York,” he said. “It’s a miracle that the people of Buffalo step up every year and sell out this race for 14,000.”
