Thanksgiving is a day set aside by many Americans for family, friends and food.
For a growing number of people, Thanksgiving also includes a morning run, or turkey trot.
To some, that might sound crazy, stupid or downright sacrilegious to ruin a perfectly good national holiday with anything but stuffing, dinner table political discussions, gravy, football and a tryptophan-induced afternoon nap. But for nearly a million runners (901,753) last year and surely to continue upward this year, according to the non-profit Running USA, Thanksgiving is just another race day.
In fact, Thanksgiving is the top holiday for running, just ahead of the Fourth of July, both holidays that offer pretty nice finish-line feast options. The Buffalo Niagara YMCA Turkey Trot has been run consecutively since 1896 and organizers claim it’s the oldest-consecutive foot race in North America, as up to 14,000 runners participate.
Races – both timed and untimed – are offered all over the country with varying entry fees, charitable donations and costume options.
Costumes, you say? Some races encourage runners to dig up their Halloween costumes for another go, making it no surprise to see participants dressed as turkeys, reindeer or Santa Claus. (Even jolly St. Nick needs to get his ten thousand steps, especially this time of year.)
This year, there are at least five turkey trots in The Era’s coverage area or nearby, giving runners and walkers of all skill levels a chance to burn off a few calories before their big feast.
Two runs – one in Port Allegany and the other in St. Marys – are benefit runs, while Kane and St. Bonaventure both have runs that are free with runners encouraged to bring a donation for the food pantry.
In Elk County, the Schlimm family’s traditional 5K turkey trot started 11 years ago as the family’s way to remember grandfathers William Harvey and John Schlimm, both who died of prostate cancer. To date the event has raised close to $35,000, which is donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
As the event has grown over the years, other runners have competed in memory of loved ones affected by prostate disease.
“We have a chalkboard every year that lists who you are racing for and it is filled with new names every year,” event organizer Nikki (Schlimm) Kashner said, adding that she hopes the t-shirts given out at the race, when seen by others, serve as a reminder to get screened.
“Since we started this race, the way prostate cancer is screened for, diagnosed and treated has changed,” Kashner said. “I like to think that here in St. Marys we are responsible for a small part of that.”
The race starts at Kashner’s parents house at 1009 Earth Road and is expected to bring in at least $3,000 in donations.
Port Allegany’s five-kilometer, 3.1-mile run benefits the varsity soccer boosters and attracts athletes from all over the North Tier of all age levels. Last year’s winners were Gabe Trimbur, a former Coudersport and current Wagner College runner, and Autumn Buchsenschutz, Port Allegany’s top soccer player who was recently announced as the Upper Allegheny Valley Soccer League North division MVP.
Also in McKean County, Ned and Lynda Karger’s annual turkey trot starts and ends at their house on Hemlock Ave. across from the Kane Middle School. Now in its sixth year, the race started as a way to burn some calories before chowing down on turkey and all the fixings later in the day. The unofficially timed event, which has no entry fee other than the Kargers asking for a food pantry donation, had 63 runners last year and collected more than $200 and more than 200 food items.
If you see a giant turkey near St. Bonaventure – or maybe even a runner dressed as Ken Bone, Donald Trump or Harley Quinn – don’t be alarmed. The Olean Family YMCA’s annual 5K fun run and walk trots off at 9 a.m. from Murphy Auditorium on campus. Costumes are encouraged for this event, which is untimed, and food pantry donations are welcomed.
Over in Warren County, the fifth annual Downtown Turkey Trot begins and ends at the Warren County Courthouse. The race, which is billed as “flat and fast”, begins at 8:30 a.m. and people may also participate by dressing up as their favorite superhero, police officer or firefighter for the Hero Run.
If winning doesn’t already come with its own satisfaction, the top three male and female finishers get a fresh-baked pie from a local restaurant.
St. Marys
What: Annual Schlimm family turkey trot 5K
Start: 9 a.m. (runners), 10 a.m. (walkers)
Where: 1009 Earth Road, St. Marys
Cost: $20; all proceeds go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation
Contact: Nikki Kashner, 412-400-6460
Port Allegany
What: Port Allegany varsity soccer boosters 5K run/walk
Start: 9 a.m.
Where: Port Allegany High School, 20 Oak St., Port Allegany
Cost: $25
Contact: Bill Burleson, 814-598-0322
Kane
What: 6th Annual Kane Turkey Trot 5K
Start: 10 a.m.
Where: 409 West Hemlock Ave., Kane
Cost: Free, but participants are encouraged to bring cash or a non-perishable donation for the Kane Food Pantry
Contact: Ned & Lynda Karger, 814-598-0875
St. Bonaventure
What: YMCA of the Twin Tiers annual turkey trot 5K fun run/walk
Start: 9 a.m.
Where: YMCA of the Twin Tiers at St. Bonaventure University (Murphy Auditorium)
Cost: Free, but participants are encouraged to bring a non-perishable donation for the food pantry
Contact: Olean YMCA, 716-373-2400
Warren
What: 5th Annual Warren Downtown Turkey Trot
Start: 8:30 a.m., registration at 7 a.m.
Where: Warren County Courthouse, 407 Market St., Warren
Cost: $20
Contact: warrenparuns.com
