Thanksgiving Cheer at the Turkey Trots

By Laura Clark

Fall is now upon us, with its crisp temperatures, scent of wood smoke, and comfy fleece wraps, begging us to hunker down with a warm drink and enjoy the company of family and friends. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, embrace your local community, where it seems as if every town hosts its own turkey trot. The Calendar of Events lists turkey trots within a three-hour radius to give you and family plenty of options whether you’re staying home or traveling.

Turkeys have no restrictions as they are self-propelled and their ability to travel is solely limited by how much they can stuff into their bodies. So whichever event you choose, be assured that our feathered friends from near and far will show up to strut their stuff. Turkey trots appeal to our community spirit as well as our Puritan heritage which demands that we earn our feast. And it is a justifiable excuse to escape those last-minute holiday chores!

And who doesn’t like turkey? If you just can’t get enough, know that you can also take part in pre-Thanksgiving at the Bolton PTO’s Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Nov. 21, launching from Bolton Landing’s Veteran’s Memorial Park on Lake George. Since turkeys favor big family flocks, this event is family oriented with budget-friendly fees of $5 per student, $20 per adult, and $40 per family. Poults can enjoy a one-mile Kids Block Trot through town. The route has a mix of hills and flats, leading to a scenic tour of Green Island, home of the Sagamore Resort. Afterwards, enjoy the concession stand where race shirts are also available for purchase. Before you come, empty out your coin jar for the “Help make a change with your small change” collection. Proceeds benefit Bolton parent teacher organization initiatives: boltoncsd.org.

On Thanksgiving Day, many locals honor tradition by participating in the 79th annual Troy Turkey Trot, America’s 12th oldest road race. There’s an event for everyone on the food chain, from a 5K to the region’s only Thanksgiving 10K, a Grade School Mile, and a Turkey Walk. Friends and family who live far away can sign up for the Virtual Run, with a flight path extending from Thanksgiving Day to the Sunday after.

The 8am flat and fast 10K offers prize money, attracting a more serious crowd. The 5K commences at 10am, providing an opportunity for partners to trade off childcare duties. Both routes are out and back, with the 5K resembling a costume parade. If you have young poults entering their first 5K, this entertaining experience spotting turkeys, Disney characters and ballerinas will give them something to focus on when the going gets tough. To add to the fun, come in costume and have your picture taken at the photo booth. Back home, visit the website and vote for your favorite costumes. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Regional Food Bank and Joseph’s House & Shelter: troyturkeytrot.com.

Another traditional event is the 45th annual Ellis Cardiac Classic, tracing a flat and fast journey around and through Schenectady’s Central Park. This race caters to the outliers in the crowd. First up, the 5K is strictly runners only, with the two-mile Wellness Walk perfect for those who prefer a more relaxed pace, or who choose to push strollers or include their dogs. The Kids one-mile event around Duck Pond is free. Virtual participation is possible as well. 

Instead of the usual canned food donation, folks are urged to bring new shirts, pants, jackets, socks and underwear to ensure Ellis Hospital patients have presentable clothes to wear home. Think of how many people arrive for treatment with clothes ripped and torn after an accident. And for the final surprise, a quick glance at the map indicates that the route is actually 3.21 miles, earning you that extra helping of gravy! Proceeds benefit the Wright Heart Center at Ellis Hospital: ellismedicinefoundation.org.

Twenty-five years ago, the Christopher Dailey 5K Turkey Trot was established to commemorate the memory of eight-year-old Christopher Dailey, who passed away shortly before Thanksgiving. The original goal was to build a recreation center in memory of the sports-loving boy. I ran the first race in 2002, based from the Dailey’s home, which was basically a tour of the neighborhood. Registration and bathroom facilities were inside their home! Neighbors and classmates comprised the majority of the runners. Outgrowing its venue, the event then moved to the Saratoga Springs City Center and last year 3,772 athletes towed the line. The challenging route heads up Broadway and loops around Skidmore College, which is open for training so you can become familiar with every rise and fall. With the recreation center well-established, the Christopher Dailey Foundation now supports youth recreational facilities, local charities and children with special needs: christopherdaileyfoundation.com.

If you’re looking for a more intimate experience, head to nearby Arlington, VT, where Batten Kill Valley Runners present the 31st annual Running of the Turkeys, featuring some real Vermont hills. When we first moved here, my husband and I sampled a different flock every year and enjoyed Arlington. We appreciated the scenic country drive and especially the fact that it was a more intimate experience, with a roll call hovering in the low 200s. This is a unique 5K event as both walkers and runners have the same pecking order. If you register as a walker, you too, can vie for the first three overall male and female awards in your category. There is a Kids Fun Run for $1 and be on the lookout for a family of four discount. The first 250 participants will receive turkey bling and profits are directed to the BVKR scholarship fund. After you have returned home and consumed your well-earned feast, be sure to post your photos to their Facebook page for the chance to win some vintage turkey swag: runsignup.com. 

So, fluff up your feathers and wattle on, there will be enough turkey to go around! 

Laura Clark (snowshoegal133@gmail.com) of Saratoga Springs is an avid trail runner, ultramarathoner, snowshoer and cross-country skier. She is a children’s librarian at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.