It’s Thanksgiving Day. Time to eat mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, watch football and reflect on what you’re thankful for. However, before partaking in these festivities, thousands of Americans enjoy participating in a local Turkey Trot. A Turkey Trot is a long-distance foot race that takes place in many cities across the country on or around Thanksgiving Day. These races can range anywhere from a 5k (3.1 miles) up to a half marathon (13.1 miles). The very first Turkey Trot took place in Buffalo, New York in 1896. People may participate in a Turkey Trot for a number of reasons; maybe they are an avid runner, or maybe they just want to burn some calories before a big Thanksgiving dinner.
One notable Turkey Trot race in America is the one that takes place in downtown Detroit. An annual tradition that has taken place for over 40 years, Detroit’s Turkey Trot is often referred to as “the parade before the Parade,” as it leads off hours before Detroit’s legendary Thanksgiving Parade. Like many other Turkey Trots, the Detroit race offers a variety of distances for people to run, based on their ability. There is a classic 5k race, a 10k race (6.2 miles) for those who enjoy more of a challenge and a simple one-mile race. Combos are also offered. (For example, if someone can run the 5k race and the mile race.) Something unique about this Turkey Trot is a special runner that has often made an appearance. Doug Curtis is a long-distance runner from Michigan, who currently holds the world record for the most marathons run in under three hours, having run over 200 marathons in this time. Curtis has participated in countless local races around Michigan, including the Detroit Turkey Trot. Due to his talent and commitment to running, Curtis was the former race director of the Detroit Turkey Trot for many years.
As someone who has been running for my entire life, running the Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving staple for my Dad and me. Each year, we wake up at the crack of dawn to start our trek to downtown Detroit for our race at 8:30. Before the race, all participants meet in the Huntington Place building— formerly known as Cobo Hall. The energy is always high, and conversation buzzes throughout the building. Many people dress up in fun Thanksgiving-themed outfits for the occasion, some going as far as sporting an inflatable turkey costume. However, most wear the annual Turkey Trot shirt, which is a different color each year.
As the minutes creep closer to race time, we migrate out of the building down to Griswold Street, where the 5k begins. Runners sort into their correct starting wave, which is sorted based on their running speed. After a warm welcome and a performance of the National Anthem, the race kicks off. The course travels through infamous parts of downtown Detroit; up and down Woodward Avenue, running over I-75 and looping through many other well-known streets. Throughout the race, spectators line the roads, cheering and often playing holiday music. There are a couple of water stations and cookie stations run by race day volunteers along the route. The end of the 5k leads back to Huntington Place, where runners met at the very beginning. Through the finishing chute, runners’ names are announced as they cross the finish line, beside a clock displaying their time. Past the line, runners can collect water and their respective medals, based on the race they ran. Back inside Huntington Place, runners can get photos against different backdrops or pick up a variety of free giveaways from sponsoring companies.
As for the 2024 Detroit Turkey Trot, it was a success greater than any previous year. It was the first year the race was completely sold out in 42 years, with a total of 16,000 runners participating. When walking down Griswold Street at the beginning of the race, the road was completely packed, and trying to stay together while weaving our way up to our correct wave was a challenge. Every struggle was completely worth it because the accomplishment I felt at the end was indescribable.
If you want to add a little extra excitement to the annual Metro-Detroit Thanksgiving season, consider signing up for the Detroit Turkey Trot.
