“Gobble Gobble” was the phrase shouted by runners of all ages and skill levels at Fort Thomas’s annual Turkey Trot. On Thanksgiving morning at 7:30 a.m., runners started at Tower Park’s Mess Hall, ran to Highlands and then ran back. This was a full 3.1 miles of fun and laughter, and we had the best time.
The Turkey Trot, originating in Buffalo, NY in 1896, is the oldest continuously run footrace in the United States. While many races may be competitive, Fort Thomas’ is all about fun, family and community.
Part of what makes these races so fun are the costumes. There were people in turkey hats, poofy skirts, and some even wearing full blown costumes. For our outfit we all wore hilarious shirts with mottos like “they see me rollin’” and “guess what turkey butt.” In addition, we carried a speaker with us during the race that was playing hype music for everyone.
Most people don’t come to this race to gain a personal record, but to hang out with their friends and families. We ran a steady pace while cheering on others and singing to our music. Everyone around us seemed to be doing the same thing, with laughter and words of encouragement ringing in our ears. It didn’t matter how fast everyone ran, what mattered was coming together on an early morning and starting Thanksgiving in the best way possible.
We arrived at the mess hall at about 7:00 a.m. and it was freezing. We wore hats, gloves, thermal shirts and double leggings to stay warm. Upon arrival we got a white long sleeve shirt, which was included in registration, and a photo with the grinch.
The run was early on a major holiday, so only about 45 people showed up. Even with the small crowd, we were all talking and laughing with each other the entire race. The energy from the runners definitely got us through this race.
The race worked a bit differently than Fort Thomas’s other 5k, The Firecracker. There were no race bibs, medals or official timers, which was perfect for a casual race. Oftentimes we find ourselves obsessing over our times and whether or not we improved. However, the Turkey Trot allowed us to enjoy running with our community.
The Turkey Trot is a race we will run every single year. There’s nothing better than getting home from the race at 8:30 a.m. and still having hours of the holiday left.
