ELLICOTT CITY. REPORTER: IT IS A THANKSGIVING TRADITION. BEFORE A TURKEY DINNER, THERE’S A TURKEY TROT. FOR THOUSANDS OF MARYLANDERS, A TURKEY TROT IS HOW YOU START THIS DAY. A 5K FIRST THING. >> I THINK THIS IS OUR 4TH YEAR? >> I REALLY ENJOY SPORTS. I AM ATHLETIC AND I LIKE PLAYING LACROSSE, TOO. SO IT’S JUST LIKE A NICE RUN TO SET ME UP. >> WELL, WE CAME HERE JUST TO START WALKING AND THIS IS REALLY MY FIRST ONE. BUT MY GRANDMOTHER, SHE ACTUALLY WALKED 20 MILES. >> YEARS AGO. SO THIS IS LIKE REINVENTING AND TEACHING HIM ABOUT GIVING BACK AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO GIVE BACK. REPORTER: 2400 PEOPLE HERE IN ELLICOTT CITY THURSDAY MORNING. ONE OF SIX RACES TO BENEFIT THE Y IN CENTRAL MARYLAND. >> OH WOW. WE DIDN’T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GONNA BE HERE. THAT’S EXCITING. THAT’S GREAT. IT’S A GREAT EVENT. REPORTER: NOW WHY ARE YOU RUNNING IN A FASHIONABLE OUTFIT? [LAUGHTER] >> I JUST CHOSE IT BECAUSE IT’S WARM. REPORTER: DOGS AND STROLLERS ARE WELCOME. SPECTATORS ENCOURAGED. COSTUMES EXPECTED. >> WE’VE SEEN PEOPLE DRESSED UP AS TURKEYS, WE’VE SEEN PILGRIMS, WE’VE SEEN DOG COSTUMES, PEOPLE COME OUT IN TUTUS, TURKEY HATS, SO IT RUNS THE GAMIT. >> THE BEST PART ABOUT THANKSGIVING. IS THE DESERT OBVIOUSLY. >> THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO START THE HOLIDAY BECAUSE THE FUNDS HELP EVERYONE TO EAT PIE. REPORTER: ACCORDING TO RUNNING USA, THANKSGIVING IS THE MOST POPULAR RACE DAY OF THE YEAR WITH NEARLY ONE MILLION AMERICANS TAKING PART. BUT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT IT’S ALL THANKS TO THE Y IN BUFFALO, WHERE THE TURKEY TROT WAS BORN IN 1896. BACK THEN IT WAS AN 8K CROSS COUNTRY COURSE WITH JUST SIX RUNNERS. AND ONLY FOUR OF THEM FINISHED. ON THANKSGIVING DAY 2022, SOME 14,000 PEOPLE ACROSS CROSS THE FINISH LINE FOR THE 5K IN CENTRAL MARYLAND, HOPING TO
Thousands of runners take part in Turkey Trot, raising about $1M
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Updated: 7:22 PM EST Nov 24, 2022
Thousands of Marylanders went for a run Thanksgiving morning before many people even ate breakfast.The 5K Turkey Trot was held to have fun and raise money for the Y in Central Maryland.Carole White participated in the 5K with her husband, Doug White, and their two children for the fourth year."Well, we came here just to start walking, and this is really my first one. But my grandmother, she actually walked 20 miles," said Aidan Barnes, 10."This is like reinventing and teaching him about giving back in different ways," said Veronica Tobin, who participated in the Turkey Trot with her husband, Randy Tobin, and their grandson, Aiden Barnes.Some 2,400 people turned out in Ellicott City for one of six races to benefit the Y in Central Maryland. Dogs and strollers were welcome, spectators were encouraged and costumes were expected."We've seen people dressed up as turkeys, we've seen pilgrims, we've seen dog costumes, people come out in tutus, turkey hats, so it runs the gamut." said Dawn Chrystal-Wolfe, with the Y in Central Maryland."This is a good way to start the holiday because the funds help everyone to eat pie," Tobin said.According to Running USA, Thanksgiving is the most popular race day of the year with nearly 1 million Americans taking part, and it's all thanks to the Y in Buffalo, where the Turkey Trot was born in 1896. Back then, it was an 8K course with just six runners -- and only four of them finished.This year, participants helped to raise almost $1 million.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — Thousands of Marylanders went for a run Thanksgiving morning before many people even ate breakfast.
The 5K Turkey Trot was held to have fun and raise money for the Y in Central Maryland.
Carole White participated in the 5K with her husband, Doug White, and their two children for the fourth year.
"Well, we came here just to start walking, and this is really my first one. But my grandmother, she actually walked 20 miles," said Aidan Barnes, 10.
"This is like reinventing and teaching him about giving back in different ways," said Veronica Tobin, who participated in the Turkey Trot with her husband, Randy Tobin, and their grandson, Aiden Barnes.
Some 2,400 people turned out in Ellicott City for one of six races to benefit the Y in Central Maryland. Dogs and strollers were welcome, spectators were encouraged and costumes were expected.
"We've seen people dressed up as turkeys, we've seen pilgrims, we've seen dog costumes, people come out in tutus, turkey hats, so it runs the gamut." said Dawn Chrystal-Wolfe, with the Y in Central Maryland.
"This is a good way to start the holiday because the funds help everyone to eat pie," Tobin said.
According to Running USA, Thanksgiving is the most popular race day of the year with nearly 1 million Americans taking part, and it's all thanks to the Y in Buffalo, where the Turkey Trot was born in 1896. Back then, it was an 8K course with just six runners -- and only four of them finished.
This year, participants helped to raise almost $1 million.
