Buffalo Turkey Trot
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo Turkey Trot is an annual Thanksgiving footrace
held in Buffalo, New York
each Thanksgiving Day
. The Buffalo Turkey Trot, a popular fundraiser for the local branch of the YMCA
, runs five miles down Delaware Avenue
in Buffalo.
The race proclaims itself to be the oldest continually running public footrace in North America, having established itself in 1896 and run every year since. The race on Thursday, November 24, 2011 will mark its 116th consecutive start. The Around the Bay Road Race
in Hamilton, Ontario, first run in 1894, also claims the title of Oldest Road Race in North America, although that race was not held during World War I
or during a ten-year stretch between 1925 and 1935.
The Turkey Trot has increased in popularity in recent years. It drew a crowd of 12,500 runners (the maximum the YMCA would allow) for the 2010 race, resulting in the YMCA arranging to increase capacity and accommodate 13,200 runners in 2011, which also maxed out several days before Thanksgiving.
The race is partially a serious competition and partially a fun run
; participants in the Turkey Trot have been known to wear unusual costumes (comparable to those used by the contestants in the game show Let's Make a Deal
) such as turkey suits, hockey uniforms with mullets, whole canoes, Chewbacca
outfits, or formal wedding wear while racing.
Turkey Trot
A Turkey Trot is a fun run or footrace, usually of the long-distance variety, that is held on or around Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Americans anticipate indulgent Thanksgiving feasts and run in turkey trots to burn off calories before the big meal....
held in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
each Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
. The Buffalo Turkey Trot, a popular fundraiser for the local branch of the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, runs five miles down Delaware Avenue
New York State Route 384
New York State Route 384 is a state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is a north–south route extending from the city of Buffalo, Erie County to the city of Niagara Falls, Niagara County, and is one of several routes directly connecting the two cities. The southern terminus...
in Buffalo.
The race proclaims itself to be the oldest continually running public footrace in North America, having established itself in 1896 and run every year since. The race on Thursday, November 24, 2011 will mark its 116th consecutive start. The Around the Bay Road Race
Around the Bay Road Race
Around the Bay Road Race, is the oldest long distance road race in North America, held in Hamilton, Ontario since 1894, nearly three years before the Boston Marathon, though is not marathon length...
in Hamilton, Ontario, first run in 1894, also claims the title of Oldest Road Race in North America, although that race was not held during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
or during a ten-year stretch between 1925 and 1935.
The Turkey Trot has increased in popularity in recent years. It drew a crowd of 12,500 runners (the maximum the YMCA would allow) for the 2010 race, resulting in the YMCA arranging to increase capacity and accommodate 13,200 runners in 2011, which also maxed out several days before Thanksgiving.
The race is partially a serious competition and partially a fun run
Fun run
A fun run is a friendly race that involves either road running or cross country running with participants taking part for their own enjoyment rather than competition. A fun run will usually be held to raise funds for a charity, with sponsors providing the revenue to cover organisational costs...
; participants in the Turkey Trot have been known to wear unusual costumes (comparable to those used by the contestants in the game show Let's Make a Deal
Let's Make a Deal
Let's Make a Deal is a television game show which originated in the United States and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. The show is based around deals offered to members of the audience by the host. The traders usually have to weigh the possibility of an offer being...
) such as turkey suits, hockey uniforms with mullets, whole canoes, Chewbacca
Chewbacca
Chewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
outfits, or formal wedding wear while racing.
See also
- World's Largest DiscoWorld's Largest DiscoThe World's Largest Disco is an annual event held at the Buffalo Convention Center in Buffalo, New York each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving...
- Dallas Turkey TrotDallas Turkey TrotThe Capital One Bank Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is an annual footrace over an course through the city of Dallas, Texas . There is also a Fun run; however, official results for the fun run are not recorded...
, the Buffalo Turkey Trot's larger cousin