How Thanksgiving Turkey Trots Became So Popular

Publish date: 2020-11-08

In 2015, Thanksgiving eclipsed the Fourth of July to become the most popular day for Americans to run a race, according to Runner's World — in 2018, there were about 1 million runners participating in Thanksgiving-themed races (via The New York Times).

Though the trend started in Buffalo, the 20th century saw turkey trots popping up all over the country, from early footraces like those in New Orleans and Cincinnati to more recent additions. Today, you can even go to a turkey trot in the birthplace of Thanksgiving — this year, Plymouth, Massachusetts is hosting its 5th Annual Running of the Pilgrims.

Why are they so popular? Besides the calorie-burning potential, race organizers point out that it's a family-friendly way to spend time with loved ones before settling down to eat. "Generations of family and friends come out and it's a reunion of sorts," said Anne Reif, an organizer of the Buffalo YMCA Thanksgiving race, to The New York Times. "It's become the thing to do on Thanksgiving."

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