So you’ve finally decided to do it. You’re registered for your first Turkey Trot and, ready or not, the big day is nearly upon us.
The Thanksgiving morning race experience can be exciting, but also nerve-wracking for the newcomer. There are usually hundreds, if not thousands, of runners in attendance ranging from dads pushing strollers all the way to college-caliber athletes and beyond.
As you take a dive into this sea of humanity, it’s important to not only know the dos and don’ts of race day etiquette, but also to take in the atmosphere and relish it, because within hours the streets will be empty as families gather for the holiday.
It can be a difficult day to navigate for the first timer, so I’ve put together a list of four simple tips to help get the most out of your morning on the race paths:
Get there early
This could be the first tip for any activity, but it’s especially relevant for a Turkey Trot.
As you scan the roads looking for a place to park, there will be streets that are closed off, crossing guards, and runners densely packed onto every corner going through their warmup routines. Depending on your timeliness and luck, you could end up parking up to a mile away from the starting line.
Assuming you’ve found a parking spot, there are still other things to do, like picking up your race bib and ensuring your body is ready to compete. Sometimes those pre-race butterflies can turn into a race to the restroom, and I will tell you from experience there are few worse feelings than being third in line to use the port-a-john as the race director counts down from 10 to sound the starting gun.
It’s a lot of unnecessary stress that can be prevented by properly managing your time.
Prepare accordingly.
Respect your fellow runners
As much as running is an individual sport, you are not the only individual out there. The actions you take on the course can make, or disrupt, the flow of a race.
This process begins before the race even starts, as you shuffle your way through the crowd to find your starting position. If you settle in too far back, you’re going to find yourself expending considerable energy just to run around the slower waves of runners. Likewise, if you’re a hobby runner that lines up at the very front, it’s going to cause issues for the speedy runners behind you and could lead to an accidental trampling. Keep your eyes open in the starting corral for signs that indicate the best starting position for your desired pace.
The courtesy should carry on to the course. If you’re making a pass in tight quarters, use phrases like “coming from your left” to communicate with those in front of you. Wearing headphones is OK for some races (check the rules), but if you take this route, make sure your volume is down enough that you can still hear the race officials and your fellow runners.
Finally, when you cross the finish line, don’t pig out on the post-race snacks. It’s not fair to the runners in the back, some of whom are putting in an hour of work or more, for the food and water that was included with their race entry to be completely depleted when they need it the most.
Savor the moment
When you’re going at a semi-sprint for 3.1 miles, it’s not easy to “stop and smell the roses,” but there are plenty of memories to be made on this special day of racing.
Whether you’re aiming for an AG award or just trying to make it to the finish line, take a moment to appeciate the pomp and grandeur of the whole atmosphere. There’s no other country in the world where nearly one million runners flock to compete on the same day.
There will be times in the race when you’re battling through tired legs or a side stitch, but if you focus on the step you’re on and stay positive, there’s no doubt you’ll make it to the end.
And if you need to slow down a little bit, don’t sweat it: The only person judging your time will be yourself.
Talk about the Turkey Trot
This could very well be the most important step of the day as it’s almost a certainty there will be a family member at your Thanksgiving table just waiting to derail the day by taking a deep dive into the political discourse.
You can nip this problem in the bud by beating them to the punch with talk of your race-day exploits. Explain your strategy to your siblings and wow your cousins by regaling how you powered through that side stitch. By the time your uncle finally has a moment to hijack the conversation, you’ll already be on your way for a third trip to the chow line, with grandma encouraging you to eat up because you’re “too skinny.”
No matter how you choose to spend your Thanksgiving — whether it’s running in a Turkey Trot or watching the big game on TV — I hope you have a happy one!
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
The Harrisburg Marathon and Half offers a flat and fast course, perfect conditions to go for a sizzling time.
Chambersburg’s Rachel Stone understood the assignment in the half marathon, blazing through the race at a 6:54/mile clip to finish as third female in 1:30:24. She was chased by Chambersburg’s Lisa Smith (2:06:58), Greencastle’s Wanda Baker (2:16:49), and Hagerstown’s Tracy Zamora (2:17:07).
Joshua Reddoch, of Greencastle, was the top Local.News runner at the Harrisburg Marathon. He cruised to the finish line in 3:39:55 to lead a group that included Hagerstown’s Kendal Reed (4:10:39) and Chambersburg’s Alfred Smith (4:17:39).
In Annapolis, Md., more than 15,000 runners showed up for the Bay Bridge Run 10K, including several locals. Will Marquiss set the pace for area runners, with the Hagerstown standout finishing in 42:51 to take second in the 55-59 AG. Ron Taylor won the 60-64 AG in 46:08, while fellow Chambersburg runner Eric Hutchison completed the race in 46:32. Other top times were recorded by Hagerstown’s Richard Marquiss (52:43) and Juliana Brechbill (54:10), Chambersburg’s Chrissy Lucas (52:51) and Matt Kuhns (53:07), and Waynesboro’s Carrie Hott.
A handful of area runners fueled up for a trip to Virginia to take on Richmond Marathon Weekend. Greencastle’s Dan Harp (4:33:45) and Nathanael Pugh (4:34:13) completed the marathon, while Fairfield’s Taylor Bizon (1:35:47) and Benjamin Wallace (1:44:43) were standouts in the half marathon. The Richmond 8K featured a fast finish in 43:08 from Greencastle’s Joanna Harp (43:08).
A number of others were involved in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s Deann Diehl (40:31 at Run Friends Run 5K), Greencastle’s Maliya Robison (2:19:36 at Historic Drawbridge Half Marathon), Chambersburg’s Liza Ernst (25:59 at Nicola Pizza 5K) and Mark Ward (26:25 at Storm Warriors Boardwalk 5K), and Hagerstown’s Mary Plank (1:11:02 at Battleship 10K) and Shelby Moleskie (1:34:34 at Backyard Burn Trail Run 10 Miler).
And finally, a shoutout to Hagerstown runner Patricia Brockway, who competed at the Battleship Half Marathon in Wilmington, N.C., and conquered the 70+ AG with a time of 2:43:59.
And now, a look ahead:
Greencastle Turkey Trot 5K: Thursday, Nov. 28, 8 a.m., in Greencastle. Burn off those Turkey Day calories with this race, which benefits the Greencastle Flyers Youth Club and Greencastle’s high school track and cross country teams. Learn more on greencastleflyers.org.
Shippensburg Turkey Trot 5K: Thursday, Nov. 28, 9 a.m., in Shippensburg. Gather at Shippensburg’s Memorial Park for this race, which benefits the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail and the Shippensburg Produce Outreach. Check out the race on timberhilltiming.com.
HCC Turkey Trot 5K: Thursday, Nov. 28, 9 a.m., in Hagerstown, Md. Bring your running shoes, and canned goods and toys for donation, for this race, which loops through the HCC campus. Find the event on runsignup.com.
Also: Pie Cobbler 1M/5K/10K (Saturday, in Manheim); Luau 5K/10K/15K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in Hughesville); Give Thanks for Lebanon 5K/10K (Saturday, in Lebanon); Girls on the Run 5K (Saturday, in Lancaster); Philadelphia Marathon Weekend (Saturday-Sunday, in Philadelphia); Carlisle Family YMCA Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Carlisle); East Berlin 5K Turkey Trot (Thursday, Nov. 28, in East Berlin); Great Turkey Chase 5K (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Elizabethtown); Millersville Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Millersville); Newport Turkey Trot 5K/10K (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Newport); Pie Gobbler 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Harrisburg); Run for the Diamonds 9 Miler (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Berwick); SMT Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 28, in New Cumberland); Sticks and Biscuits 5K (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Palmyra); Thanksgiving Day Community 5K Turkey Trot (Thursday, Nov. 28, in New Oxford); Thundering Pickle Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 28, in Dillsburg); York YMCA 5K Turkey Trot (Thursday, Nov. 28, in York); Spring Valley 4 Miler (Sunday, Dec. 1, in Glen Rock).
