Washington Park Turkey Trot – Great Big, But Not Great

December 10, 2008 · Filed Under Running Race Reviews 

The turkey trot is as much a tradition for some as potatos and pumpkin pie. Next to Bolder Boulder, the local turkey trot is the most popular run. Almost any kind of race is available each Thanksgiving ranging from the informal club trail race to the “run with thousands of revelers” style. Good thing too, because as a good number of Colorado runners are learning, bigger is not always better.

The Mile High United Way Turkey Trot is a long-time tradition, drawing thousands of runners each year to Denver’s Washington Park on Thanksgiving to run and raise money for charitable causes. At four miles, it’s a good race for those who are more likely running (or Heaven forbid, “jogging”) but not really “racing”. But whether it’s Bolder Boulder or a crowd of thousands packed into Washington Park, those looking for a fastest race will have their work cut out for them. Along with winding around runners (or worse, being jostled when getting passed), the logistic issues of getting an accurate time from the starting line to the finish line require a really outstanding run to score your PR. Here are some comments of some of the Washington Park runners from the beginningtriathete.com forum:

Holy cow!!! My husband and I went with our two boys in the double BOB and we had no idea there were going to be so many people. I think the announcer said 8000 people!!!!!!!!! It was insane.

I’m all for helping a good cause, but I find it hard that they have been doing it for 30+ years. The finish line was a mess. There were so many people that we actually had to stop running 15feet before the finish. Then, what a mess with the timing chips. Why was it timed anyways?? There’s too many people for that. I could see it were ALL runners, but there were families, kids, older people, lots of walkers, etc.. I think they should have a rule (like they do with The Race For The Cure) that all walkers stay to the right. It was crazy trying to dodge all the people with my stroller. Yikes!

…next year, we’ll donate the money to a cause and run our own path. It’s just a little too difficult with two young kids-ya know?

I had heard amazing things about this race, but was a little unimpressed. The whole finish line fiasco did not help. There were WAY too many people to have 1 shotgun start. I am happy I did it as it is for a great cause, but not sure I’ll do it next year.

The WPTT supports a good cause but I’ll pass. The Turkey Run at Highlands Ranch is much more manageable…about 1,000 runners.

It is a large race and I knew from last year a large turn out… I think most the people that do a Thanksgiving Turkey trot run are doing it for fun and not really competition.

I’ve never run in Wash Park but it seems to be the most generic place that everyone likes to hold their races at, i.e., pick a cause and throw it in front of “5k” and you’ve got a race. Might do the <Jingle Bell> “5k” in December and this would be my first Wash Park experience. But otherwise, no thanks…

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Comments

4 Responses to “Washington Park Turkey Trot – Great Big, But Not Great”

  1. RunColo on January 1st, 2009 11:05 pm

    Yeah, I did not run that race but I can’t imagine that many people packed into Washington Park. You would think that a race with that many people would be moved to a location that better suits the race.

    Also no need to time that many runners, my guess is 80% of the people running don’t care about their time and I’m guessing that they did not have mats at the start and finish for timing purposes.

  2. Racing Colorado on January 24th, 2009 7:17 pm

    It’s the Bolder Boulder of Wash park!

  3. heather! on February 25th, 2009 8:02 pm

    i know this is a little late but… we went to the opera on valentine’s day and guess who one of the major sponsors is? the united way. now i don’t know about you, but i’ve never really considered opera colorado a real needy organization… it sucks because so many of those comments were like “oh the money’s going to a good cause…” and it seems like that’s pretty questionable.

  4. Martha HANSEN on November 12th, 2009 9:23 pm

    I would like to regester for the 2009 Turkey Trot. Please send information.

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