Colorado Turkey Trot Is Tradition In Every Town
For most of us Thanksgiving is about pumpkin pie, turkey, football, and of course, giving thanks. But for active people in Colorado, Thanksgiving morning usually begins with the traditional turkey trot.
Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July are easily the busiest running race days of the year, and in Colorado, a turkey trot is held in nearly every community across the state. The majority of Colorado turkey trot races are relatively short, allowing for plenty of time for regional travel, socializing, and of course, eating.
Turkey trots really vary by race. Some will be the “stroll along with the kids, dogs, strollers, teddy bear, etc” type, while others such as the race in Fort Collins bring out some pretty stiff competition. Some Colorado turkey trot races have a strong traditional aspect, such as the Longmont Turkey Trot, now in it’s 36th year. True to the spirit of the holiday, prizes at any given turkey trot is likely to be something along the lines of a turkey, a turkey-shaped prize, a pie, or in some cases, CASH (see Panicking Poultry and Fort Collins Thanksgiving Run) so you can treat all your friends to dinner. But regardless of the character or competitive level, nearly all Colorado turkey trots welcome the entire family and likely include special kids events, such as the free kids fun run at Colorado Springs’ Briargate Turkey Trot.
In addition to the fun, competition, and tradition of any Colorado turkey trot, the biggest motivation for most is calorie offset. When people know they’re planning to put in a really substantial day of eating, there’s a fair amount of incentive to help balance the calories for the day. Running in a Turkey Trot is also a wonderful way to begin, or hopefully, maintain a healthy lifestyle through the holidays. If you need help finding a turkey trot in your area, the Racing Colorado Running Calendar lists plenty of Colorado turkey trots.
But through all the running, walking and competing, it’s important to remember the real purpose of Thanksgiving. Most Colorado turkey trots are fundraisers for worthy causes, such as the Loveland Turkey Trot, supporting Stepping Stones Adult Day Care. But even if your turkey trot is just a training run or some kind of informal run with friends, remember to take just a moment to reflect on all you have to be grateful for – even if it’s just the simple fact that you can run/walk/trot/move on Thanksgiving.
Loveland Classic 10K, 5K Shows Promise
Kids & parents testing their mettle
With the exception of a mismarked 5k route, the Loveland Classic at Centerra is turning into a solid race in northern Colorado. With over 320 finishers between the 5K and 10K, the race is building on its previous success. Held at the autoplex at Centerra, the course was good, and the clear weather at an early 7:30 start helped make it a nice summertime race. There were also a .5 mile and 1 mile run for the kids as part of the Healthy Kids Series (check out our Facebook page to see some pictures). With a very family-friendly post race expo with food, and some kind of non-dairy frozen non-ice cream – it really was tasty – , it’s a great family event.
Race organizers did commit that ultimate (and unforgivable to some) sin of a mis-marked 5K course, causing some to run off course before being rerouted back on track. The organizers responded as appropriately as they could in a situation like that, adjusting the times of all affected. While they may lose some fans for the error, the field would not be considered one of the fastest (take note, age groupers looking for a podium spot!). An errant course is something that most races don’t repeat more than once (don’t bring up Colfax Marathon here…), and assuming course markings will be double and triple checked next year, the race will continue to grow and become a highlight on the northern Colorado runner’s annual calendar.
Community Classic Bike Tour – Free Entry!!
Free Entry to the 22nd Annual Community Classic Bike Tour – May 17th
Racing Colorado is offering a limited number of free entries to this beautiful ride through the foothills of Larimer County. The ride starts in Loveland, and you can choose to ride 10 miles, 30 miles, 37 miles, or the full 62-mile course.
The “CCBT†is a great way to enjoy spring time on 2 wheels in Colorado. It’s also good training for other rides later in the season. For full details of the ride, click here.
“So how can I get the free entry?”
There are two options to enter the drawing. You may click here to complete a short survey about active events in Colorado. Alternatively, just add a comment to this or any post here on RaceBlog. Be sure to mention something like, “Hey, set me up with a free CCBT entry!” Note: Your email address will NOT be published and will only be used to contact winners (so be sure to include an email that you check regularly).
Upcoming Colorado Events- Ralston Creek Half Marathon
- Valentine`s Day 5K
- 3W Heart Throb Run 5K
- Cupid`s Undie Run
- Love `em or Leave `em Valentine`s Day 5K Run/Walk
- Dick`s Sporting Goods Loveland Sweetheart Classic
- Dick`s Sporting Goods Loveland Sweetheart Classic
- HRCA Sunday Bloody Sunday 5k Challenge
- Super Bowl 5K
- Gold Rush Nordic Race Series
- Super Sunday Fun Run 5K
- SnowDash Extreme 5K / Echo Mnt. Colorado
- 5 k Moonlight Snowshoe
Oakley Offer