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.
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