For 110 years now, Buffalonians looking for a little exercise before the big Thanksgiving meal have hit the streets to run the Turley Trot, a quirky road race that has become a local tradition as much as the turkey itself on the table.
Over a century old and still kickin', the starting gun for the annual Turkey Trot 8K race will fire at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day from the corner of Delaware Avenue and Shoreham Parkway. The race is the oldest continuously run road race in the United States, and is featured on ESPN's SportsCenter each fall.
Each year the race brings out a wide range of participants, including its share of UB students staying in the Buffalo area for Thanksgiving break. According to Anne Reif, the financial development director of the race, all the proceeds go to help scholarship individuals who would not be otherwise able to afford YMCA services and programs that are not necessarily self-sustaining.
An individual can sign up for $18, husbands and wives for $41, and teams or families of four can register for $77.
"Probably right now 77 percent of the funds are going to our children for the after-school child care," she said.
The annual race is a Buffalo Thanksgiving Day tradition, said Victoria Mitchell, head coach for UB's cross country and women's indoor and outdoor track and field teams.
"The race attracts 5,000 plus runners to compete each year, making it one of the largest 8K races in the country," she said.
Mitchell, a frequent participant in the Turkey Trot, holds the course record of 26:20 and the record for the most number of wins, finishing first eight different times. Although she will not be running the race this year, there are various others who will be representing UB.
Jennifer Redino, a senior sociology major and a member of the women's cross country team, described the Turkey Trot as "invigorating" and said she can't think of a better way to start her Thanksgiving morning.
"When it is finally time to run they shuffle you to the starting line and you have to push through people for a while." she said. "When you finally break free, that is the best part."
Redino said she's participated in the race for a number of years.
"The first time I ran the Turkey Trot I was a freshman at Williamsville North High," Redino said. "It was one of my first races. I was so nervous that morning, it was so cold, snowing even, but I was so excited that it did not even matter. Last year was the first year that I did not run the Turkey Trot and I am so excited to run again this year."
For Reif, the Turkey Trot is an experience no one should miss.
"From competitive runners to recreational runners, the Turkey Trot has become a tradition and I think that's what makes this elite," Reif said. "Truly what this run has come to represent is a family tradition in the Buffalo community."
One of the most amusing parts of the race is that participants often come in costume.
"We've got Santa Clauses, turkeys, pilgrims, you name it," Reif said. "There's something new every year."
"You get to see everyone dressed up for the holiday," Redino said. "Everyone from the line of turkeys and Santa Clauses, to the two kids wearing no shirts who wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving with their megaphone while they push each other the whole 8K in a shopping cart."
Following the race, trophies are awarded to the first place male and female, male and female masters, and first through third place male and female in 15 different age categories.
"The race has about 300 volunteers, which is would not be possible without," Reif said. "I think it's truly a tradition because of the heritage, families and the Buffalo community. I think its something the Buffalo community is proud of. It brings together generations of people from all walks of life."
