The history of the turkey trot
For the health-conscious, Thanksgiving can present something of a challenge. Travel, cooking, family - plus all that football to watch - leave little time (or motivation) to exercise.
But for the truly dedicated, there's a fun, simple solution: the turkey trot. Over the past few decades, this road race has become something of a national holiday tradition.
This year, dozens of turkey trots are being held across the United States as well as here in the Chicago suburbs. The events are typically held Thanksgiving morning - perhaps to both whet the appetite and lessen the guilt of overeating later - and are often fundraisers and include events for children.
For many participants, the race is an occasion to dress in an outfit that reflects the spirit of the holiday: a fuzzy-bird costume, say, or a pilgrim's hat.
But for all the whimsy surrounding this event, the turkey trot has a serious claim on running history: The race, which debuted in Buffalo in 1896, is older than the storied Boston Marathon, which began the following year. Indeed, the Buffalo Turkey Trot claims the title as the oldest continually held foot race in North America.
The inaugural turkey trot, sponsored by the local YMCA, was a decidedly low-key event. There were few racers - only six of the 15 registrants showed up for the five-mile race - and not one of them dressed for laughs.
The race, along dirt roads lined with a few spectators on bicycles and in carriages, proved formidable for a couple of the participants, according to an 1896 account.
One runner dropped out after two miles; a half-mile later, another withdrew after his "late breakfast refused to keep in its proper place." The winner, Henry A. Allison, finished the race in 31 minutes and 12 seconds, roughly a six-minute-per-mile pace.
The YMCA Buffalo Niagara Turkey Trot is now one of the largest such races in the country and had 14,000 runners last year. Women were forbidden to participate in the Buffalo event until 1972. These days, you can find entire families participating in the event.
How did the turkey trot grow from a sleepy late-fall race in upstate New York to the nationwide extravaganza it is today?
One guess: "It's a catchy name for a race," says running guru Hal Higdon, who has won many trots himself, including several years in which the prize was a free dinner.
"It's a holiday, everyone has a free day, so you can have your run, burn the calories and make room for the turkey," he says.
Perhaps the oldest Turkey Trot in Chicago's Northwest suburbs is in Mount Prospect. Since Thanksgiving morning in 1963, the Mount Prospect Jaycees have hosted the annual Turkey Trot. This year - the event's 52nd - the race is moving to a new location, at Melas Park, 1500 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect.
So, if you get up to run a Turkey Trot, are you home-free calorie-wise for Thanksgiving?
Well … not really.
Running a fast 10K is about as much as you'll need to burn off a (typical) slice of pecan pie, which can contain roughly 500 calories, according to the USDA.
The rest of the Thanksgiving meal can add up to as many as 3,100 calories (more if you count all the snacking), according to Jessica Matthews, an exercise physiologist and senior health and fitness editor for the American Council on Exercise.
To burn off a 3,100-calorie meal, Matthews says, a 150-pound woman would have to run for approximately 5.5 hours at a 12-minute-mile pace.
That's a lot of trotting.
• The Washington Post contributed to this report.
Turkey TrotsMany Chicago-area communities offer races on Thanksgiving. Here is a sample of local events.
<span class="fact box text bold">Addison Turkey Trot:</span> Starts at 8:45 a.m. at Community Park, 120 E. Oak St., Addison. Includes Kids Drumstick Dash and 1- to 5-mile races. $20-$45. Info: (630) 232-7275 or www.addisonparks.org/.
<span class="fact box text bold">Batavia Fox & The Turkey Race:</span> Start and finish near downtown Batavia on the Fox River. Race headquarters is at the Peg Bond Center, 151 Island Ave. in Batavia. 4-mile run and 1-mile youth run. Bring a nonperishable food item to donate. $10-$35. Info: www.foxrivertrailrunners.org/foxandturkey.
<span class="fact box text bold">Crystal Lake Turkey Trot:</span> 5K race starts at 8 a.m. at Lippold Park, 851 W. Route 176 in Crystal Lake. Voluntary monetary and/or nonperishable food donations accepted for the food pantry. Info: www.hillstriders.com/thanksgiving-race.html.
<span class="fact box text bold">Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot in Elmhurst:</span> 5K starts at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Park Avenue and Adell Place, Elmhurst. $35-$40. Info: www.dangibbonsturkeytrot.com/about-the-race/race-day-schedule/#sthash. cFImtZMM. dpuf.
<span class="fact box text bold">Downers Grove Bonfield Express 5K:</span> Starts at 8:30 a.m. at Main and Grove streets in downtown Downers Grove. $30-$115. Info: www.bonfieldexpress.com/.
<span class="fact box text bold">Glen Ellyn Turkey Trot: </span>Starts at 8 a.m. at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. 5-mile run. Bring a nonperishable food item for Glen Ellyn Food Pantry. Free. Info: gepark.org.
<span class="fact box text bold">Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot in Gurnee:</span> 5K Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. at the Gurnee Old Grand Ave. Fire Station, 4580 Old Grand Ave. Ages 10 and under run/walk free. $25. gurneeturkeytrot.org/.
<span class="fact box text bold">Long Grove Turkey Trot: </span>Starts at 8:45 a.m. in downtown Long Grove. 5K & 8K Run/Walk & Tiny Trot. Free for kids 8 and under. $40-$44. Info: allcommunityevents.com/long_grove_turkey_trot/lgttinfo.html.
<span class="fact box text bold">McHenry Turkey Trot for Hospice: </span>5K Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. at McHenry High School - East Campus. $30-$35. Info: mchenryturkeytrot.com/.
<span class="fact box text bold">Mount Prospect Jaycees Turkey Trot:</span> The first race begins at 9:15 a.m. at Melas Park, 1500 Central Road, Mount Prospect. 1-mile, 2-mile and 4-mile. $15-$25. Info: (224) 764-0691 or www.mountprospectjaycees.com/news/turkey-trot/.
<span class="fact box text bold">Naperville Noon Lions 5K Turkey Trot: </span>Starts at 8 a.m. at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave., Naperville. Cost: $25-$40. Info: napervilleturkeytrot.com.
<span class="fact box text bold">Oak Brook Beat the Bird:</span> Thanksgiving 5K starts at 9 a.m. at the corner of York and Spring Road at Fullersburg Woods/Graue Mill. $45-$50. Info: www.endureitsports.com/#!beatthebird/ccgx.
<span class="fact box text bold">Palatine Turkey Trot:</span> Starts at 8 a.m. at Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, 2-mile, 5-mile, or Drumstick Dash for ages 10 and under. $10-$30. Info: www.palatineparks.org/rccms/turkey-trot/.
<span class="fact box text bold">Roselle Turkey Trot 5K:</span> Starts at 8 a.m. at Lake Park High School West Campus, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Roselle. $30. Info: roselle5K.com or (630) 220-4878.
<span class="fact box text bold">Wauconda Turkey Trot: </span>Starts at 9 a.m. 4-mile run around Bangs Lake and 2-mile fun run/walk down Main Street and around Cook Park. $20-$40. Info: www.waucondaturkeytrot.com/
<span class="fact box text bold">Wheaton's 2nd Annual Turkey Trot:</span> Starts at 8 a.m. 5K race will start and finish at Emerson Elementary School, 119 S. Woodlawn, Wheaton. $20-$35. Info: www.active.com/wheaton-il/running/distance-running-races/wheaton-turkey-trot-2015 or (818) 448-0858.