Become a part of Tallahassee's biggest Thanksgiving Day tradition | David Yon
I know it was here. I remember the smell, the crispness in the air, the drier air, and yes, the falling temperatures. Summer was gone and fall was here. An 8-mile run became more a morning of joy rather than suffocating — then it was gone.
Summer has not returned with full fury, but temperatures are still climbing toward 90+ degrees on many days.
Fall is official at the Turkey Trot
So how do we really know when fall has arrived? The best way I know is to check the calendar and see how many days there are before the 2022 Tallahassee Turkey Trot arrives.
The Tallahassee Turkey Trot occurs on Thanksgiving Day each year (Nov. 24, this year) and remains the biggest race in Tallahassee. It is organized and produced by Gulf Winds Track Club (GWTC), with a lot of help from different community groups.
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While the race has been around in one form or another since 1976, it was not held on Thanksgiving morning until November of 1992. That year 54 runners participated in the 15K, 169 in the 10K and 11 in the one-mile run. There was no 5K.
To start the race the runners lined up on Tram Road next to the Leon County Fairgrounds. Over the next few years the race grew until that area simply could not hold all the runners and spectators.
20th year at Southwood
The race moved to SouthWood in 2002.
2022 marks the Turkey Trot’s 20th year at SouthWood and it sometimes feels like the race has always been in SouthWood, but as Bill McGuire wrote in his History of Turkey Trot, “the race took a rather circuitous route getting there.”
He goes on to explain, “The 10 mile events in 1976 and 1977 were held at Natural Bridge in Woodville, the setting for many of the Gulf Winds Track Club’s (GWTC) early races. From 1978-1983, the Turkey Trot employed three or four different courses, but all started and finished on the Florida State University (FSU) campus.
Then the event adopted a hilly, two-loop route from the Civic Center through FSU and back, that lasted through 1991. In 1992, the Turkey Trot moved south to the Leon County Fairgrounds area, running out-and-back along Tram Road and Gaile Avenue. Finally, in 2002, the Turkey Trot arrived in “the Promised Land” around Central Park Lake in SouthWood, with no plans to move again!”
Of course, Turkey Trot joined many other races in 2020 when it was disrupted by COVID-19, becoming a virtual event instead of a crowd on Esplanade Way. In 2020 there were 1,565 people who participated on a virtual basis. While this was a way to keep the race in people’s minds, the most valuable part of Turkey trot is the sense of community it helps create and the friendships that it helps maintain.
That occurs when people get together. Last year (2021) marked the start of a return to full go and 4,343 runners registered and 3,769 finished.
Four ways to run
The year before COVID hit, (2019), 5,350 people registered and 5,052 finished. The hope for 2022 is to return to 5,000+ participants. The numbers should get a boost given the fact that the Florida State vs. Florida game is in town on the day after Thanksgiving.
The race has always prided itself on giving runners options. Participants can choose from four races.
The Turkey Gobbler 1 mile race – It starts everything off at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Like the other races it starts and finishes on Esplanade Way but slightly closer to Shumard Oaks Blvd. The course runs a big rectangle and there are no hills.
The Turkey Trot 5K (3.1 miles) – The 5K starts on Esplanade at 8:30 a.m. sharp. There is a hill on this course, but overall it is a very fast course. It is also the biggest race. The course is primarily a loop on Grove Park Drive around Central Park Lake and finishes on Esplanade Way near the start.
The Turkey Trot 10K (6.2 miles) – The 10K race starts at the same place (Esplanade Way) and time (8:30 a.m.) as the 5K. It runs the same route as the 5K and the 15K for the first two miles.
The Turkey Trot 15K (9.3 miles) – The 15K starts at 8:30 a.m. with the 5K and the 10K runners, but it is for the dedicated runner. It is a great race if you are ready to take on the challenge.
See you on Thanksgiving
Again, all four races start on Esplanade Way (4055) between Merchants Row and Shumard Oak Blvd. Search for 4055 Esplanade Way for directions. Chose the one that fits your Thanksgiving Day schedule.
Runners may change races any time during those first 2 miles as long as they are careful to run the entire race and do not knock anyone down.
We do ask that you choose the race distance you can finish before 10:30 a.m. so our volunteers have the opportunity to get home at a reasonable time.
You can register at runsignup.com or find any additional information you might need at tallyturkeytrot.com. Prices go up after Nov.13 so don’t delay!
Hope to see you on Thanksgiving morning!
David Yon is addicted to running. In his spare time, he is an attorney with the Radey Law Firm.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Turkey Trot is Tallahassee's biggest Thanksgiving Day tradition
