You know what they say: There are two types of families. Families who wake up early on Thanksgiving to do a turkey trot, and families that don’t. While I haven’t quite convinced my family to rally for one yet (I ALMOST got my 12 year old to get out of bed this year,) that’s never stopped me from getting my run in.
The turkey trot is as much a tradition in the United States as pumpkin flavored everything is this time of year. There are MANY to choose from, and lots of people who do them that are not regular runners. Some consider it a great way to do something active before stuffing their faces (and no judgement whatsoever from this girl who loves a good feast.) I’ve done a lot of turkey trots myself over the years, and my favorite one, hands down, is always the West Linn Turkey Trot.
Most turkey trots are road 5ks, but Run With Paula Events gives us a Thanksgiving race that’s 3.8 miles of hilly trail miles. It’s absolutely gorgeous and so worth the hurt. Mary S Young is a beautiful park that’s peaceful and green, and the trails are soft and gentle, despite the hilly switchbacks.
I got to the park on race day extremely early, as I always worry about parking and never want to be in a rush on a race day. Additionally, the race sold out this year, so I had it in my head that it would get crowded really fast. However, the race was only capped at 1000 runners, which is really a very responsible thing to do considering the park (and trails) can only hold so many people at once.
There ended up being ample parking at Mary S Young Park, so I shouldn’t have worried at all. Bib pickup took less than 5 minutes, and they had coffee and donuts out. The swag was a cute coffee mug, so I have a new one for my collection at home. There was also a fire going, which I was grateful for because it was a chilly morning in the 30’s.
I met several friends before “go time” and got to chat with Paula Harkin, who always makes every one of her events feel like you’re a special guest in her home. Eventually I had to leave the warmth of the fire to meander up to the start line, and by then there was quite a crowd gathered there. Many were dressed in festive turkey hats and socks and there were lots of families, clearly starting or continuing their family tradition for Thanksgiving.
By the time we all took off, I realized my feet were pretty much frozen, and one of my hands was too, as I’d taken a glove off for photos and never put it back on. I couldn’t really feel my feet until I was nearly 2 miles in, and I was moving at a much slower pace than normal due to the crowds.
The first couple of miles for this race are not really all that hilly, so it’s really a great opportunity to try to thaw out after standing in the cold for so long before the race. Finally, you hit your first hill and you realize that this race isn’t a cakewalk. In fact, there will be some climbing and descending throughout the course.
If you’re a trail runner, this probably won’t be too shocking, but if you’re not, it’s something you’ll want to keep in consideration when you sign up next year. There are stairs on the course and some steep switchbacks too. Thankfully, the terrain is not very technical at all, just bark chips and fallen leaves and even some pavement among the woodsy trees.
The course is well marked and I’ve never gotten lost out there, which is saying a lot because I get turned around easily on my own. There were always people in front and behind me, though the crowds did thin out a bit the longer I was out there. The views were scenic and the forest was serene. I took it very easy on the hills both up and down, as I didn’t want to slip or turn an ankle on the leaves or soft ground.
The end came before I knew it, and the finish line was abuzz with folks cheering on all the runners and walkers. Some people had won free pumpkin pies and there was more coffee and treats by the check in area. I didn’t stay too long, as I didn’t want to get cold again as I recovered, but it was a really fun atmosphere and a great way to kick off thanksgiving.
If you’re a runner and you’ve never done a holiday race, there are two things you should take note of when you sign up. #1: Because many people who sign up for these races are not “all-year-round” runners, realize that there’s going to be a lot of congestion to contend with. Kids are starting and stopping a lot, (what’s “pacing?”) there are many folks walking (often in the middle of the trail rather than off to one side,) and there’s just more chaos in general.
However, the most important realization is that #2: This is supposed to be fun, so make peace with #1. Yes, there are people who are REALLY serious about it (and they should ALWAYS grab a spot at the front of the pack,) but the rest of us are just out there to have a good time. It’s not about your pace or your PR. It’s about enjoying life and being grateful for the ability to get out and move.
And maybe it’s one of those holiday races that will convince some of those people to become more than “just” seasonal runners, so give them a chance to love it like you do.
I’m so glad I’ve made the West Linn Turkey Trot part of my Thanksgiving Day. It fills my heart with joy and I hope to continue to run this one year after year.
Up next is another great holiday tradition: The Winter 5k Series! Stay tuned!!
