Turkey trot trivia « Blue Sky Living

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Nov

Turkey trot trivia

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There are many things that only I find amusing, and the history of the “Turkey Trot” is one of them. With Thanksgiving, and all of the calorie-laden fare that accompanies it, lurking in the days ahead, my thoughts have turned to longer workouts, and finding ways to help you burn a few extra calories too. Unless your jaw is wired shut, let’s just assume the worst case scenario: 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat. Do you have any idea how long you’ll be on the treadmill on Black Friday if you actually eat that much? Let’s do the math. If you weigh about 150lbs and run 6.5 mph, you’d burn that off in about 4 hours. If you are a walker, and decide to walk it off instead – at a 15 min/mile pace, it will take you over 9 hours!

There. I hope I’ve at least talked you out of second helpings, and I can now move on to the real reason we’re all here – to learn about the history of the turkey trot.

The Buffalo Turkey Trot is the oldest annual footrace in the U.S. It has been running continuously since 1896 and now attracts more than 10,000 runners.

The very FIRST turkey trot was held in England in the 1700’s. Villagers walked the turkeys to market, then the farmers coverd their little feet with cute booties to protect themon the long journey to the slaughter house. There was no pleasant way to end that – sorry.

When you run your Turkey Trot, try not to think about where the race ends. There will be a regular finish line. Lawd, I hope.

The 5k Stuffing Strut and Mashed Potato Mile; held in Detroit, will be 27 years-old on Thanksgiving Day. I’d run it for the name alone. For those anticipating major calorie intake, there is a 10k event as well. If Aunt Sally will be bringing her pecan pie, go ahead and sign up for all three races. Costumes are strongly encouraged.

Yellville, Arkansas is the home of < Wichita Turkey Trot; bills itself as the “unofficial,” 2nd oldest race in the state of Kansas. That one shocked me. I’d never have guessed that. The 10-mile race actually takes place on Nov 21st, I suppose to give participants time to recover from this “unofficially” old event.

A “Turkey Trot” is also a dance. I think I knew that, but these days, so much gets filed into the grey matter, never to again see the light of day. Anyway, in Cuero,TX, the first such “turkey trot” was indeed, a dance, and it was held in 1908. In the years that followed, they added a turkey parade (literally, a herd of turkeys walking down the street), and food out the ying-yang. The “Great Gobbler Gallop” was actually a race between two cities – Worthington, Minnesota, and Cuero. The best time between the races determined the real winner. The prize? A 4ft, “Traveling Turkey Trophy of Tumultous Triumph.” The turkey event lasts three days and is held the 2nd weekend in October – so shoot for this side trip next year.