You won’t find gravy-flavored Gu or pumpkin-pie PowerBars this Thanksgiving, but you can still work up an appetite by running in one of the many Turkey Trots here in North Carolina. People have been participating in Turkey Day races for more than a century! The YMCA Turkey Trot in Buffalo, N.Y., widely regarded as the first Turkey Trot, celebrates its 118th running this year. It’s not just a fun event; it’s also the longest-running foot race in the United States, even older than the Boston Marathon. True “turkey trots,” however, date back to the 1700s in England, when turkeys were outfitted with little booties to protect their feet on the long journey from the countryside to the London marketplace. Keep in step with those turkeys and give thanks to your feet with a new pair of shoes from your favorite local running store this year, then check out our fourth annual Gobbler Guide below for a Turkey Trot near you!
Nov. 16
Gray’s Creek PTA Second Annual Turkey Trot and Kids’ Fun Run
Location: Hope Mills, N.C.
Distance: 5K and 1 Mile
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: http://gces.ccs.k12.nc.us
Nov. 23
Hampstead Kiwanis Park Turkey Trot
Location: Hampstead, N.C.
Distance: 8K and 2-Mile Kids’ Sprint
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: www.kiwanisclubofhampstead.org
HealthQuest Gobble Waddle
Location: Smithfield, N.C.
Distance: 10K and 5K
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: www.runtheeast.com
Hillsdale Sunrise Rotary Turkey Derby 5K
Location: Bermuda Run, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: www.active.com
Hope Mills YMCA Turkey Trot 5K
Location: Hope Mills, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: .www.ymcaofthesandhills.org
Martin Co. Turkey Trot
Location: Williamston, NC.
Distance: 5K and 1 Mile
Start: 8:15 a.m.
Register: www.runtheeast.com
Rotary Clubs of Brunswick County 5K Turkey Trot
Location: Shallotte, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 7:30 a.m.
Register: www.sportoften.com
Nov. 24
Makin’ Room for Turkey Ride 2013
Location: Durham, N.C.
Distance: 25 and 50 Miles
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.msfits.org
Nov. 28
Asheville Turkey Trot
Location: Asheville, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8:45 a.m.
Register: www.jusrunning.com
Beau’s Buddies Turkey Trot for Tots
Location: Greenville, N.C.
Distance: 5K and 1 Mile
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.runtheeast.com
Butterball 5K
Location: Salisbury, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.theforumfitness.com
Charlotte Southpark Turkey Trot
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Distance: 8K, 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run and 26.2-Yard Tot Trot
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.charlotteturkeytrot.com
Gallop & Gorge
Location: Carrboro, N.C.
Distance: 8K
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.sportoften.com
Gallop for the Gravy
Location: Wilmington, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.active.com
Gobbler’s Run
Location: Wake Forest, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.gobblersrun.com
Goldsboro YMCA Turkey Trot
Location: Goldsboro, N.C.
Distance: 5K and Kids’ Gobble Wobble
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.goldsboroymca.org
Greensboro Gobbler
Location: Greensboro, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.greensborogobbler.com
InsideOut Sports Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
Location: Cary, N.C.
Distance: 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk, 8K and 100-Yard Kids’ Dash
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.runnc.com
Just Think First 5K and Skinny Turkey Half-Marathon
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Distance: 13.1 Miles and 5K
Start: 7:30 a.m.
Register: www.fsseries.com/skinnyturkey
Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K and 10K
Location: Cornelius, N.C.
Distance: 5K and 10K
Start: 7:30 a.m.
Register: www.epicsportsmarketing.com
Mooresville/Lake Norman Turkey Trot
Location: Mooresville, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8:45 a.m.
Register: www.sportoften.com
Renaissance Center Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
Location: Durham, N.C.
Distance: 8K and 1 Mile
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.sportoften.com
Ridgewood Turkey Trot
Location: Raleigh, N.C
Distance: 8K and Kids’ Dash
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.sportoften.com
Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.
Distance: 5K and Fun Run
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.clevecoymca.org/locations/ruby
Running of the Turkeys 5K Run/Walk/Stroller Jog
Location: York, S.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.sportoften.com
Turkey Dash Charlotte
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Distance: 4 Miles and 1 Mile
Start: 8:30 a.m.
Register: www.turkeydashcharlotte.com
Location: Franklin, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.active.com
Turkey Strut 5K
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: www.turkeystrut.com
Twin Rivers Turkey Trot
Location: New Bern, N.C.
Distance: 5K, Dog Jog and Kids’ Dash
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.runtheeast.com
Wilkes Family YMCA Turkey Trot 5K
Location: Wilkesboro, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 8 a.m.
Register: www.wilkesymca.org
Nov. 29
Turkey Turtle Trot
Location: Bald Head Island, N.C.
Distance: 5K
Start: 9:30 a.m.
Register: www.bhic.org/turtle-trots
Nov. 30
Kids First Turkey Trot
Location: Elizabeth City, N.C.
Distance: 5K, Diaper Dash and Tot Trot
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: www.runtheeast.com
Wilmington Roadrunners Turkey Trot 4-Mile Trail Run
Location: Carolina Beach, N.C.
Distance: 4 Miles
Start: 9 a.m.
Register: www.wilmingtonroadrunners.org
