How did your Turkey Trot go?

Ok I’ll bite….

Discussed with the 7 year old and he decided to make a race day move to the 10k (from 5). He ran the whole thing, no complaining in 1:03, 5th in the 9 and under age group. It was an amazing way to start the day. Congrats to all the runners out there, love this thread.

25:16 5k at age 61 ... cold and rainy (which I liked) ... 5000+ runners ... I hadn't run the past two weeks because of a nasty cold, so I didn't know what to expect. Plus, my current fitness is a long way off from where I was a few years ago (sub-20 at age 58).

I almost didn't run the race: "If I can't run 'fast' time, then why do it?"

I ran anyway, and it still felt good to get out there and compete, even though I knew I wasn't going to run a good time.

Sub 43 min and finished top 300 out of 5200+ in the Cincinnati 10K. 3 min PR

Where I grew up, "turkey trot" meant running to the bathroom with diarrhea after a Thanksgiving dinner that consisted of a lot of rich, greasy foods. So, when I read the title of this thread, I thought, well , er, never mind.

Prove it —- 26 : 57 at age 63

You're doing great.

At the turkey trot I ran, there was a 70-year-old who completed the 5K in 24:18.

Good thread

Very well. A benefit of getting older and slower is that you can get behind some of the faster women runners and enjoy the view. I did that! And, I made a very nice looking friend in the process!

I didn't race but spectated 14k ppl at the oldest consecutively-run footrace in the world - Buffalo, NY's YMCA Turkey Trot. It was really windy but still a great event.

Winners of the 8k race were 2016 1500 Paralympic gold medalist Mikey Brannigan in 24:58 and (Gabri)Elle Orie in 27:23.

I didn't run a turkey trot but I helped put one on in my town.

My #1 concern after runner safety was the first runner running off course. Everyone assured me that wouldn't happen. I thought "it happens all the time."

The volunteer Fire Department in town told me their truck always leads the way on the course. I said "even with the narrow turns." "Yes" they assured me.

Fortunately I didn't take them at their word. I told the head cop that I'd like to go in his car and we'd go in front of the fire truck. The 1st runner actually passed us once in the cop car as we waited for him on a hair pin turn. But we got back ahead.

And the fire truck? It got stuck at one point on one of the turns.

But everyone stayed on course and we had record turnout.

4-miler in Memphis (Shelby Park). My 7:45 pace was good enough for #2 out of 38 in the 65-69 category. 48 degrees and sunny; basically a flat course (68 ft. vertical). More than 2K participants. A fun time was had by all.

39.2 minutes for 10K, top 40 for men, top 45 overall, in a mid-sized mid-city race. Age 60+, won age group and was ahead of 50s+. Fun time.

My last Turkey Trot was 2021, where I almost beat my husband. Last year I was pregnant and injured, so I skipped the trot. This year, my husband wanted to race it and I was kind of indifferent. Well, he let me oversleep. Coincidence? I don't know, but he's pushing the stroller next year.

I did get in 8 miles with one of the dogs later in the morning, but it's just not the same as Turkey Trot glory.

The timing of Turkey Trots means I'm more often sick than not. I can't remember one where I wasn't wheezing!

24:05 for 5 miles, finished 4th. On the more competitive end of turkey trots - 9 guys under 25, I think 3rd place was a 12:48 guy back in the day

21:44 5k at Oceanside CA turkey trot, age 68, first race in 4 years, ran 20:04 there in 2019.

Congratulations. Your run was an incredible performance. I am 63 and hope to be out there until at least age 70.

I had a great trot! Here's the report...

The mods at r/advancedrunning may have less of a sense of humor than the LRC ones. They removed my report! Here's the unedited version that I guess somehow wasn't "true to the sub's purpose?"

[using r/advancedrunning's race report format]

Goals
Goal Description Completed?
A Don't try too hard Yes
B Try even less hard Yes
C Beat some old dudes Yes
D Have fun Yes
E Sub 3hr? Yes!

Splits (Kilometer)
1k 3'40
2k (3'35) 7’15
3k (3'37) 10’52
4k (3'27) 14’19
5k (3'32.7) 17’51.7

Pre-race
Coming off of racing the NYC Marathon earlier in the month, I was concerned I wouldn't be recovered enough to compete at this Turkey Tror at the level that my Strava followers would expect. Two and a half weeks between a marathon P.B. and attempting to keep up with high schoolers at a community fun run is a *YUUUGE* ask. "What's the worst that could happen?" I kept telling myself. "You go out too hard and end up getting outkicked by someone in a turkey costume?" As bad as that sounds, I still decidede to show up and put my reputation on the line.

Race
Smu and I warmed up together along the neighborhood streets around the 5k route. I took note of my competition and tried to give off some intimidating glares. People were mostly friendly except for the one guy wearing AlphavaporflyNext Percent super shoes and Viper-style sunglasses.

We lined- up at the start and I chatted briefly with my bud Maxx about our goals for today. I gestured toward the geared-up Boomer and said "i just gotta beat that guy."
The horn sounded and within 30 seconds I could already tell I was trying too hard. "Slow the Funk down!" I internalized. "No one's gonna care what your time is. They know you don't run short 5ks any more. You're a marathoner. And have real potential to be an Ultra Bro pretty soon!"

This is true. My cohort is aging out of the 5k to half marathon racing demo and straight into Trail 100ks! I mean it doesn't even sound like you have to run in those races -- how exciting!

Back to the Turkey Trot. I dialed down my effort and really just looked around to see who i could start picking off as we climbed the race's first hill. The youths (pronounced like "Utes") were dropping like flies. "Wow. This is easier than I thought." It's like you turn "almost 40" and you can just magically run up hills at the same effort you were just running on the flats.

Mile 2 was a bit more climbing at the most minimal effort. I gazed around at the scenery. I ran up to and past a few heavily breathing competitors and suggested to them to just "relax " and to "keep that rhythm."

No one listened to my advice. As a white man, this is infuriating. But, hey, we had our moment. As I approached the turnaround at the 2 mile mark i was ready to try an exert even less effort. My buddy Maxx had caught back up to me and surged ahead. I fell off his pace and with about 150m to go, I just about reached him. We sprinted up the finishing hump and crossed the line. With Maxx trying a little less not hard than me, he ended up finishing a half second ahead.

I let out a deep sigh after our sprint and thanked Maxx for his very well measured energy out on the Turkey Trot course. I turned back to the finish line, and sure enough, the Gearheaded Vapor Boi was just wrapping up his Trot. "Sweet victory," I muttered under my breath. "I can now rest for another year knowing that I have secured Turkey Trot Glory." Gobble freaking gobble, mother f'ers.
Post Race

I picked up my age-group pumpkin pie award, cooled-down with Smu, and then quickly changed outta my running clothes. We made the 10-minute drive to the ferry dock and then got right on the boat! Happy Thanksgiving!