Turkeys gobble, trot, chase and even wobble. Thanksgiving is the last big weekend of racing for the year and many runners enjoy a run on Thanksgiving Day before gobbling that huge holiday feast.
The Downtown YMCA Turkey Trot has run through Pittsburgh’s streets on Thanksgiving Day for 23 years. And although 2012’s participation reached 6,700, including representatives of all 50 states, co-race director Brandice Miller anticipates that 8,000 runners and walkers may hit the streets this Nov. 28.
Co-race director Paul McComb credits the jump in participation numbers over the past three or four years to interest in the Pittsburgh Marathon and to “the shape of Pittsburgh.” “We have more interest in running,” McComb says, “and more available space downtown for runners.”
Miller and McComb do not anticipate capping race entries for the Downtown Turkey Trot. The staging area at PNC Park and wide course which crosses several bridges and runs through PPG Place will accommodate thousands more.
McComb sees the Downtown Turkey Trot as an event for the entire family with a one-mile fun run for beginners and younger participants at 8:30 a.m., 5K for speedsters and recreational runners at 9 a.m., and five-mile distance for long distance runners starting at 9:30.
While the one-mile distance is strictly a fun run, Downtown Turkey Trot offers competitive awards in the longer distance events. There are awards for top three overall and masters male and female finishers and top three age group finishers in groups from age 14 and under through 80-plus.
Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off the holiday season and many participants show their spirit by donning costumes. There are no awards for best costumes, but it’s a lot of fun to dress up. The event also welcomes “nice” dogs on leashes and kids in strollers.
Post-race refreshments include NuGo energy bars, bagel bites, bananas, muffins and sports drinks. “We want people to save room for Thanksgiving dinner later on,” McComb says.
Downtown Turkey Trot is a fun run with a serious purpose. It’s the biggest fund-raiser of the year for the Pittsburgh YMCA. Proceeds support youth with special needs and at-risk families, health and social services for seniors and the under-served population in the area.
Participants in this year’s Turkey Trot are encouraged to participate in the 1,000 Pound Challenge by contributing a non-perishable food item for the Hazelwood YMCA Food Pantry. Hazelwood has been designated a “food desert.”
Downtown Turkey Trot accepts day of event registrations on Nov. 28 beginning at 7:30 a.m. at PNC Park, but McComb suggests that runners register now to receive a long-sleeved technical commemorative shirt. Registrations are accepted through Active.com or www.ymcaofpittsburgh.org.
If you’re big on tradition, short on cash or love trail running, check out the oldest continuously run race in the area. Harry C. Holland Gutbuster has run through Pittsburgh’s Frick Park trails on Thanksgiving Day since 1977.
This no frills event is manually timed, offers no awards, and has no preregistration. But runners can show up in Lower Frick Park, pay $5 to run a flat and scenic two miles with Harry C. Holland’s grandkids, a hilly four miles, or double that loop for a challenging eight miles.
Race Director Dan Holland, son of the race’s namesake, calls the race a “family friendly event” and predicts that as many as 300 runners of all ages and abilities from across the country will attend this Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners event, depending on the weather. He advises participants to park on the streets in the Regent Square neighborhood, then walk down to the Lower Trail in Frick Park.
For more information about Harry C. Holland Gutbuster,Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m., call Dan Holland, 412-512-8885 email holland6@aol.com.
Upcoming events
Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Mojo Sports Group Run, Cranberry Township. 724-772-2808 or www.mojorunningpittsburgh.com
Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Fight for Life 5K, Apollo. Benefits American Cancer Society. 724-568-2517 or dzukas@cancer.org
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Run for the Wounded Warrior 5K and 5 Mile, North Park. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Turkey Trot 5K, Knox. 814-221-0041 or lauer9989@windstream.net
Sunday, 9 a.m.: Northwood Charitable Foundation Race for Home 5K Run/ Walk, North Park. Starts at Boathouse. 412-303-4266
Nov. 23, 9 a.m.: BBBS Turkey Trot 5K, Beaver. 724-630-4287 or jsprice4@yahoo.com
Nov. 24, 2 p.m.: Miles of Smiles Half Marathon and 5K, Monongah, WV. bonnherb@yahoo.com
Nov. 28, 8:15 a.m.: Downtown YMCA Turkey Trot, Pittsburgh. Choice of 5K or 5 miles. 412-227-6428 or turkeytrot@ymca.org.
Nov. 28, 8:30 a.m.: Warren Downtown Turkey Trot 5K, Warren. Flat and fast course. Fresh baked pies to top three finishers. 814-688-0393 or jesarnold1967@gmail.com
Nov. 28, 9 a.m.: ERC Turkey Trot 10K, Erie. Out and back on peninsula. 814-881-0060 or uropa40@aol.com
Nov. 28, 9 a.m.: Gobbler’s Gallop 10K, Ellwood City. Also 5K at 10:15 a.m. 724-758-6227 or joeandsydney@yahoo.com
Nov. 28, 9 a.m.: New Castle YMCA Turkey Trot 5K, New Castle. 724-658-9211 or jkmick@ncymca.org
Nov. 28, 9 a.m.: Cranberry Turkey Chase 5K, Cranberry Township. Flat and fast. 412-913-8757 or heatherbclark@hotmail.com
Nov. 28, 9:30 a.m.: Gobble Wobble 5K, Buhl Farms Park, Hermitage. glackey@eglolaw.com
Nov. 28, 10 a.m.: Gutbuster, Pittsburgh. Choice of 2, 4 or 8 miles on Frick Park trails. 412-512-8885 or holland6@aol.com
Nov. 29, 9 a.m.: Turkey Trot 5K, Gibsonia. 724-625-2220
Dec. 1, 9 a.m.: Trot for Tots 10K and 5K, Oakdale. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com
Dec. 7, 9 a.m.: Oil City Christmas Past Jingle Bell 5K, Oil City. shinds@oilcity.org
Dec. 8, 10 a.m.: Nittany Valley Half Marathon, State College. 814-321-2993 or nvhalfmarathon@gmail.com
Dec. 14, 10 a.m.: Snowflake 5K, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park Rotary Pavilion. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.org
Dec. 14, 11 a.m.: Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K and Kids Fun Run, Volant. bonnherb@yahoo.com
Dec. 31, 3 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K, Harmony. Also 1 mile fun run at 3:45 p.m. Part of New Year’s Eve Celebration. 724-452-3149 or saltemus@zoominternet.net
Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m.: Resolution Run 5K, State College. 814-355-1589 or dhe1@psu.edu
Race results
Freaky Friday 5K, Oct. 26: Ben Crites, 1st Overall M, 16:55; Katie Jarocki, 1st Overall W, 19:03; Jonathan Bost, 3rd 30-34 M, 21:35; Gregory Reed, 1st 50-54 M, 22:07; Rachel Fedoronko, 2nd 20-24 W, 23:00; Sydney Huerbin, 3rd 20-24 W, 23:04; Joe Farrell, 2nd 50-54 M, 23:36; Kristan Casteek, 1st 35-39 W, 23:57; Myah Merhaut, 3rd 16-19 W, 24:28; Marilyn LaRocca, 1st 45-49 W, 24:40; Rhonda Merhaut, 2nd 45-49 W, 24:56; Katherine Behr, 3rd 25-29 W, 25:18; Chad Coblitz, 3rd 35-39 26:42; Brad Gentile, 3rd 45-49 M, 27:05; Carol Huerbin, 3rd 50-54 W, 27:28; Kurt Beitler, 2nd 55-59 M, 30:03; Jeff Shablesky, 1st 65-69 M, 33:45; Marilyn Johnson, 1st 55-59 W, 34:18; Julia Phillips, 1st 9 & Under W, 35:25; Maria Dysert, 25:07; Brian Kaleida, 25:20; Nathan Kaleida, 25:29; Julia Kocsis, 25:54; Carolyn Stirling, 25:57; Dvid Johnson, 26:43; Anna Schoeppner, 26:56; Elena Dysert, 27:00; Rachel Gongaware, 27:07; Ellie Tourney, 27:12; Carmen Phillips, 27:43; Dan Smiley, 28:01; Natalie Bridge, 28:04; Shayne Steck, 28:04; Jaunalee Schuabenitz, 28:36; Mike Hussar, 28:40; Susan Gentile, 29:01; James Bitting, 29:06; Matthew Ogrodnik, 29:11; Mark Betzler, 29:17; Darla Ferraro, 29:27; Devon Fetterman, 29:37; Megan Hrach, 29:44; Gary Fedoronko, 29:44; Kathryn Wojciechowski, 30:00; Madison Merhaut, 30:00; Colleen White, 30:00; Anne Beitler, 30:03; Matt Stirling, 30:16; Elinore Kneidinger, 31:23; Dana Schenle, 32:13; Leann Schoeppner, 32:18; Mary Morgan, 32:52; Laura Ogrodnik, 33:01; Stefany Baron, 3311; Alex Steighner, 33:11; Alessandro Phillips, 33:53; Stacy Harris, 34:26; enae Green, 34:53; Erica Raymundo, 34:58; Cara Menzel, 35:04; Barbara Harkness, 35:14; Kristen Hussar, 35:17; Jaclyn Rausche, 35:21; Caleb Rauscher, 35:22; Sarah Phillips, 35:29; Anna Stirling, 37:23; William Hirsch, 37:54; Caleb Hirsch, 37:55; Aden Hirsch, 37:57; Tara Dover, 38:35; Larissa Dover, 38:44; Terri Fedoronko, 41:33; Amy Buchwald, 43:57; Shannon Lego, 45:14; Tomas Anderson, 50:45; Belen Anderson, 50:47; Nico Anderson, 50:55; Anna McConnell, 51:08; Carrie Leibensperger, 51:09; Flor Anderson, 51:09; Rachel Alexander, 52:00; Jamie Veltri, 52:01
Haunted Hill 10K, Oct. 26: Eric Shafer, 1st Overall M, 40:15; Autumn Greba, 1st Overall W, 41:11; Ryan McCormick, 3rd Overall M, 41:15; Brad Kennedy, 1st 30-34 M, 42:!5; Mark Casteel, 1st 40-44 M, 43:47; Emily Hrach, 1st 10-14 W, 47:28; William Osche, 2nd 55-59 M, 49:53; Kate Hrach, 1st 40-44 W, 49:54; Megan Maffei, 1st 16-19 W, 55:47; Jeffrey Kopinski, 2nd 50-54 M, 55:48; Cassandra Smiley, 3rd 40-44 W, 59:34; Laurie Griffith, 3rd 50-54 W, 1:01:48; Suzanne Maffei, 2nd 45-49 W, 1:03:07; Roger Hyde, 51:06; Kelli Hartman, 53:42; Jeremy Peffer, 53:51; Andrea Scioscia, 54:05; Aleci Kidder, 54:13; Robert Todd, 55:02; Michael Gannon, 56:05; Beth Sauers, 56:30; Sarah Shodi, 57:00; Emily Spurk, 57:04; Rosemary Stoll, 57:23; Lauren Custer, 58:55; Wendy Polochak, 59:04; Gary Williams, 59:35; Jessica Carpenter, 1:00:18; Michael Jones, 1:00:55; Jill Todd, 1:00:56; Michael McNamara, 1:01:03; Elena Schaller, 1:01:33; Renee Good, 1:01:40; Dan Nguyen, 1:04:20; Danielle Rainey, 1:04:33; Mike Hucko, 1:05:42; Peter Carr, 1:05:49; Barbara Ford, 1:06:15; Ann Cannoni, 1:07:49; Kayla Florian, 1:07:55; Emily Thompson, 1:08:34; Nicole Warrick, 1:09:11; Amy Hoffman, 1:10:15; Allison Buddie, 1:10:45; Matt Buchwald, 1:11:20; Alyssa Marsico, 1:12:44; Amanda King, 1:14:26; Joanne Berwick, 1:14:56; Derick Florian, 1:19:30; Michael Hack, 1:20:19; Emily Hack, 1:20:28; Megan Williams, 1:20:32; Ashley Vinton, 1:23:14; Leah Ehrman, 1:23:16; Amy Hanuscah, 1:25:17
Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net
Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle
