Thanksgiving is a holiday built around traditions: The same food, the same people and in a lot of cases, the same places.
One tradition that continues to gain a following is participating in a race or other run/walk event.
More than 1 million people will lace up their sneakers in the early morning of Thanksgiving to run in a Turkey Trot race or other event. Runners who can’t make it to a Thanksgiving race have a lot more options in November and December to chase their personal bests.
“I definitely think the fall season is a popular time for running and races,” said Vanessa Junkin, president of the Eastern Shore Running Club. “It’s a really nice time of year to run.”
The fall season gives runners of all types many options for distance and destinations, Junkin added.
Most favor fun over competition with costumes and crazy outfits common.
“You do see a lot of families come out too. That’s exciting,” she said. “That’s always good to see people passing on running to the next generation.”
The Cleveland Clinic recommends those running on Thanksgiving, particularly participants who don’t run regularly, follow some guidelines to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.
• Pick a manageable distance;
• Train by running a few miles ahead of Thanksgiving;
• Run with a group;
• Wear comfortable shoes;
• Dress for the weather; and
• Hydrate
For more avid racers, she said fall gives them a chance to enjoy the fruit of their labor in earlier months.
“You get to see what you have worked for in the spring and summer and how you’ve improved,” she said.
Entering a race can be the first step in an effort to be healthier or the next step in a training program and vocation. Either way, Junkin says running with others helps keep many moving forward. Running with family members visiting for the holidays can be a fun way to catch up. Same for friends you don’t see as often.
“Having a group of people really helps a lot with motivation and just getting started,” she said.
“You don’t have to start out and be super fast and do long distances. Just start where you are.”
Running with others has some inherent accountability, too, she said. “If you’re attempting to run alone, it’s easier to cancel on yourself,” she said. “If you make a date with someone hopefully you’ll be less likely to cancel on them.”
The Eastern Shore Club holds six weekly runs at different times to accommodate a wide swath of schedules and social gatherings once a month. It also hosts the Pirates Wharf 5K race each year in October and awards scholarships to students involved in running.
“You don’t have to start out and be super fast and do long distances. Just start where you are,” she said.