Dallas Turkey Trot

The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot (commonly called The Trot) is an annual footrace over an 8 miles (12.9 km) course through the city of Dallas, Texas (USA). There is also a 5k run/walk. Participants may choose to register for the 5k as a timed or untimed runner. In 2005, 3,843 harriers completed the 8-mile (13 km) Trot, in addition to 22,668 runners in the 3 miles (4.8 km), making the Dallas Turkey Trot the largest Thanksgiving race in the United States and the second-biggest footrace in the state of Texas, with 26,511 total registered runners. The 2011 race attracted a record attendance of 36,820.[1]

Dallas Turkey Trot
DateThanksgiving Day
LocationDallas, Texas
Event typeRoad
Distance8 miles; 3 mile fun run
BeneficiaryYMCA Teen and Family programs
Official sitewww.thetrot.com

The race is produced by the YMCA and has been run every year since 1968. 2008's title sponsor is Capital One Bank. The Capital One Bank Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is held on Thanksgiving Day and attracts elite competitors and amateurs from all 50 states in America and 10 countries.

Justin Meaders, 2009 overall winner

The race includes both runners and wheelchair racers.

History

The original Turkey Trot began in the 1940s and was run at Fair Park in Dallas. The 8-mile (13 km) began running annually in 1968, with 107 runners being instructed to start from the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake and run along the lake "to the big oaktree and back." However, the course was actually 8.2 miles (13.2 km). Ralph Trimble won the event in a time of 41:59, and Nancy Norvell was the winner on the women's side in 54:40.

The race quickly rose in popularity, and in 1979, The Trot was moved to the downtown area, near Dallas City Hall. The 3-mile (4.8 km) Fun Run was added in 1984 in order to accommodate the increased participation of children and families.

The course
Further information: Turkey Trot Course Map

The race begins next to City Hall and heads east into Deep Ellum. After two left turns, the course then heads west back into downtown down Elm Street. At Griffin Street, the 5k participants turn left and finish the race back at City Hall.

Still on Elm Street, the eight mile runners pass by the Bank of America Plaza. Elm turns into Houston Street, passing Dealey Plaza. The course then winds around site of the former Reunion Arena and onto the Houston Street Viaduct for almost two miles (3 km), passing over the Trinity River.

After a turn around on Zang Boulevard in Oak Cliff, the race moves on the Jefferson St. Viaduct, "The Mile Long Bridge" parallel to the Houston Strett Viaduct. On Jefferson, runners can see the beautiful Dallas skyline as they reenter Downtown. A quick turn east on Young Street then a slant onto Marrilla terminates the race right next to City Hall.

2006
Further information: 2006 Race Results

Australian Shawn Forrest, a member of the University of Arkansas cross country team, was the overall winner in a time of 39:10, being the first runner to break 40 minutes since 2000, and the fastest time since 1998.

Melisa Christian of Dallas won the woman's event in 45:59. Christian followed up her runner-up finish of 2005's Trot, which was run in 48:11.

2009

The overall winner in 2009 was Justin Meaders in a wheelchair, with a winning time of 38:46. The men's running winner was Scott MacPherson, just behind with a time 38:47. The fastest woman was Melisa Christian with a time of 46:29.

2012
  • 8 Mile Winners
Male: Bobby Zeller of Flower Mound, TX, 42:45
Female: Melisa Christian of Dallas, TX, 47:50
  • 5k Winners
Male: William Huffman of Colleyville, TX, 16:12
Female: Karoline Skatteboe of Dallas, TX, 17:04
  • Wheelchair Division
Dusan Hrasko of Plano, TX, 49:06

Trivia
  • Course Records:
Male: Tom Marino, 37:47 (1980)- According to the article's own records (List of winners of the Dallas Turkey Trot), Tom Hess set the course record in 1971 with a time of 37:07. Female: Francie Smith, 42:56 (1990)
  • Winningest Runners:
Male: Ben Moturi - 4 times (1981-84)
Female: Ingrid Mollenkopf - 5 times (2014-2017, 2019)

Men's winners
  • 1968 Ralph Trimble 41:59
  • 1969 Wayne Corner 41:18
  • 1970 Richard Shay 43:23
  • 1971 Tom Hess 37:05
  • 1972 Tom Hess 39:40
  • 1973 Richard Pettigrew 42:30
  • 1974 Richard Pettigrew 40:45
  • 1975 Richard Pettigrew 40:32
  • 1976 Jeff Wells 39:32
  • 1977 John Lodwick 39:14
  • 1978 Chris Stewart 39:18
  • 1979 Marcus Nenow 38:50
  • 1980 Tom Marino 37:47
  • 1981 Ben Moturi 38:42
  • 1982 Ben Moturi 39:20
  • 1983 Ben Moturi 38:41
  • 1984 Ben Moturi 38:31
  • 1985 Stann Vernon 38:39
  • 1986 Calvin McGill 39:22
  • 1987 Robert Wallace 39:48
  • 1988 Joel Chemwetich 39:54
  • 1989 Robert Wallace 39:48
  • 1990 Andres Espinosa 38:49
  • 1991 Andres Espinosa 38:18
  • 1992 Keith Johnson 39:13
  • 1993 Juan Carlos Chaves 38:36
  • 1994 Marcello Crisanto 38:04
  • 1995 Justin Chaston 39:54
  • 1996 Julio Caesar Valle 38:35
  • 1997 Julius Randichi 38:55
  • 1998 Dan Browne 38:33
  • 1999 Santos Ortega 40:28
  • 2000 Delmir dos Santos 39:19
  • 2001 Paul Ndachi 40:55
  • 2002 Dan Browne 40:19
  • 2003 Weldon Johnson 41:02
  • 2004 Andrew Cook 40:42
  • 2005 Logan Sherman 40:43
  • 2006 Shawn Forrest 39:10

See also

References
  1. Mosier, Jeff (2012-11-22). "YMCA Turkey Trot bring tens of thousands to downtown Dallas". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
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