Dallas Turkey Trot

Dallas Turkey Trot
Date	Thanksgiving Day
Location	Dallas, Texas
Event type	Road
Distance	8 miles; 3 mile fun run
Beneficiary	YMCA Teen and Family programs
Official site	www.thetrot.com

The Capital One Bank 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 3 miles (4.8 km) Fun run; however, official results for the fun run are not recorded. 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 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 (after one hour, walkers still on the Houston Street Viaduct are asked to observe pedestrian rules and walk on the sidewalk) and goes east on Canton Street for a little more than a mile. After a short time under Interstate 45 and two left turns, the race resumes for a long stretch on Elm Street, entering Deep Ellum. At historic Commerce Street, after leaving Deep Ellum, the 3-milers turn left to the finish.

Still on Elm Street, 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.

Trivia

• Course Records:

Male: Tom Marino, 37:47 (1980)

Female: Francie Smith, 42:56 (1990)

• Winningest Runners:

Male: Ben Moturi - 4 times (1981-84)

Female: Katie Courtright - 3 times (1999, 2001-02)

See also

• List of winners of the Dallas Turkey Trot
• Buffalo Turkey Trot, another YMCA-sponsored Turkey Trot

External links

• Official Dallas Turkey Trot Website