By Samuel Wenck
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Thousands of runners suited up in their best running clothes Thursday and spent Thanksgiving morning in the cold as the YMCA hosted it’s 34th annual Turkey Trot 5k.
With six different race locations across Baltimore, including Baltimore City, Towson, Arnold, Bel Air, Westminster and Ellicott City, the Turkey Trot had a reported 17,000 people registered for the race, according to the Y.
“I think it’s a great event for people to come out,” said Jim Heilman, a runner at the Towson location who’s been running in the Turkey Trot for 10 years. “You can walk; you can run. It’s great for the community.”
“It’s an amazing event and it brings everyone and their families out for Thanksgiving,” Heilman added.
Many runners showed up before the start of the race at 8 a.m., with vendors giving out free water, burritos, hot chocolate and other amenities.
Runners started the race in the freezing temperatures. The participants ranged from families old and young, friends and even mothers pushing their babies still in their strollers.
“It’s (The race) able to draw out everyone who wants to be in a race or a community environment,” said Giustino Puliti, a recruiter for the Y. “Especially since we’re in post Covid, it’s allowing people to be in spaces you couldn’t be a few years ago.”
The race serves as a reminder of the community people live in just as much as it does a race.
“It’s friendly. You have kids here running around and people taking it seriously,” said Rachel Johansson, a runner.
“We get to work off a few calories before a nice Thanksgiving dinner,” said Matt Evans, who also ran in the race.
Charity is a key theme of the Turkey Trot with all the money raised going to local food pantries in the greater Baltimore area.
“A lot of the funds go back into ensuring the community they have a resource like the Y,” said Puliti, who at the Towson location helped as a vendor giving out free food to runners.
With as many people as the Turkey Trot brought out this year, organizers hope to break the Y’s donation goal of $100,000.