Every Thanksgiving Turkey, as some are busy preparing stuffing or anxiously searching the internet for turkey defrosting times, others are up early donning commemorative T-shirts (and maybe turkey-shaped hats) to participate in a chilly morning run known as the turkey trot. This 5- to 10-kilometer race, often done for charity, has evolved into a delightfully contentious holiday tradition, akin to crack-of-dawn Black Friday lines and marshmallow toppings on sweet potatoes.
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Participants eagerly anticipate goofy costumes and a collective endorphin rush, while detractors view those opting for a cold jog that costs money as a different breed altogether. Memes featuring festively clad runners in miserable weather circulate, poking fun at the race and those who partake, with captions like, “Imagine meeting your soulmate and then finding out their family runs 5ks on holidays?”
Thanksgiving Turkey
Thanksgiving Turkey, despite being centered around feasting, has paradoxically become the most popular time for races, attracting nearly 1 million participants annually. The tradition seemingly aligns with the American inclination to balance excess with repentance, particularly in the realm of food.
I, too, participated in Thanksgiving Turkey trots as a child, dreading the experience each year, not just because of the cold Missouri weather. I was reluctantly dragged to the starting line by my parents and would only cross the finish after being bribed with a brand-new journal around the first water station. Back then, I perceived the race as punishment, influenced by the diet and exercise culture prevalent in the 1990s and early 2000s, which framed exercise primarily as a means to get skinnier and counteract food consumption.
Over the years, my perspective has shifted, and I now view working out as a way to calm down, feel strong, and appreciate what my body can achieve. The Thanksgiving Turkey trot, for me, is a similar experience, enhanced by free swag and fun outfits. Nevertheless, I empathize with those who might approach the race as I once did – a grudging pursuit for absolution from the perceived sin of having a body.
Despite my personal evolution, turkey trots across the country are still promoted as a way to “earn your Thanksgiving Turkey dinner,” “burn pre-feast calories,” or alleviate guilt. These messages suggest that some individuals run on Thanksgiving due to the lingering myth that eating is shameful, rather than nourishing, and that running is a form of redemption for caloric indulgence.
This concept of “earning” food can be traced back to the early 20th century when the calorie became the standard measure for quantifying food intake. Lulu Hunt Peters, the author of the 1918 bestseller “Diet and Health: With Key to the Calories,” played a role in popularizing this mindset. Slowly, exercise began to be quantified in the same manner, with people engaging in more demanding workouts to burn a specific number of calories. By 1976, Weight Watchers had incorporated exercise into its weight-loss program.
In light of this history, it’s not surprising that a day dedicated to indulgence might be perceived as requiring compensatory exertion. This might be attributed to America’s puritanical tendencies, where a bit of suffering seems intertwined with success, hard work with happiness, and rigor with relaxation. Although the body-positivity movement has gained traction, the notion of food as something to be “earned” or “atoned for” persists. Even as Weight Watchers rebranded as WW, the program still emphasizes “activity points” and “food points,” reinforcing the idea that working out grants the right to eat more or compensates for overindulgence.
There are numerous positive reasons to participate in a Thanksgiving Day race, but “earning” dinner should not be one of them. If you choose to run, do it to join a tradition dating back to 1896, to support local charities, or to experience the joy of being part of a community donned in festive attire. Run because exercise can alleviate the stress of cooking for a picky family, because it contributes to longevity, or simply for the post-activity appetite that enhances the taste of everything. Or, if running isn’t your thing, don’t run at all. Turkey trots should be entirely optional.
In 2019, I participated in my last trot, a little over a month after having my cancerous thyroid removed. With my newly converted trotter fiancé running ahead, I listened to Katy Perry through my AirPods and marveled at how a body that had recently been at risk was now joyfully active. It wasn’t punishment or preparation; it was a celebration of possibility. As I enjoyed my complimentary pumpkin pie at the finish line, awaiting the company of my five favorite people to cook, eat, watch football, bicker, and laugh, I didn’t feel more deserving or less guilty about the impending food, fun, and rest. I just felt thankful.
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