BRATTLEBORO — A long standing Brattleboro tradition will continue this year when the 47th annual Turkey Trot begins on Thanksgiving Day.
The race was first held in 1977 and since has become a popular community event.
“You see a lot of families out there that just come together, they run together (and) they cheer everybody on. It’s a really fun way to start your day,” said race director Jennifer Smith.
There are two different races that people can choose to compete in, a one-mile race or a three-mile race. While there are both offerings, Smith said that the majority of the participants compete in the three-mile race. Of the 285 people that competed last year, 238 competed in the three-mile race compared to 47 in the one-mile. In 2022, 262 people competed in the race with 232 people competing in the three-mile race.
In addition to the race being tradition for some people, Smith getting some exercise on a day based around a big meal and the community atmosphere are among the draws for participants.
“It’s just a fun event before you sit down to have your Thanksgiving Dinner. … Just getting out there with other runners if you are a runner or just people in the community,” said Smith. “There’s a lot of people there, there’s a lot of support. … Families run together or some people are running and some people are cheering them on. Just the whole camaraderie (of the event).”
As of Nov. 7, Smith said that 46 people had registered for the race, but she expected that number to increase as a large number of people typically signed up closer to the day of the race itself.
While registration for the race is free, Smith said that they ask participants for a donation. Any of the funds that are raised after the Red Clover Rovers, which puts on the race, recoup expenses will be donated to Groundworks Collaborative and the Vermont Foodbank.
Last year, after covering expenses for insurance, among other things, the Red Clover Rovers were able to donate $479.47 to Groundworks Collaborative and $831.64 to the Vermont Foodbank.
The race is staffed entirely by volunteers and as of Nov. 7 Smith said she was looking for about eight or nine people to help out with bib pickup, at the finish line, the half mile mark on Upper Dummerston Road and 1.5 mile mark.
As the race day draws closer, Smith, who has served as the race director for the past three years, said for her the best part of the race is not only seeing the runners and the families, but the people that come out to support all the people who are competing.
“It’s just a wonderful, warm feeling to see everybody come together as a community and cheer for people and gather and be so happy that morning,” said Smith. “I’ve worked a couple different positions. I’ve worked checking in bibs, then I’ve worked where I was the MC sending people off my first year and last year I worked the finish line where I got to see everybody come in and everybody’s just cheering for everybody. It’s very joyful.”
The race will take place on Upper Dummerston Road near the Brattleboro Country Club and registration will remain open until Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 5 p.m. Check in and bib pickup will take place on Thanksgiving morning from 8 to 8:45 a.m. Those interested in participating in the race can register at: https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/Brattleboro/BrattleboroTurkeyTrot.
The one-mile race will begin at 9 a.m. and the three-mile race will begin at 9:15 a.m.
