Webster Turkey Trot
Webster, NY
- 4.4 Miler, 2.5 Miler
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
This 50+ year-old tradition of Webster, NY was started by Jim May, former English Teacher, in Webster. Jim May started this event as a practice run for his Cross Country Team, as a way for them to get a workout on Thanksgiving Day. As the years progressed, the event grew … MORE
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Nice Turkey Trot
Very nice Turkey trot with well-run bussing to and from the race location. Only issue is the mud at the end on a downhill segment that is always a challenge! MORE
Very nice Turkey trot with well-run bussing to and from the race location. Only issue is the mud at the end on a downhill segment that is always a challenge!
Cool Tradition but Logistical Issues
This race was started 50 years ago by a local cross country coach as a work-out for the team on thanksgiving and the course has stayed the same for 50 … MORE
This race was started 50 years ago by a local cross country coach as a work-out for the team on thanksgiving and the course has stayed the same for 50 years. It is pretty cool that people have run this same race for 50 years but this race was designed for a cross country team not 3000 runners so there was some issues. This race was taken over a number of years ago by Yellow Jacket Racing. I do think production was good given they kept the tradition but there were too many runners for the course. Packet pick-up is recommended at the store Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday but there is race day pick-up if needed. Packet included bib, sticker, and your choice of sweatshirt or T-shirt. I got the sweatshirt. It is very comfy and good quality. I do wish it had more of a thanksgiving design but I will definitely wear it. The race takes place mostly on the roads around Webster Park. There is not enough parking at the park so you either need to arrive super early or take a shuttle. I was leaving for NH right after the race so opted to park there. I arrived over 2 hours early and the closest lot was already full. I still parked pretty close. I had to kill an hour and a half on my phone. There was plenty of porta potties nearby. There are 2 race distances with about 1500 runners each. I did the 4.4 miler which started at 10am. The shorter 2.5 miler started 10 minutes later. The race is through the neighborhoods around the park. It is pretty and there were some spectators. Difficulty is pretty average. A few hills but nothing too tough. The race was pretty crowded. I started in the middle and it wasn’t too bad. However there are a lot of participants who don’t run races regularly so not the best race etiquette. But it wasn’t too bad until a little after 2 miles when we merged with the 2.5 milers. This section was about 1/3 mile but it was a disaster. I have never been in a race with this much congestion. I was keeping a good 10 min/mil pace and so were the others around me but the 2.5. milers were around a 14 to 15 min/mile pace. I am not complaining about the participants. I think everyone should be able to participate at any pace but I am complaining about the course set up. It was impossible to keep a consistent pace with this many people as many 14 to 15 milers are run-walking and those 14 to 15 milers who were speed walking or slow running consistent paces were running to the sides so I couldn’t keep my pace there either. I had to walk the hills on this section since it was too tricky to weave around people. Luckily this was short and I picked up my pace again but then the entire last mile we then merged again with the 14 to 15 min/mile 2.5 miler. The end was a mess. I am usually fastest at the end but I was slowed down by having to weave around so many people. The absolute worst part was the last 1/4 mile or so was on trail leading to the finish. At one point it was absolutely impossible to run. This was an extremely frustrating end. I was on pace to potentially finish at an under 10 min/mil pace but I couldn’t do it due to the congestion. I’m sure it was also very frustrating for the fast runners to join with 2.5 milers running my pace at the last 1/4 mile too. I’ve done 150+ total races and this had the absolute worst congestion and worst merging of race distances of any I’ve done. It was so bad I am not sure I would do this race again when there are so many other thanksgiving races to choose from. I don’t know all the logistics with road closures, city permits but a simple solution would be to start the 2.5 milers 20 minutes after the 4.5 milers in at 10:20 instead of only 10 minutes later. Then the fast 4.5 milers would finish before most of the 2.5 milers and the middle 4.5 milers like me who took 45 minutes would finish with 2.5 milers running the same pace and the congestion would be less of an issue. Other solutions would be changing the 2.5 mile course or possible putting cones in the middle and doing separate lanes for 4.5 and 2.5 milers. The finish area was exciting but a bit crowded. There is a nice arch and you are handed a bag with the medal and some snacks. The medal was very nice. The snacks kind of meh but it’s okay. I was happy it was easy to leave after the race. I did like the swag and the course but the course congestion and having to park so early may make me decide to try out some other Thanksgiving races for future years