Competitors of all ages, in all kinds of costumes, ran down Delaware Avenue this chilly morning in one of Buffalo’s oldest traditions and one of its most anticipated social events of the holiday season.
“It’s just fun. The environment is awesome,” said Christin Handley, 24, of East Aurora. Handley was running in her seventh Turkey Trot, and said she is proud that the oldest road race in the country is in her back yard.
Families gathered to kick off the long Thanksgiving weekend and people dressed up as Pilgrims and turkeys ran past cheering spectators this morning.
Emily Appleton, 14, was thawing out after the race in the lobby of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center with her family.
Appleton, of South Windsor, Conn., was visiting relatives for the holiday weekend and had just finished her first Turkey Trot.
“It was good, it was long,” she said.
The course was more flat than she was used to. And there were a lot more costumes than she was used to running around and past. She got caught up in a group that was dressed as the Avengers.
It was also very cold - 19 degrees. Appleton said she didn’t warm up much on the course.
The Turkey Trot – a nearly 5-mile race from the YMCA in North Buffalo to the Convention Center downtown that dates back to 1896 – drew 14,000 registrants and sold out 18 days before the race, the earliest that registration has ever closed.
The event is more known for its party-like atmosphere than its competitive nature.
The party atmosphere was complemented by the many runners who donned costumes – from banana suits to pilgrim hats – and, for two runners who had their thoughts on another big holiday, garland wrapped around their bodies and decorated with ornaments.
Megan Looney of East Amherst was waiting at the finish line for her son and his friends, high school soccer players who had used glue guns and staples to fashion Pac-Man costumes.
“They’re not going to be very professional,” Looney said of the costumes.
The number of runners who choose to make a statement with their costume has grown over the years, though race director Tom Donnelly told The Buffalo News he’s not quite sure why.
The prevalence of costumed runners has inspired awards for the best costumes during the last two years.
Debbie and Bruce Jones and their four young children were lined up at the Convention Center to take the bus up to the race start at the YMCA.
The family, who had arrived in Western New York eight hours before from Connecticut, huddled against the cold. Six-year-old Luke said he was most looking forward to hot chocolate at the end.
“Getting them out of bed took a lot,” said Debbie Jones.
The race is limited to 14,000 participants to comply with fire codes governing the Convention Center and Statler City. The Convention Center hosts an awards ceremony and post-race party, and Statler City hosts a family-friendly party.
For those interested in the race itself, the overall winner among women was Rachel Schneider of Washington, D.C., who finished in 28 minutes, 17 seconds. The men’s winner was Jacob Krolick of Arcade, who finished in 24 minutes, 21 seconds.
email: jterreri@buffnews.com
“It’s just fun. The environment is awesome,” said Christin Handley, 24, of East Aurora. Handley was running in her seventh Turkey Trot, and said she is proud that the oldest road race in the country is in her back yard.
Families gathered to kick off the long Thanksgiving weekend and people dressed up as Pilgrims and turkeys ran past cheering spectators this morning.
Emily Appleton, 14, was thawing out after the race in the lobby of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center with her family.
Appleton, of South Windsor, Conn., was visiting relatives for the holiday weekend and had just finished her first Turkey Trot.
“It was good, it was long,” she said.
The course was more flat than she was used to. And there were a lot more costumes than she was used to running around and past. She got caught up in a group that was dressed as the Avengers.
It was also very cold - 19 degrees. Appleton said she didn’t warm up much on the course.
The Turkey Trot – a nearly 5-mile race from the YMCA in North Buffalo to the Convention Center downtown that dates back to 1896 – drew 14,000 registrants and sold out 18 days before the race, the earliest that registration has ever closed.
The event is more known for its party-like atmosphere than its competitive nature.
The party atmosphere was complemented by the many runners who donned costumes – from banana suits to pilgrim hats – and, for two runners who had their thoughts on another big holiday, garland wrapped around their bodies and decorated with ornaments.
Megan Looney of East Amherst was waiting at the finish line for her son and his friends, high school soccer players who had used glue guns and staples to fashion Pac-Man costumes.
“They’re not going to be very professional,” Looney said of the costumes.
The number of runners who choose to make a statement with their costume has grown over the years, though race director Tom Donnelly told The Buffalo News he’s not quite sure why.
The prevalence of costumed runners has inspired awards for the best costumes during the last two years.
Debbie and Bruce Jones and their four young children were lined up at the Convention Center to take the bus up to the race start at the YMCA.
The family, who had arrived in Western New York eight hours before from Connecticut, huddled against the cold. Six-year-old Luke said he was most looking forward to hot chocolate at the end.
“Getting them out of bed took a lot,” said Debbie Jones.
The race is limited to 14,000 participants to comply with fire codes governing the Convention Center and Statler City. The Convention Center hosts an awards ceremony and post-race party, and Statler City hosts a family-friendly party.
For those interested in the race itself, the overall winner among women was Rachel Schneider of Washington, D.C., who finished in 28 minutes, 17 seconds. The men’s winner was Jacob Krolick of Arcade, who finished in 24 minutes, 21 seconds.
email: jterreri@buffnews.com