By: Alyssa Ochss | C&G Newspapers | Published November 23, 2024
DETROIT — Every year, America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is hosted in downtown Detroit. Preceding that event is the Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot where runners of all ages and experience levels can participate and share their love for running.
Sarah Jelinek said they call the S3 Turkey Trot “the parade before the parade.” According to The Parade Company’s website, it’s been in Detroit for over 40 years. There are three different races: the 10K Turkey Trot, the 5K Stuffing Strut and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mashed Potato Mile.
“And you follow a lot of the parade route,” Jelinek said. “And a lot of people are, they dress up like turkeys.”
She went on to say participants dress up in Thanksgiving themes and Christmas themes.
“It’s a very fun-themed run, less (of) an emphasis on time and performance,” Jelinek said.
Jelinek said anyone can join the Turkey Trot regardless of running experience.
“You don’t necessarily have to be a like hardcore runner to enjoy it,” Jelinek said.
Jelinek personally has been participating in the S3 Turkey Trot since 2018. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she said the race was virtual where runners went on their own individual runs instead of going downtown. She said this wasn’t quite the same because of the lack of a social aspect. She called this the most important part of the race.
“A lot of what’s fun is people who know each other in the running community will meet up downtown at Huntington Place,” Jelinek said. “And everybody has on their ridiculous looking turkey outfits or elf outfits. So everybody looks kind of funny and they’re all meeting up and excited to go.”
Jelinek said she feels all the races in Michigan are getting bigger and says there is a running boom right now. She said she doesn’t have exact numbers for the Turkey Trot, but she has noticed other races gaining more attention and participation.
Tammy Marquez, a St. Clair Shores resident, participated in the Big Bird Run in Roseville this year. They also had the options of a 10K, a 5K and a 1-mile race. She said she chose the 10K.
“It was really nice because it was a smaller race and it goes through quiet neighborhoods and through parks throughout the city of Roseville,” Marquez said.
She added there wasn’t a lot of road traffic.
“We did have some crowd support,” Marquez said. “We had some folks out on their front porches kind of cheering us on. So that was nice to still get that encouragement.”
Marquez said it was a nice event and the proceeds from the race go back into community programs. She also said she had a lot of fun during the race and that it was nice to run with other people.
“Running is something that I always enjoy,” Marquez said. “And a lot of the route that we took is routes that I typically run just on my normal runs on a daily basis, so it was nice.”
Marquez started running around 13 years ago after she had her kids. She said it’s turned into a lifelong activity.
Though no training is needed for the races such as 10K, Marquez said it would be more enjoyable to have a little bit of training under your belt.
“If you have any kind of goal in mind for wanting to improve then yes, absolutely,” Marquez said. “Training would be important.”
Jelinek added in an email that the metro Detroit running community is great and welcomes newcomers openly.
“The Turkey Trot is a great event that has distances for all experience levels, including people just getting started with the Mashed Potato Mile,” Jelinek said in the email. “Participants can run, walk, or do a combination.”
She recommends those trying out the Turkey Trot for the first time to wear something festive, stay warm at Huntington Place beforehand and to check the weather.
“It really can differ every single year,” Jelinek said. “There’s been rainy years, there’s been cold years, there have been years where it’s pretty mild. Keep an eye on the forecast until the morning of and just adjust what you’re planning on wearing.”
The biggest tip she has is to stay at Huntington Place to keep warm because it is a short walk to the starting line from there.
According to The Parade Company’s website, registration and packet pick up for the Turkey Trot this year will be from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 27 at Huntington Place in Room E. Packet pickup will also be available day of at 6 a.m. in the same location. They accept cash or checks only made payable to The Parade Company.
Huntington Place is located at 1 Washington Blvd. in Detroit. The expo center was formerly known as Cobo Hall, Cobo Center and TCF Center.
The starting time for the 10K and the mile is 7:30 a.m. and the starting time for the 5K is 8:30 a.m. Jogging strollers are allowed, but no pets or bikes are permitted. The start line for the mile is on Atwater Street behind Huntington Place and the start line for both the 5K and the 10K is at Griswold Street and Fort Street.
For more information about the parade and the races, visit theparade.org.