Every household has its unique traditions and ways of celebrating Thanksgiving, but the Turkey Trot tradition has been a common thread for many Detroiters and has been a major city tradition for over 40 years!
While you may all be familiar with the Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot, commonly known as “The parade before the parade”, we’ve taken the opportunity to list a few different Turkey Trots around Detroit that may be closer to home or help you avoid a crowd this Thanksgiving.
1. The Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot – Downtown Detroit
As we said, “The parade before the parade”, is the premier Turkey Trot in town. One of the staple traditions of Thanksgiving in Detroit, the Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot is now onto its 41st annual iteration as people travel from all across Michigan to participate in one of the biggest annual events in the state! With a variety of race distance options ranging from a one-mile walk to a full 10K, there’s something that’s a good fit for everyone!
The race takes you by the crowd of America’s Thanksgiving Parade, which gives this Turkey Trot one of the largest audiences in the country!
The last day to register for the S3 Turkey Trot is in person on Wednesday, November 22nd, at the Huntington Place Expo in Room E between 12:00 noon and 7:00 pm.
2. Turkey TRAIL Trot – Shelby Township
Offering something a little more outdoorsy than the city streets of the S3 Turkey Trot, the Shelby Township Turkey TRAIL Trot is a single-track course across a 100% dirt trail. Similar to Downtown Detroit’s trot, this Turkey Trot also has multiple length options starting at two miles and ranging up to a Half Marathon for those who are a bit more serious about their running.
When registering you can choose between two days, Thanksgiving morning, or the following morning on Black Friday, there are “races” held on both days, so you can choose whichever works best for your schedule.
As mentioned, this course tends to be a bit more for practiced runners, so unless you have the proper footwear to deal with the leaves, rocks, and roots, this may not be the best option for you.
3. Ann Arbor Turkey Troy – Ann Arbor
With a focus on fun for everyone, the Ann Arbor Turkey Trot offers two distances a 1K “Tot Trot” and a full 5K course! In addition to the race they also have a theme competition giving out “top three” rewards for the three ugliest sweaters, the three best holiday-themed costumes, and one price for the best holiday-themed group costume (for a group of five or more people).
If you have little ones and want to avoid the crowds of Downtown Detroit but still want to take part in a Turkey Trot, then this is the option for you!