Adirondack Sports November 2020

RUNNING & WALKING
NOVEMBER 2020 3
Thanksgiving
By Laura Clark
With the finish line nowhere
in sight, planning for even
the most basic 5K race has
taken on the complexity of an ultra,
involving meticulously orchestrated
logistics. Trail runs, with typically less
entrants, fewer spectators and natural
obstacle-enforced spacing, have proven
the most adaptable, with the Capital
Region’s ARE Event Productions leading
the way. But huge, mass start road
events, like your typical turkey trots
are another matter. Across the table,
Thanksgiving is the most popular racing
day in the country, both for the turkeys
for whom it is a matter of life and death,
and human runners and walkers who
simply want to justify overstuffing.
But deep down, there is more to it
than that. Thanksgiving is all about tradition,
and besides family, green bean
casserole and tag football, that often
means a trip to the old neighborhood to
run and socialize with friends you see
perhaps once a year. You have probably
resigned yourself to a Zoomed-in meal,
but are reluctant to sacrifice your appetizer,
especially since many of us are
extra-fit, having exchanged our commute
for bonus sneaker time. Turkeys,
too, are in better shape now that they
have been forced to dodge all that extra
traffic on their home trails!
Fortunately, our “biggest two trotters”
are up to the challenge with virtual
variations encompassing a number of
days. With virtual races, this may be the
only time that overachievers can brag
that they have run all area turkey trots
Reimagined
in a single year! Leading the way is the Please note that participation on the
73rd annual Troy Turkey Trot, one of actual route is discouraged as the Collar
the oldest and largest Thanksgiving Day City Bridge will not be closed to traffic.
events in the United States – with a flock Continuing the tradition, fancy feathers
are encouraged with the photo cos-
of 6,000 runners and walkers.
As befitting its stature, Troy has partnered
with Real-Time Remote Racing, addition – a Best Finish Line contest for
tume contest, team categories, and a new
pioneered by the powerhouse New York your own version of Thanksgiving fun.
Road Runners, to take your virtual experience
to the next level. Once registered, poults 14-and-under can run with their
As family flocks are the norm at the trots,
their custom app can be downloaded family group for a $5 discount. If you elect
whether you choose to run the 5K, 10K, to forgo the long-sleeved shirt, you may
Grade School Mile or Turkey Walk Mile. deduct $5 from your fee. Conversely, if
With this technology, no matter what dry feathers are a consideration, you may
hometown route you choose to run, upgrade to a hoodie for an additional $5.
you’ll be able to track your progress – To register, for packet pickup times, and
and see yourself in real time running the instructions for having your swag mailed
“real” course. You can run with your isolation
pod of sports buddies while at the And honoring the giving compo-
to you, visit: troyturkeytrot.com.
same time tracking the progress of your nent of the holiday, Mark Quandt of the
schoolmates or friends in other states. Regional Food Bank of Northeastern
Our feathered friends, too, are particularly
appreciative of this feature – no that every Trotter dollar will provide
New York would like you to know
more red-eye flights to join you from farflung
destinations.
O’Connor at Joseph’s House & Shelter,
four meals for those in need. Kevin
To make this even more exciting,
opening ceremonies will kick off requirement for Covid-19 supplies and
another beneficiary, emphasizes their
Thanksgiving morning on Facebook increased staffing have put increased
Live, prior to the 10am takeoff, when pressure on their organization.
folks scattered across the globe will The 19th annual Christopher Dailey
have the opportunity to coordinate Turkey Trot, based out of Saratoga
their efforts. Those who prefer to sleep Springs, and normally attracting a flock
in, or perhaps engage in some serious of 3,500 has also gone virtual, giving
meal prep, have from Thursday, Nov. athletes a free-range opportunity from
26 through Saturday, Nov. 28 at 11pm Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday,
to complete their run. While the technology-challenged
can simply add their While any 5K course will do, the tra-
Nov. 29 to complete their 5K.
time on the results page, only Strava or ditional Skidmore College route, with
app results will count towards awards. its challenging hills and downhill to
the finish is still an option, provided
you keep an eye out for local traffic and
follow face covering protocols. Another
unique alternative, and one which the
Dailey family has chosen to do, is to
journey back to the past to run the original
route in their neighborhood.
Memorial T-shirts are available to
the first 1,000 registrants, but those
not desiring a shirt may subtract $7
from their registration fee or donate it
to the cause. Proceeds will support the
Christopher Dailey Foundation, whose
aim is to fund sponsorships and donations
to youth organizations, especially
those serving children with economic
risks and physical challenges. Register
and learn more at: zippyreg.com/cdtt.
While we’ve been forced to adapt our
lifestyles to the virus, it’s a tribute to the
running community that we’re afforded
a smorgasbord of events, reimagined to
keep things fresh and interesting. Our
strongest, earliest memories are tied
to our sense of smell, so it shouldn’t be
surprising that this holiday, relying as it
does on traditional kitchen aromas is so
difficult for us to reconcile to our altered
lifestyle. It’s a tribute to the resilience of
our community that we’re able to do so
with fortitude and gratefulness. Happy
Thanksgiving!
Laura Clark (snowshoegal133@
gmail.com) of Saratoga Springs is an
avid trail runner, ultramarathoner,
snowshoer and cross-country skier. She
is a children’s librarian at the Saratoga
Springs Public Library.