2016 Troy Turkey Trot Fact Sheet

By troytrot | October 24, 2016

WHAT: The 69th Troy Turkey Trot featuring a 10K, 5K, Grade School Mile and Turkey Walk. The event is the 11th largest and 12th oldest Turkey Trot in the nation.

This year marks the Trot’s 100th anniversary, which was founded as a remembrance run for veterans in 1916.  2016 also commemorates 200 years of the Collar City’s official incorporation on April 12, 1816.

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, 8 a.m.

WHERE: All events start at Fourth and Fulton Streets and finish at Monument Square, where post-race refreshments will be served.

WHO: As many as 8,000 recreational runners and walkers from 37 states.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The area’s only 10K. The 10K, starting at 8 a.m., will double as the USATF Adirondack’s Men’s and Women’s Championship and is the final event to determine the 2016 Grand Prix Series. (The Grand Prix Series is a road race program consisting of 10 races in which runners receive points for competing based on their finish position. The Troy Turkey Trot is the culminating Grand Prix Series event.)
  • 10K winners receive the “All Troy Club Cup.” The All Troy Club staged the first Trot in 1916.
  • 5K winners receive The Carley Cup in memory of Bill Carley, who restarted the Trot in 1964 and served as its event director for more than 20 years.
  • A costume contest for 5K participants with prizes awarded for “Best Thanksgiving Day Costume” and “Best Non-Thanksgiving Costume.”
  • More than 240 age group and family team awards.
  • 5K colored start sections to ensure a safe start and controlled flow of runners.
  • All Turkey Trot participants will receive a dry-fit 100th anniversary t-shirt.
  • Finishers’ items for all participants.

Fundraising goal: To raise $20,000 in donations for the event’s two charities, the Regional Food Bank of NENY and Joseph’s House & Shelter, as well as secure hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items for local food pantries

SCHEDULE:   

  • 8 a.m. — 10K Championship & Fitness Run (Serves as USATF Adirondack’s 10K Championship and Grand Prix finals)
  • 9:30 a.m. — Grade School Mile
  •  9:35 a.m. — Turkey Walk (1 Mile)
  •  10 a.m. — 5K

RECORDS:       Open 5K (3.1 Miles)

  • Men: Jonathan Aziz, 14:53 (2015)
  • Women: Christine Bergeron (Merrill), 16:03 (1983)

Open 10K (6.2 Miles)

  • Men: Tom Dalton, 29:43 (1980)
  • Women: Ellen Predmore, 34:26 (1984)

Grade School

  • Boys 11 & Younger: Jordan Johnson, 5:50 (2007)
  • Boys 12 & Older: Jacob Johnson, 5:07 (2010)
  • Girls 11 & Younger: Kaylee Scott, 6:07 (2008)
  • Girls 12 & Older: Elizabeth Predmore, 5:32 (2007)

TIMING:  B-Tag (affixed to runners’ bibs)

5K FAMILY

TEAMS: Thanksgiving is about all families and the Trot is expecting more than 300 teams to take part in its family team competition.  Family team categories include: mother/daughter; mother/son; father/daughter; father/son; sister/sister; brother/brother; brother/sister; husband/wife; wife/wife; and, husband/husband.

PAST EVENT REGISTRANTS:

  • 2015: 5K, 4703; 10K, 1733; Grade School Mile, 541; Turkey Walk, 360 Total: 7,337
  • 2014: 5K, 5012; 10K, 1562; Grade School Mile, 514; Turkey Walk, 389 Total: 7,477
  • 2013: 5K, 5292; 10K, 1503; Grade School Mile, 591; Turkey Walk, 468 Total: 7,854
  • 2012: 5K, 5747; 10K, 1123; Grade School Mile, 726; Turkey Walk, 571 Total: 8,167

AWARDS:  Custom-made, commemorative awards (240 in total) will be given to the top three men and women in all open, age group and team categories in the 10K and 5K races. All Grade School Milers will receive finishers’ medals and a dry blend custom t-shirt.  All Turkey Walk participants will receive a commemorative pin and a dry-fit custom t-shirt.

PARKING: Ample, free event parking is available at a number of Front and River Street parking lots.  A comprehensive map of Troy parking lots can be found at http://troyny.gov/Departments/Parking.aspx.

CHARITIES:    Funds raised through online registration donations will benefit the Regional Food Bank of NENY and Joseph’s House and Shelter, Inc., a Troy-based not-for-profit whose mission is to prevent and alleviate homelessness.

RESULTS:  Unofficial results will be available within minutes upon finishing at troyturkeytrot.com via ChronoTrack Live.  Finishers’ certificates will be available for download after 5 p.m.

CONTACTS:

  • Edward Parham, VP of PR, Rueckert Advertising and PR, (518) 596-0239 (cell)
  • George Regan, Event Director, (518) 221-3051 (cell)
  • John Salka, Deputy Director of Public Information, City of Troy, (518) 279-7131 (work)