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turkey trot history
The Turkey Trot unofficially began in 1977 by the West Florida Y Runners Club of Pinellas County at Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. By 1979, it was changed to Thanksgiving Morning to the Clearwater Senior High School stadium located in Clearwater, with 995 runners participating. In 1995, we hit an all time record of 10,217. We added walkers to the mix of runners, we have continued to increase, consistently to over 17,000 to date.
The West Florida Y Runners Club is the owner of the Turkey Trot. We have all volunteers on steering committee for the last 30 years.
We are considered one of the top three runs in the state of Florida, and the largest in Pinellas County. At one point, we were one of the top twenty 5K races in the nation.
It began with a 10K Trot run for the club, in 1980, we added the 1 Mile Gobbler which would enable walkers and families to participate. In 1988, we added the 5K Wingding, which was and still is the most popular. Since that time, we have added the 4K Drumstick. The latest run we have added is The Clearwater Challenge which includes all three distances.
One of our major sponsors is City of Clearwater of which we could not do the race without their assistance in many areas of the race.
We have volunteers that help us from another major sponsor, Morton Plant/Bay Care which have helped us tremendously through the years with T-shirt distribution and race day registration. We have people that have come faithfully every year to help us.
The Turkey Trot is about families, runners and walkers of all skill levels. We have generations of families that run together every year from great-grandparents to their great-grandchildren in strollers. They are out there having fun and finishing their race.
Some considered the Turkey Trot as a `friends reunion’.
Turkey Trot is about all kinds of music provided by nine local groups along the three courses, from country, blue grass, bagpipes, jazz, to rock n’ roll. We have been told the music is one of our best features.
Turkey Trot is about giving.
For the past many years, West Florida Y Runners Club gives college scholarships to area graduating seniors.
We give a total of around $100,000 each year to non-profit organizations that help families and children. We contribute to organizations that help single mothers with children removed from abusive situations, charities that help homeless persons, veterans, and families in desperate need, and a children’s home. We collect canned and dry goods contributed by the participants to a food bank in the community. We do not publicize these charity groups to protect them.
Turkey Trot is about many things, but the most important is to promote running and a healthy lifestyle, and have fun doing it!
The West Florida Y Runners Club is the owner of the Turkey Trot. We have all volunteers on steering committee for the last 30 years.
We are considered one of the top three runs in the state of Florida, and the largest in Pinellas County. At one point, we were one of the top twenty 5K races in the nation.
It began with a 10K Trot run for the club, in 1980, we added the 1 Mile Gobbler which would enable walkers and families to participate. In 1988, we added the 5K Wingding, which was and still is the most popular. Since that time, we have added the 4K Drumstick. The latest run we have added is The Clearwater Challenge which includes all three distances.
One of our major sponsors is City of Clearwater of which we could not do the race without their assistance in many areas of the race.
We have volunteers that help us from another major sponsor, Morton Plant/Bay Care which have helped us tremendously through the years with T-shirt distribution and race day registration. We have people that have come faithfully every year to help us.
The Turkey Trot is about families, runners and walkers of all skill levels. We have generations of families that run together every year from great-grandparents to their great-grandchildren in strollers. They are out there having fun and finishing their race.
Some considered the Turkey Trot as a `friends reunion’.
Turkey Trot is about all kinds of music provided by nine local groups along the three courses, from country, blue grass, bagpipes, jazz, to rock n’ roll. We have been told the music is one of our best features.
Turkey Trot is about giving.
For the past many years, West Florida Y Runners Club gives college scholarships to area graduating seniors.
We give a total of around $100,000 each year to non-profit organizations that help families and children. We contribute to organizations that help single mothers with children removed from abusive situations, charities that help homeless persons, veterans, and families in desperate need, and a children’s home. We collect canned and dry goods contributed by the participants to a food bank in the community. We do not publicize these charity groups to protect them.
Turkey Trot is about many things, but the most important is to promote running and a healthy lifestyle, and have fun doing it!
