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Nov 22, 2008
Fifth Third Turkey Trot - Improvements - more fun than ever!
By Doug Kurtis :: Views- 4147
Contact Doug ![]() More than 10,000 runners and walkers are expected for the 26th Fifth Third Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning in Detroit. The field has grown 100% the past four years, in part because of its connection to America's Thanksgiving Parade.
![]() Each year, the event has more of the look and feel of being part of the parade. The "tradition before the tradition" is giving way to the "parade before the parade." Costumed runners always have been part of the event. Now organizers (full disclosure: I'm the race director!) are advertising to runners to rent costumes from The Parade Company or just join the costume corral at the front of the field at the starting line. As trotters enter the registration room at Cobo Center on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning, they will be greeted by a mini-menagerie of parade props, including inflatable turkeys and papier-mâché "big heads." Registrants are encouraged to avoid the crush by picking up their bib numbers, timing tags and shirts early. They also can speed up the process by waiting until after the race to get their shirts, or dropping them off at the baggage-claim area without racing back to their cars. Gone are the sweatshirts and cartoon turkey logos. There will be a new, stylish design on a technical shirt this year. Gone are the timing chips that had to be removed at the finish line. The new disposable tags will let runners cruise straight to the new food court. Gone are the tables of token food items. Runners can circle through a food court with a number of choices, such as Clif Shot Bloks, Snyder's pretzels, Detroit Popcorn Company popcorn and the staples of fresh bagels and bananas. The Fifth Third Turkey Trot kicks off at 7:15 a.m. with a celebrity-judged costume contest. Wally Triplett, the former Lions halfback and the first African American to play in the NFL after being drafted into the league, will be on hand. He also will assist Jack Riley, marketing vice president for Fifth Third Bank, in starting the main events. The Mash Potato Mile begins at 7:30 a.m. with a new course. Kids will start on Washington Avenue, in front of Cobo Center, and circle the waterfront behind Cobo and Joe Louis Arena. The Turkey Trot 10K and Stuffing Strut 5K also have new courses. Woodward Avenue, from Congress to Jefferson, will be full of runners. WDIV-TV Local 4, the Free Press' reporting partner, will televise the start, when runners and walkers will make their way along the parade route and in front of the largest spectator crowd of any race in Michigan. This year, everyone will make the first turnaround together. Course marshals will be shouting for runners to keep to the right as they head back to Cobo. Larned Street will become the split as the 5K runners head to the finish while the 10K runners continue out to Chene Park before running along the riverfront. The top 100 men and women will receive scarves to match past year’s wool caps. The rest will be encouraged to hustle back to Woodward to catch the Parade in the designated runner bleacher seats. ![]() Doug Kurtis can be reached by clicking here! Comments:![]() the race was amazing but what happened with the site i still cant see the times ![]() First time running this "race" today, so I can't speak to improvements. I was amazed to read tonight that there were just 4,000 participants 6 years ago and over 10,000 today. ![]() The results are incorrect! I ran 55 min according to my stop watch and i see that my time shows 1 hour. I guess the chip did not work. Anyone else have this problem? ![]() This was my 17th consecutive year running the Turkey Trot, and I think that most of the changes helped to improve the race. The starting line was in a slightly better place, and I enjoyed the course more than in recent years (though I wish it would stop changing every year). The technical shirts were a big improvement over the old cartoon shirts, although they ran out early and I didn't receive one. The parade atmosphere was as good as ever, and race-day registration moved extremely fast. Unfortunately, it felt like some of the mile markers were slightly off. The 4-mile marker and 5K timing station seemed to be positioned wrong and yes, it matters (I'm sure I didn't negative-split the race, though the results claim I did). My one big complaint is with the "improved" food area, which was an unprecedented, unmitigated, rage-inducing disaster. It took me 15 minutes to be herded through the tiny front gate to grab some water, and another 10 minutes to reach the bagels 40 feet away. It needs to be redesigned next year so that it can handle the same volume of people as the finish line -- nearly 200 per minute, I'd guess. And I still haven't reached the banana table... ![]() My time is incorrect too. It looks like the finish time is posted and not actual running time. ![]() We should be credited for our chip time, otherwise why bother to wear timing chip? Took me minutes before I get to the starting line. ![]() Scott...as a first-time runner in this race, I had no idea that: ![]() My time is also incorrect. It reflects the time I crossed the finish line from the time the race started not when I crossed the starting line. I don't see a point in the chips if that is the case. Very disappointing. Otherwise, it was a good race. I have mixed emotions about the size. Great to see so many people out running, but the start was very crowded. ![]() I agree- if there is going to be such a long wait for food at least have water readily available. They could try putting water at the finish line instead of inside. Also, the food court is really not a good idea with the volumes of people running. ![]() A great day and a great race! However, will we ever know our correct times? No one at Gault Management will give me an answer. They should at least tell us what went wrong. ![]() My 4th time running the race and the worst I've seen this run organized. I've never really had complaints about this run in the past (besides trying not to get stuck behind slow walkers while you are running) but this year I had quite a few. ![]() My watch time does not match the official time - difference of 8 minutes which is what the start clock said when I crossed the start line. I think gun times were recorded and not chip times. Two other runners I know ran the entire race together and both have completely different "official" times. ![]() Well, it seems that they had a chip finish, not a chip start. Maybe they had some sort of malfunction, since there was a chip timing mat or wathever they call it at the starting line. My time was off by about 5 seconds and thats how long it took me to cross the start. ![]() I was also surprised at the amount of runners/walkers. My 12 year old son and I were separated at the end of the race for some time due to the large crowds. My son's chip time was correct but mine was not. I emailed the Gault Management and they used my son's start time to give me more accurate chip time. We really enjoyed the bleacher seats that we purchased to watch the parade. Even Mother Nature cooperated this year. Overall, even though I did not come close to my PR time, it was a pretty good race! ![]() Three of the five people in our group also had gun times rather than chip times. Two of us were more than 12 minutes back which makes a REALLY big difference! This is our second race using the new disposable chip and in both cases our times were incorrect with no explanation from Gault Race Management (Crim 10 Miler in August was the first). We're not speedy or going to take home any hardware but if you are going to post times, we do like to get the proper credit for our efforts. ![]() This was my second time running this particular race. Th gun time and chip time for my race was more than 10 minutes incorrect. I also agree with other people that the end of the race corral area was poorly constucted. I didn't even see were food was being offered. My feeling is that more thought and planning should be devouted to make next year's race run smoother. I think I will forgo the race in Detroit next year and try the Turkey Trot in A2. My hope is that it will be better organized. ![]() If your chip time was wrong you should email Gault Mgt at GRaceMgt@aol.com. I was a first timer and was disappointed to see my time was wrong. Instead of coming on a forum and complaining my time was incorrect I emailed them. They said that one of the readers malfunctioned (potentially not their fault) and they corrected my time. ![]() I’d like to thank everyone for writing; positive or negative. I appreciate that you care enough to write. ![]() As a volunteer for the Turkey Trot I would like to comment. It's a great cause and I'm sure I'll help out again, but it's very disheartening to have greedy, impatient runners yelling at you about petty issues. Everyone is doing the best they can. If you thanked a volunteer lately, good for you. If you yelled at a volunteer lately, shame on you! ![]() Doug, thanks for the clarification. Although others may disagree with me, I think at least starting the runners before the walkers would be a great idea. I've done other 5k/10k/walk events and the runners are always well ahead of the walkers. The "Race for the Cure" in Detroit is a great example...HUGE event, and not once did I have to slow down for or weave through a group of walkers. This might require rethinking the location of the start, but I think it would make for a better experience for both the runners and the walkers. I've spoken to several friends who walked it and they found it disconcerting to have runners weaving in and out of the crowd, so staggering the start would benefit everyone concerned. ![]() As a first time runner, I had a great time. However, I ran with 2 others, and we all have different times, according to the website - I found this very disappointing. Also, it would have been nice to be warned that traffic is gridlocked, and we could expect to sit on Jefferson for an hour. ![]() Thanks Doug for acknowledging the issues. I was very frustrated that I could not at least get water after running 6.2 miles. Dexter-Ann Arbor does a great job with the food tables (although fewer people do run). It would be great if an acknowlegement could be sent out via email about the chip times. Otherwise, better course than in past years. Can we have staggered starts with the 5k and 10K runs? This would create less congestion at the start line. ![]() This was my first time running this 10k and I had a blast. Yes, the lines were long and it took a while to get to the parking, food, etc. Seriously though, if you expected something less I fear you're a little delusional. These races run on mostly the effort s of a short staffed group of hard working volunteers. Give ‘em a break, thank them for taking time out of THEIR Thanksgiving day to help you, and enjoy yourself! ![]() I am very disappointed in the timing. I don't want to pay for chip timing and have a posted time of 15 minutes slower than my watch especially since I crossed the start line at 8:16...where did those extra minutes come from. The food was out of hand. Last years set up was much better and much less congested at the end. I recommend a staggered start for runners VS walkers. I don't run it to PR, but I do run to RUN! The shirts are a great improvement. ![]() Thanks Doug and volunteers for putting on this wonderful event! I had such a good time last year that I brought my wife with me this year, it was her first 5K. ![]() Liked the new course. T-shirts were nice with no giant advertising billboard on the back. Thanked all the great volunteers without whom we wouldn't have this race. Didn't even attempt to get at the food because of the obvious chaos. Was disappointed to see those who did greedily carry out arm loads of food. ![]() Liked the course, shirts were good, but my time ![]() LOVE the new shirts! I agree on the crowd and walkers - that they need to be corralled towards the back or something at the beginning if possible. I also agree on the refreshment layout at the end - I just skipped and went to breakfast :) ![]() What a fabulous event! Thank you to all involved. Began running in July and this was my first Stuffing Strut. When I heard about runners wearing costumes and then that there was to be a contest… I got into the spirit. My goal was to run a “decent” pace throughout, have silly fun, and have my grandkids see me in my Snow Goddess costume. They so enjoyed me all dressed up. What a fun group runners are. I laughed with so many people and shared many smiles. With much love & gratitude. ![]() My first Turkey Trot was 20 years ago and what a difference! Loved it both times, but this was the best. I got my 16 year old daughter to enter her first race and now she's hooked. We'll be back next year and we promise to be in costume! My thoughts relating to the basic complaints. Food, no big deal I consider it a bonus if you get something with that many people finishing at the same time. Walkers, please have them start after the runners, there were numerous walkers, walking 4 abreast in the middle of the road. Plus most of these walkers weren't the type that were out to work up anything close to a sweat. Traffic, that was a shocker and I'm glad we left the house early enough! Chip Timing, it's all been said. Thanks to everyone, I had a great time and you helped creat a new runner. ![]() How do you get 10,000 + runners mad? Make them stand in a single file horse shoe line for 20mim. to get some water and food!! With all that space down there you would think tables in the center with lines on BOTH sides could work better. I have done many runs in the past & this sucked. I walk out as many,many other people did with nothing after a 10K "price less" (Thank goodness the weather was great) ![]() calm down people! It was thanksgiving and I'm pretty sure there were no olympians out there. The goal is to have fun. Hence "fun run". Yeah there were things that couod have been organized better but life as a whole usually works out that way too. Ask yourself if at the end of the day you were pround that you ran. Most other people were still sleeping and all of us hardcore runners were out there burning calories we didn't even eat yet. Give yourself a pat on the back and thank a volunteer;)If you're pissed about the timing issue, invest in a watch. At the end of the day your time versus your personal best is what counts. life is short---smile more:) ![]() Beth, why does everyone need to "calm down" -- because their opinion of the race differs from yours? Are you the Turkey Trot opinion maker? And, because YOUR goal was to have fun, doesn't make "having fun" the goal of every runner. For those with a PR goal, the timing issue is a big deal and they have every right to complain. I didn't run this race due to the large number of walkers clogging the start (know from past experience), so I could care less. Just thought it was funny how you were "scolding" those who felt differently than you. ![]() I enjoyed the race. However there are a couple improvements: ![]() My second Turkey Trot loved both and glad to hear there was a timing issue. I thought I just ran a personal worst for the year. I like being downtown parking is always an issue plan ahead. Walkers need to start somewhere else or behind the runners. The whole field making the u-turn really bogged down the turn. I loved the last 5K on down Larned and back on Atwater. The field got smaller and you could really get into your rythem. Didn't even know there was food and water I always bring my own. Cant wait till next year. But no costume for me...maybe a Santa hat. The shirts are great too. Thanks Doug. ![]() I also enjoyed the race but like everyone else my chip time was off by almost 8 minutes (very disappointing). My Garmin had a finish time of 45:20, so that's what I'm sticking with. I also agree that the race committee needs to do something about all the walkers, especially those with pets. Twice, I almost stepped on a small dog!! That's crazy!! ![]() I just wanted to leave a note for everyone reading this thread. I have run MANY races timed by Gault Race Management, and I have NEVER had a problem with my time being recorded wrong. They are a terrific company that has been efficiently timing thousands of races across the state over many years. This year's Turkey Trot must have just been an unfortunate accident, please consider it just that and join me as I run some of their other races (check out my favorite, the Great Turtle Half Marathon on Mackinaw Island!). ![]() Make more race shirts. I felt like the only one without one, because they were sweet lookin |
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