TodayTurkey tradition draws nearly 1,500
Annual Thanksgiving event is a great family experience, good for community during the holidays, participants say.
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Runners and walkers start the sixth annual Carlisle Turkey Trot sponsored by Embarq held Thanksgiving morning in Carlisle. (Matthew O’Haren/Special to The Sentinel)
Tonia Ulsh, left, and her husband, John, complete the 5K walk in less than one hour. (Matthew O’Haren/Special to The Sentinel)
The Turkey Trot once again proved it’s an event for all ages — the traditional start to a day’s worth of holiday festivities for many local families year after year.
The sixth serving of this annual Thanksgiving Day event in Carlisle drew a record field of nearly 1,500 runners and walkers Thursday morning, who competed in either the 5K or 10K runs, or decided to take it a little slower in the 5K walk.
“It’s fantastic. It’s great to see the community come out and support such a great event,” said Debbie Keyser of Embarq, who sponsored the Carlisle Family YMCA presentation. “This is our sixth year and it just continues to grow every year.”
As of Tuesday, organizers counted about 1,150 pre-registrations. By the start of the race, an additional 300 rounded out the field.
Cindy Bear watched from the sidewalk along Arch Street as 12 members of her family ventured out in the 5K event.
“I think it’s just very rewarding that everyone can be together and do something as a family,” she said.
Her grown son, Craig, came home from Oklahoma to spend the holiday with family and participate in the race, she explained.
Moments later, the first group of runners came through the finish.
18-year-old Nathaniel Huff, a senior at Central Dauphin High School, was among the top finishers. For the third year in a row, he ran the 5K race with his father, David Huff.
“Dad and I come out every year because it’s a fun event,” Nathaniel Huff said, as his father caught his breathe. “It’s just a way to stay in shape.”
The Turkey Trot also gives him another chance to scout the local competition before the start of the indoor track season this December, he said.
“It helps to get out and be competitive,” David Huff said. “We exercise before we pig out.”
Another father and son pair — Eric Brehm of Carlisle and his 9-year-old son Grant — also ran the 5K race together. Unlike the Huffs, it was their first time running the race.
“Grant wanted to do it,” Eric Brehm said, so he complied.
The trot was a great way to start Thanksgiving, he explained, because they got to see people they know in the community and it was a nice bonding experience.
“You run hard, so you can go home and eat,” Brehm added.
The morning event was also a positive family experience for Julie Bail and her kids, who came out for the second year in a row.
“It’s definitely about family time on the holiday and seeing a lot of friends in the community,” she said, noting that they regularly look out for the programs put on by the YMCA.
For John McElhiney of Landisburg, the race was inspirational.
“I like the competition,” he said. “It inspires you to run better. You run faster.”
Three years ago, he won the 60 and over division with a time around 23 minutes. This year, he put together a run of 26 minutes, 28 seconds.
“I don’t think that will hold up,” he said, which it didn’t.
McElhiney’s wife, son and daughter-in-law also competed in the Turkey Trot.
“It’s just a nice thing before Thanksgiving (dinner),” he said. “I can eat a big meal now and not feel guilty.”
The race started at 9 a.m. outside of the YMCA. Most of the runners and walkers completed the course within an hour. Medals were awarded to the top finishers in each of the age categories.
