Run For the Turkey

By Emma Towns

People usually celebrate Thanksgiving with food and football, but you can also celebrate by participating in local races. In Broad Ripple, thousands do the Drumstick Dash to help Wheeler Mission provide food and shelter to people who are experiencing homelessness. The race started 21 years ago with 1,300 runners and had more than 20,000 in 2016. Each year the event raises close to $1 million! “As a family, we love the opportunity to give back to organizations that help our community,” says 84 parent Logan Mann, a volunteer for this year’s race.

One more Thanksgiving race is called the Turkey Trot. Jackie Annan has been the event organizer since 2010! “The Turkey Trot was founded by an Indianapolis running club 25 years ago. This group of friends met every Saturday to run through Meridian-Kessler, and on Thanksgiving they ran through Crown Hill,” explained Annan. Registration fees are donated to the Crown Hill Cemetery Heritage Foundation to “restore the historic buildings, mausoleums and monuments as well as maintain the beautiful grounds. “We get about 300 participants and raise $5,000 each year,” says Annan. They have kept many traditions since the first year, like serving Long’s donuts and setting a cannon off to start the race. There’s also a $100 cash prize if you catch the “turkey” that gets a head start!

Hope you have time to “run for the turkey”! Here’s how to register:

Turkey Trot

• 8:30am Thanksgiving Day

• Register in person before start

• Crown Hill Cemetery, Clarendon Road

• $20/person or $50/family

Drumstick Dash

• 9am Thanksgiving Day

• Register at drumstickdash.org

• Start line near Broad Ripple Middle School

• $37 ages 8 - 12; $42 13+ (0 - 7 free) by Nov 21