Growing up in the Dallas area I’d long known about the Turkey Trot benefiting the Dallas YMCA. Each year on Thanksgiving Day runners turn out to run for a good cause. Maybe someday I will be able to make it to this event myself. (As long as I’m home in time for Thanksgiving dinner!)

The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is actually the largest Thanksgiving Day event of its kind in the country. The original Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot was held at the Old Fairgrounds back in the early 1940s. The long string of consecutive years began with the eight mile race back in 1968. It was then held at White Rock Lake until attendance grew so large that more room was needed and the event moved downtown.

According to the Dallas Morning News, this year organizers are expecting 50,000 runners, walkers, spectators and volunteers. There is the traditional eight-mile race which starts at 9 AM. This race is chip timed and attracts competitive runners. The three-mile event begins 15 minutes later with families, folks of all ages and even dogs running and walking. The course winds through downtown and the finish line is at City Hall.

Participating in the race is a great way to show thankfulness on this holiday by “giving back” to the community. Proceeds of the Turkey Trot help support the YMCA’s Community Service programs such as YMCA Casa Youth Shelter for runaway and abused teens and other outreach and assistance programs.