2005 Detroit Turkey Trot
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

For some the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Detroit is the only race they run all year.   Runners come to have fun, maybe watch the Parade or be watched by parade spectators during the race. It's the "Tradition before the Tradition" as the Parade Company's motto shouts.

Hundreds of runners dress up in costume. This year, Parade Company Vice President of Programming, Jessica Kaminskas will be providing a hundred volunteers with clown outfits to greet the runners. There will also be a celebrity judged costume contest for the Mashed Potato Mile kids event.

Presenting sponsor Fifth Third Bank Vice President, marketing director Jack Riley continues to be directly involved.   He has been helpful in building more excitement and putting a parade theme into the event. New this year, will be a colorful inflatable arch surrounded by air blown turkeys at the start/finish line. He also hopes the Rockettes will be ready to entertain the crowd at the start of Michigan's largest 10km race.

Co-directors Alan Whitehead and I have been working with the Parade Company and Detroit's Tactical Operations to improve on last year's new course. The start/finish line has been moved just east of the Cobo overhang on Atwater to give more room to runners removing their timing chips.   We listened to runners comments about the narrow first turn during the 2004 race and now the first half mile is a straight away along Atwater before heading north to Woodward.  

Last year's half way loop around Wayne State's campus has been moved to a loop around the elegant African American Museum and colorful Detroit Science Center.

Long sleeve T shirts will be part of the runner's package. There is also the option to purchase bleacher seats on the parade route (Grand Circus Park) in a section designated for runners and their families.   Pre registered runners are eligible to enter in a raffle that will enable them to march in America's Thanksgiving Day Parade in front of the Fifth Third Bank Turkey Trot float.

Championship timing will again be used so that age groups prizes can be awarded. Five year age groups up to 100 years old will receive a colorful courier bag with the Turkey Trot insignia in the 10km. Turkey headed pencils will be handed to everyone completing the Mashed Potato Mile.

Cobo Hall's Michigan room off Atwater is the site for registration, plus pre and post race activities.   Expo and registration hours are noon to 9 on Wednesday, November 23 and 6 to 7:30 on Thursday.   Parking on Cobo's roof is only $3.   Race time is 7:30 am for the Mashed Potato Mile and 8:00 am for the Turkey Trot 10km.

If you have never volunteered for a race, the Turkey Trot is an excellent opportunity to give back to the running community. More volunteers are still needed to help at registration, for course marshaling and at the dual water stop in front of Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Max Fisher Music Center.

For more information go to the Turkey Trot web site at www.detroitturkeytrot.org of call the hotline at 313 247-4149.   

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226