The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is always a fun race and for 2024, it did not disappoint. Going back to 2018, I have participated in this for several years, I think the only one I missed was in 2022 which worked out well as it rained that year. Also, while it was a virtual run in 2020 due to covid, I did go out and run the route on Thanksgiving morning (so technically, I did not miss that year...LOL). They always do a great job with organizing this run. As with most runs, the earlier you sign up the lower the registration fee. They always have some great shirts that are included with the registration and medals are always nice. As for the sign up, one can choose to do a timed run or just an open, untimed run. As for the race itself, there is a corral at the front for those who signed up for a timed run and then those who chose to do an untimed run line up behind them. The route is not the most scenic but it works well for me as I live nearby. This means I'm able to walk to/from the event and not have to deal with parking. The 5K race starts at Dallas City Hall, goes east into Deep Ellum before heading west through downtown Dallas and ending back at City Hall. There is also an 8 mile run that tracks the same route until a certain point, the 5K goes one direction and the 8 mile goes another (I often wonder how many 5K runners miss the turn and end up doing the 8 mile instead). There is always a great mix of runners, walkers, and those who do a bit of both. Some people are in running gear while others are costumes. This run is pet friendly so there are lots of fur babies out enjoying themselves (with their owners...of course). Along the route there are numerous spectators cheering on the participants. Also, there are smaller bands along the route which contributes to the energy level. There are lots of water stations along the route and once the finished line is crossed, there are lots of volunteers in the vicinity passing out medals, water, and fruit. For 2024, there were vendors in the area with cooked food such as breakfast tacos, etc. which was a change compared to other years. There are numerous vendors with stands who offer things from lip balm to bags of powdered protein and everything in between. For 2024, the participant turnout seemed to be back at pre-pandemic levels which made for a fun and energizing time. I am already looking forward to 2025. read more

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot - Turkey Trot 2019 - Active Life Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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30 years of the Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot tradition. Love running into friends each year with families. Such a family friendly event. Dogs, children, and costumes welcome. Be careful at the start. Lots of people means walking cautiously for a few blocks until the crowd thins. Always fun and a great way to start Thanksgiving. read more

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot - Holding a Turkey - Active Life Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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This year was my first Turkey trot jog / run . I highly recommend go early to find a good parking space. Dress in layer Incase it's it chilly. Wear a fanny pack or a small hiking back pack . It was so exciting entering the start of the line . I was very impressed with how everything was organized. The streets felt very safe to jog/run . I am grateful for YMCA to help encourage me to enter to run this race . This year had been hard on me and my family for personal . However this was on my bucket list of things to experience. I hope to join again next year . Thank you City of Dallas to help us stay safe . read more

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot - There is a small line to take a picture here . Less than 10 min to wait . - Active Life Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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The Dallas Turkey Trot will help you get more Gooble in before you waddle! This this the Dallas annual 5k/more k (depending on weather). It has been going on for many decades. While the path may not always be the most scenic, ANYTIME you get more than ten thousand runners and walkers, it is a fun event! There are often smaller bands out on the course, groups cheering on the participants, dogs, kids, and every type of person you could imagine! Lots of costumes! Lots of decorations! Lots of refreshments along the route and even more at the finish line. Medical concerns are supported by multiple agencies including Dallas Fire and Rescue! This year's event was exceptionally rainy and cool (2022). The event organizer did the smart thing and combined the longer event into the 5K. The swag was good and the long sleeve t-shirt perfect for the event! read more

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Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is an annual run that occurs on Thanksgiving Day. There is a family fun 5K run as well as a timed 8 mile run. It's a great event that goes through the heart of Dallas and is well organized. My Overall Rating - 4 Stars (Atmosphere, Event, Return) Atmosphere - One second you're jogging besides a group of middle school kids, next you're getting passed by a guy in a turkey outfit, and finally a fit mom blow by you with her jogging stroller hauling two kids. Welcome to the YMCA Turkey trot. It's a fun, festive event that is meant to celebrate Thanksgiving and bringing families together. 1 Star. Service - This is an extremely well organized event. You'll find many volunteers, and this year we were able to sign up via Facebook to get access to muffins and coffee. You'll also find free water, and some years have sponsors providing free sample from yogurt to power drinks. The main challenge is it can get confusing to where each tent is. 1/2 Star. Event - So it's a great run....once you get on the course. Timed runners have their own course and starting point, but the family 5K always starts with a huge bottleneck. It can take up to 20 - 30 minutes just to get on the course. But once you're on, it's great. The 5K run is fun because of all the different characters. This year took us through a revitalized Deep Ellum, and along the way were several live bands. It's fun, a great way to bring the family together, and of course build up that appetite. But I'm not going to lie, it's VERY crowded and crazy. Kids also can enjoy a bounce house and other non-race activities. 1 1/2 Star. Will I Return? - Yes. This is our family tradition so we'll continue to do it. This year I pushed the stroller while my kids took turns running with mom. They had a blast and the YMCA Turkey Trot allowed us to make some new family memories. 1 Star. My Yelp Rating Scale (Sum of all parts): 1 Star - Atmosphere - Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I'll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm. 1 Star - Service - You can have a great meal with bad service. But that's also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It's important to the dining experience that service is great and on point. 2 Stars - Event - I'll award up to two stars for the event, since this is the main reason we are here. 1 Star - Will I come back? - If I know for a fact I'll return, I'll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return. Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Yelp score read more

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This was so fun! We enjoyed ourselves so much that we hope to make it a tradition! The walk did start off kind of slow because there were so many people but it really started moving once we got to Deep Ellum. Walking through Deep Ellum and downtown Dallas was my favorite part. The city looks so different on foot. Registration fee included a t shirt and bib number. There was music and vendors in the main area and then volunteers that distributed water and cheers through the walk. Great experience!!!! read more

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot - Active Life Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I ran the 8 mile in 2010 and 2014. Plenty of positive changes between those years. The chipped corral to start is nice, but the 5K runners can be a bit overzealous and difficult to manage those first two miles prior to the split. All in all, good for everyone to be out there, get a good run in, spend time with friends and family and do it all with the YMCA. Me though? I like the 8 mile timed closed course and a long sleeved tee all for $40 at just the week prior. So, be prepared for non-runner runners, their silly hats, sweat pants and pointy elbows. Have a great run and eat some damn Mac and Cheese when it is all said and done. BTW, starting a race, in Dallas, to the Dallas theme song is pretty "Hell Yes". Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dunna, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dunna dun. read more

Great race! I did the timed version so we were in our own corral at the front. I only did the 5K (as opposed to the 8 miler), so by the time I finished there were still people waiting in the general corral to cross the start line! Huge crowd! Lots of people dressed in turkey costumes or hats. I gotta say running on this chilly but brilliant Thanksgiving morning with like minded people getting their exercise on was so great! We ran into Deep Ellum first and I was so happy to be doing it. It was peaceful at times, and then we would encounter some fun bands jamming out for us - loved it. The crowds were pretty thick for the first 1/2 to 1 mile. Seriously - what's up with the people in the timed corral who started at the front and were walking? You CAN position yourself a little farther back you know! I did elbow the holy living hell out of a teenager who must have been trying to cut past me too close - I don't know what part of his face I hit, but with the pain that went through my elbow I can only imagine how bad his face hurt as he sheepishly held up an apologetic hand as I whipped my head around trying to figure out what happened lol! I felt so bad for him but of course it was accidental for both of us. I was a little sad as I made my turn off to the 5K finish line instead of continuing on the 8 mile course. I'm sure that was lots of fun as you headed a bit south of downtown for the rest of the course. By the way, the parking meters downtown were not needing to be paid for on race morning so don't worry about that. Once I finished, getting out of downtown was super easy as well despite the fact that I inadvertently parked INSIDE the race route. There was access to I 45 south / I 30 east and west ramps from in there so I was able to quickly head out and turn around to go back north. I hope to make this a tradition from now on! read more

The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is the largest in the nation, with between 35,000 and 40,000 runners each year, offering runners 5k or eight mile options. I've run several Dallas Turkey Trots, and sometimes the word "run" isn't really appropriate. They invite walkers, strollers, and dogs, and invariably these entrants will line up front, slowing down thousands of people behind them. This year (2011) however, the Trot start was greatly improved and if you want to actually run, you had a fighting chance at doing so. It seemed like race organizers segregated the 8 milers from the 5k runners, and further divided that group between those who wanted to be timed and those who were not timed (ie, timed runners moved up front; un-timed walkers stayed near the back). Dividing the field between the two distances was a nice addition and made for an easier start. But really, if you go, lose the mindset that you're going to *race* and don't take any Trot super-seriously. Yes, I know you can race it if you want to: the Trot has a clock, timing chips, and a finish line, so those are invitations (and justification) for going all-out. If trying to PR at a Trot is your thing, then great. The RDs (race directors) have made it a bit easier for you to do just that. But if you're just going out there to be part of the festivities, part of a tradition, help out the Y, and/or to burn off a few hundred calories before you ingest several thousand more, that's really much closer to the point and will probably result in a more enjoyable experience. Tips: 1. Pre-register online and pick up your packet prior to race day. It's easier to get in an out of a packet pick-up location the day or two before the race than to trudge through thousands of people come race morning. 3. Take DART rail ... BUT if you take the Red Line, get on *farther* north than you would normally enter. For example, I use Spring Valley and it was probably 80% full. By the time it gets to Mockingbird, forget it. It's packed. You can still take DART, but get on anywhere north of 635 and then head back south. You'll only add 10:00 to your ride but at least you'll get on instead of getting left on the platform. 4. Don't take anything or wear anything you don't want to race with, walk with, or carry. They have no bag check. However, bring a light jacket or long sleeve tech shirt you can tie around your waste when you run. You'll want something dry to put on when you finish. It could be a :30 walk back to the car or a long(er) DART ride. 5. Go to the bathroom at home and resist the temptation to carry a giant cup of coffee onto DART or in the car ride over. Yes, the Trot has porta-potties, but look again at the number of attendees. No one wants to wait in a :30 minute line just to pee. If you get stuck in the back of the pack with the walkers and strollers, you're 5k could take an hour. read more