Runners converged on Buffalo’s Delaware Avenue on a cold Thanksgiving morning for the 124thannual YMCA Turkey Trot.
Andrew Reagen of Amherst, MA has been adopted into his wife’s family’s tradition of running the Turkey Trot. This year, he crossed the finish line with company – his young son Austin was on his shoulders for the last hundred meters.
“He’s done the Trot once, but this one I thought he’d remember, so I thought it’d be fun to have him cross the line. Austin, what did you think?” Reagan asked his son.
“Happy!” said the child, still sitting on his father’s shoulders.
Buffalo’s Turkey Trot is known as the oldest consecutively-run footrace in North America.
Sean Horner, adorned with body paint and Captain America accessories, loves seeing Buffalonians come out and support such a storied local event.
“Buffalo, city of neighbors. Love seeing people come out, dress up, have a good time,” said Horner. “I’ve done it every year for the past ten, I love the comradery.”
One group of runners sported giant baked bean can costumes during the race. Turns out, they were running the race with their college cross country coach, who’s been doing it for 25 years.
“Yeah it was all our idea for the cross country team at Hilbert. Our Coach Bob right here, he loves baked beans,” said Adam Connelly, a junior cross country runner. “So we got these costumes from Tennessee, we ordered them online for about 20 bucks a piece and here we are. B-B-B!”
This year’s winners were first-time trotter Sam Morse, 36, of Camden, NY and Kelsey Gratien, 32, of Buffalo. Morse crossed the finish line in 23 minutes and 54 seconds, while Gratien clocked in at 28 minutes and 43 seconds.
For Morse, it’s an honor winning such a historic race.
“I’ve run ever since I can remember, and I’ve always heard of the Buffalo Turkey Trot. I know it’s the biggest one around,” said Morse.
Proceeds from the race go towards the YMCA to help fund programs in the Western New York Area.
