Record Year for Buffalo's Turkey Trot
WBEN Newsroom Reporting
Buffalo, NY -- There were no day-of registrations for the 114th annual YMCA Turkey Trot. This year, the race drew a record-breaking response, prompting organizers to cap registration at 12,000 participants on Wednesday evening.
"We've grown over the years, which has been fantastic, but this year we've really grown by leaps and bounds. We really look at the safety for the participants, so that's why we had to put a cap on it this year," YMCA Communications Director Kathy Vallone tells WBEN. This is the first time in the history of the Trot that a cap has had to be put in place.
"On Monday, we were actually 1,000 [people] ...ahead, from where we were the year before. We started to see it grow steadily, and so we decided, as a race committee along with the convention center, that we really have to think about capacity issues, and making sure people still have a great time out on the race course."
Runners began warming up at the starting line, on Delaware Avenue near Shoreham, as early as 6:30 Thanksgiving morning. As in past years, the Trot has drawn some serious athletes, as well as some colorfully-costumed participants.
"We've got som superheroes out there this morning, which is new this year, I haven't seen that in years past," says Vallone. "We have the traditional Turkey Trotters coming out, dressed up as turkeys and chefs chasing after the turkeys down Delaware Avenue. It's great to see people's creativity in the spirit of Thanksgiving."
Delaware Avenue between Hertel and Tacoma, and Franklin Street between Court and Mohawk were closed to traffic Thanksgiving morning to accommodate trotters on the race route.
New in 2009 are the "Trot Gobblers" -- a squad of volunteers who ran up and down the sidelines during the race, revving up the crowd and cheerin the runners on -- expanded shuttle bus service, and a post-race party featuring a "family-friendly" zone for participants and onlookers at the Buffalo Convention Center.
Taking first place among the men is 22-year-old Dennis Pollow, Jr. of Ransomville, who finished the 8K Trot in a time of 24:52. 20-year-old Maura Frauenhofer of Williamsville captured first place among women, running the Trot in 29:06.
For more information on the Turkey Trot, check out the YMCA's webpage.
Click here to hear Kathy Vallone's preview from the sidelines of the race, as featured on the Thanksgiving edition of Buffalo's Early News.
|
Toll Free: 800.616.WBEN
E-Mail
Print
