Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot

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!!!

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.

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. ½ 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 ½ 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 Unilocal 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 Unilocal score

Always a blast for a good cause! cant wait for this year! (2012)

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.