Where: Marion High School, Marion Iowa
Description:8K Run and 4K Family Fun Run/ Walk. Participants will receive the ever-popular long-sleeved Turkey Trot t-shirt and a free pancake breakfast. 8K run winners receive a Turkey and Pumpkin Pie. Age division winners receive a Medal & Pumpkin Pie.
Website: http://www.thereturnoftheturkeytrot.com
Results: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
Thanks for having this race chip timed this year, so much nicer with the large crowd. Love the pancake breakfast after the race. Your shirts are the best Turkey Trot shirts, one I will wear a lot. Thanks for a well organized race.
This was our first Turkey Trot and it was a great time! Our daughters did the 4K and my husband and I ran the 8K. Organizers did a nice job in setting up a good course, despite all the road construction in Marion. There was a big turnout, but it was well managed and fun. So exciting to see all the little runners in the 4K! There were lots of volunteers along the way and a yummy pancake breakfast at the end.
Bonus for starting at the high school…real restrooms!
We will most likely do this one again!
This review is for the 8K run.
Cost –It was tiered depending on when you registered. I believe it was $25 when I registered with a $15 no shirt option.
Race Route – The route was relatively flat through the streets of Marion. At around mile 4, it goes through the infamous cemetery which is a very steep downhill then uphill run. For those who run the Swamp Fox 5K and Marion Arts 5K, you know what I’m talking about. According to my GPS watch, the route wasn’t quite 8K, it was about 4.9 miles (7.9K)
Organization – Overall it was good, with some caveats. The registration was inside Marion High School, which was nice since it is the middle of November. Getting your race packet was pretty straightforward and quick. The race information sheet that was in the race packet was not updated from last year because it mentioned starting the race on a street that it didn’t start from. Since the race started on a busy street, they did not want the runners on the road until ~5 minutes before race time. This was fine, but there was no indication where the start line was when we did line up. There was one orange cone which we eventually deduced was the start line, but there was no volunteer telling people where to line up. The announcements were way up the hill from the start line and no one near the start line could hear the announcements. Parking was not an issue, there were several lots on the campus and the side streets were also available for parking.
Chip Timing – There was overall chip timing, but it was shotgun start, rather than having a timing mat for the start times.
Post Race Festivities – Most of the post-race stuff was inside in the high school. The snacks were fairly simple – Bananas, apples, granola bars, and soda. In tandem with that, though, was a pancake breakfast that was free for all of the runners. There were some tables put up in the gym, but it couldn’t quite handle everyone. The line to get the snacks was right in front of the pancake breakfast line, so that could have been better organized and no one really said anything.
Prizes/Awards – The awards were for overall and top 3 in all of the divisions. The awards were a medal and a whole pumpkin pie. I do not believe there were door prizes, but I could have missed them.
Overall – A nice change of pace from a 5K. There were about 700 participants in the 8K plus, which made it one of the larger races I have been a part of. If the weather is as nice next year as it was this year I will for sure be participating again.
Love the shirt, very nicely designed and I’m glad you had one. Seemed well organized except for the part where the 8K split from the 4K runners. Whoever that person was standing there wasn’t loud enough and some 4K runners continued on with us 8K runners and had to turn back. They need signs or a loud speaker or something at that breakoff point.
My son ran the 4K and was super disappointed that there were no awards. He finished 5th or something in that range my family said and he expected something being only 13, but didn’t receive anything. I was sad for him. Please have awards for both races next year.
The Free pancake breakfast was really nice, thanks for that. I agree with an above comment that having eggs would be great as well, if that is cost effective or if they can be donated or something.
The race times were accurate, as far as I could tell, but I WOULD PAY MORE for chip timing for next year. This race is large enough that you should consider that. I can see why that cemetary hill is nice for the Marion Arts Festival race, but for this race it was wet on the hill with fallen leaves and that caused many of us to slow down to avoid falling. I would suggest a flatter course for the entire race because of the conditions.
I liked being able to buy pumpkin pies at the end, Thanks for having the race.
I couldn’t agree more with everyone else here in regards to this being a fun race and fantastic pancake breakfast afterward. Great shirts too!
However, I’m not so much in agreement about the course. I’m really confused as to why this race is run in the direction that it is. Considering the number of runners, it would make much more sense for this race to be run in the same direction as the Swamp Fox run. It doesn’t seem to make any sense to start this race on the narrowest streets. It took the better portion of the first mile to be able to get around slower runners. I can’t help but think that this seriously effects race times for those stuck in the middle of the crowd at the beginning. I really hope to see the course route reconsidered for next year.
Loved this race. Post race breakfast was awesome and I loved the awesome shirt. Price is good for all you get from this one!
This was my 1st TT, as in the past, it always conflicted with the Living History Farms XC race.
Tom, you are correct with regards to the lack of H2O at the end (yep, thank goodness for the cool day!) and the great pancake breakfast!
Eggs, too? Oh, heck! Why not a whole Thankgiving feast/breakfast?!…Yeah, I could go on and on, but you have to stop somewhere! LOL!
I think having sugar-free syrup at the breakfast is a plus, too, though, just as a beneficial, healthier option to mention to the KofC next year, though, if they are open to the additional cost. Not a huge deal, but every little positive adds up.
Loved the no-shirt option!
Also, please thank the Cedar Valley Running Association & our Prez, Candy Mullen, her Vice Prez/husband, Jeff, and another timing guru, local coach, Andy Kauder, who all timed the race together. THAT is why, Tom, that all fo the times were so accurate!
Lastly, as a con & helpful tip, race directors should factor having 1 porta pottie for every 50 participants, thus TROTTT would need 13 at the start to cover everyone if their numbers stayed constant into 2011. Thanks goes to our local superman, my fellow race director and great friend, Bob Andresen, for this advice.
All in all, my props goes to a great event and to Pat & his committee and all of the volunteers who helped make it such a success!
.
This race runs through the streets of Marion. The rase started with the Star Spanngled Banner. Its mostly run on concret. Because of the weather and a steep decline by the cemetery along with fallen leaves the danger of falling was present. The race is timed with tear-off tags. For a race this large (650 runners) it was surprising how acurate the times were. It was a cool run. This was a good thing because there were no poured glasses or plastic bottles of water ready when the runners crossed the finish line. The post race activities were one of the best I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Pancakes — all you wanted with sausage!! The Knights of Columbus did themselves proud with this bash! The House of Pancakes should take lessons! I dont know if it was the cool day or a good run but the pancakes were the best I have ever had . Go for the race but dont leave until
the panckes are all gone!!! This is a good race with great attendence and a super finish – man am I full!
Pros
Well organized and ran smoothly
FREE pancake breakfast
Post race activities were indoors at the end since it was really cold outside
Many fast runners
Cons
Lack of porta potties at the start line. Only 5.
Great course, VERY well organzied. Fun atmosphere, loved the pancake breakfast afterwards!
This race was one of my first road races and I loved the experience. The organization was great, nice flat route and I was even able to take home a pumpkin pie at the awards ceremony. Not to mention the sweet long sleeved t-shirt!
-John