Every year, while many families start their Thanksgiving mornings by tuning into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or preparing mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner, the Singer family has a different tradition: they head down to the Evanston Flying Turkey 5k.
Since its debut in 2011, hundreds of Evanston families have gathered at the starting line on Sheridan Road to run the three-mile race together. For the Singer family, this tradition began many years ago.
“We first got involved in running the Turkey Trot 10 years ago,” said Randi Singer. “My high school friends would come home for Thanksgiving, and the only time we got to be together was through running the Turkey Trot. Since my daughter and her brother loved walking, they would come along and walk the Turkey Trot while my friends and I ran it.”
Many Evanstonians participate in the race to catch up and congregate with friends and family, drop off canned goods for the Evanston Vineyard food pantry and kick off Thanksgiving, a day usually filled with stuffing and pies, on a healthy note.
“I love running the 5k because I love getting fresh air; it also lets me enter the day without feeling guilty about what I eat later on,” Singer agrees.
“Thanksgiving is a really nice way to spend time with my extended family,” remarked Emerson Singer, Randi’s daughter. “The stress of preparing can be really overwhelming. [Walking] the Turkey Trot is a really nice chance to clear my head.”
For those who might be skeptical or hesitant about adding this event to their Thanksgiving mornings, Randi Singer begs to differ.
“You don’t have to run it! Just walk it, have fun. You don’t need to frame it as a marathon, just see it as a good way to start your Thanksgiving and reflect on things that you’re grateful for,” explained Singer.
Despite the race’s changes as a result of construction on Northwestern’s campus, the Turkey Trot will hold strong, as it reaches its 15th anniversary, and continue to be a beloved tradition for many Evanston families.
“I’m very grateful for being able to do this with my family and friends every year,” Randi Singer adds. “We’ll be back this year and for many more years to come. It’s a tradition that just won’t change.”
