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Date: 10/20/2021
LONGMEADOW – The ninth annual Wolf Swamp Turkey Trot 5k Run/Walk will take place on Nov. 27 at Wolf Swamp Elementary School. The event was canceled for the first time in 2020 due to COVID-19.
According to Haley Hanson, chair of the event, the Turkey Trot will take place in-person and will run as normal. It will kick off at 10 a.m.
“Everything will be as it normally is in-person with a start time and everybody at the same time like a traditional 5k, so we’re very excited about that,” said Hanson. She said that they are not having the Kid Run this year, but that all ages are welcome to sign up for the 5k.
“We’re encouraging the kids to run or walk it with their parents. I know a lot of people will be pushing their little ones in the stroller and having their other kids try to run as much of it as they can. So we’d love to have all ages out there running it or walking it,” she said.
The top three overall male and female finishers of the Turkey Trot will receive an award. There will also be prizes awarded to the male and female first place finishers in the categories of ages 11 and under, ages 12 through 17, ages 18 through 29, ages 30 through 39, ages 40 through 49 and ages 50 and up.
In the case of inclement weather, the Turkey Trot will move indoors to Wolf Swamp Elementary School. Hanson said that everybody inside would be required to wear a mask. If the event is outside as usual, no masks will be required.
The Turkey Trot is one of the biggest fundraisers for Wolf Swamp Elementary School. Hanson said that in previous years funds from the event have gone toward technology and equipment, field trips, guest speakers, playground improvements and the rock wall in the gymnasium.
“We definitely want to keep improving the school as much as we can for the kids,” she said.
Tickets for the Turkey Trot are $25 and will include a guaranteed T-shirt until Nov. 1. After Nov. 1, prices will increase to $30 and a T-shirt is not guaranteed.
“We’re hoping to have them for everybody, but we won’t be able to 100 percent guarantee it on November 2,” said Hanson.
However, interested participants are able to sign up for the Turkey Trot up until the day of the event. Those interested in signing up are encouraged to visit https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Longmeadow/WolfSwampTurkeyTrot for tickets.
Hanson said that the Turkey Trot will be a fun, community-oriented event for people of all ages.
“I would encourage someone to do the Turkey Trot to support our school first and foremost and also just the sense of community that you get when you go to an event like this. We’re all going to be outside together, there’s going to be fun tie dye stations, there’s going to be possibly a food truck appearance, there’s going to be a lot of fun things for the kids,” she said.
She also emphasized how important it is to come together in a positive way after a hard year.
“And just for all of us to come together… We haven’t been able to do that in a year and have a fun run like this and I think it’s just something that’s so important for the kids to see us out running and supporting the school and supporting our community,” said Hanson.