The turkey went cold this Thanksgiving as dozens of runners gathered at the Haldane football field on November 28 to run the annual Turkey Trot in the pouring rain. The 5K event was hosted by the Haldane School Foundation and sponsored by Dancing Dialogue, a local creative arts psychotherapy practice located at 1806 Route 9D, Suite 1. Haldane School Foundation vice president Mark Daisley explained that the event had been paused for several years before last year’s Turkey Trot. Then, the 2023 Turkey Trot took place, bringing back the race in full swing with around 170 participants. “It was amazing,” Daisley said, “and then this year [was] even bigger!” The Haldane School Foundation hosts several events over the course of the school year to raise money for the school– Casino Royale, the Turkey Trot, the February Trivia Night, and the annual gala. “We’ve just approved a grant cycle, which is now at the beginning of the year,” Daisley stated, citing around $40,000 in funds. “…And that goes to many different events,” he concluded, “to support students.”
The registered runners gathered on the Haldane football field the morning of Thanksgiving despite the pouring rain and chilly weather. Once the runners checked in at a tent, they received their number and complimentary Turkey Trot t-shirt and gathered at the race’s starting line. Around 9 am, the race began, with runners first completing a full loop around the Haldane football field before charging up the hill to take to the streets. “It was well-managed,” participant and Haldane senior Brendan Shanahan reported after the fact. “Lots of people guarding the road so you don’t get hit. They must love the community.” Shanahan is a runner at Haldane, having been a member of the Haldane varsity cross country and Haldane varsity track teams since 2021. He described the race course as “more or less the same route [as last year],” with some difficult terrain. Comparing it to The Philipstown Hub’s 5K race, Shanahan stated that the Turkey Trot had “not as many hills– but those hills are still hilling, dude.”
Haldane alumni also returned to run in the race, including 2023 graduate John Kisslinger and 2022 graduate Luke Parella. “I saw a couple of familiar faces that I haven’t seen in a long time,” Shanahan stated, reporting that it felt good to see his former teammates. And despite the weather, he still enjoyed himself. “It was miserable without gloves in the pouring rain, but I still had fun!” He ended with a shout-out to his father, Eamon Shanahan, who also ran the race.
The overall first-place winner, John Hughes, was an alumnus himself. “My parents lived in Cold Spring my whole life, and I went to Haldane,” Hughes stated. He, too, found the course to be challenging. “There was a big hill in the middle that was hard,” Hughes described. “And it was raining, a little cold, but it was good… I’m surprised how many people came out.” When asked about his pre-race feelings, Hughes stated that he had been “Trying to stay warm, honestly! I enjoy Turkey Trots every year,” Hughes continued. “They [are] just a fun way to start the holidays. So yeah, I was excited and ready to get going.” John Hughes reported finishing the race in around 16 minutes and 40 seconds.
Running a 5k at 9 am on a rainy Thanksgiving morning is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, the opportunity to race with old friends and reconnect with their hometown made it all worth the chill for these runners.
Oliver Petkus contributed reporting
