Cover photo courtesy of David Long
Many Americans put together big meals for Thanksgiving. In the stress of all the preparation for the big Thanksgiving dinner, a 10K run is a great way to bond with family and friends and get more exercise before eating. Western & Southern sponsored the 113th annual Thanksgiving Day Race. It was held in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday 24th at 9 am.
The first running of the Thanksgiving Day race was in 1908. This makes it the 6th oldest race in America, coming in only behind world-famous races like the Boston Marathon. There have only been a few occasions when this event was interrupted, for example, in 1918, when World War I was in full action. However, in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, runners signed up and ran the race virtually. This allowed runners and walkers to still participate, but also raise money to be donated to the various charities that are supported by this race
This year’s race was one of the most unique courses ever. The map for the race went through both Ohio and Kentucky. According to the Thanksgiving Day Race website, it was the only 10K course that “has three cities, two states, and two rivers bundled together” into one event. The race started in The Banks, but later on, it had Fountain Square, Over the Rhine, Great American Ball Park, Paycor Stadium, and Smale Park, among other highlights you would see when running this race. These attractions are also great sights for anyone coming to visit family in Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky.
For 113 years, this 6.2-mile or 10-kilometer race has brought family and friends closer during this holiday. Everyone has their traditions for Thanksgiving, but eating lots of different foods at the great Thanksgiving dinner is standard. This makes it hard for people to watch their weight around the holidays, so this 10k race is a common activity for many to burn a few extra calories before eating their stuffing and pumpkin pie.
Many local families participate in this event as a tradition, even many Loveland High School students. Kiley Eckert (12) has been running this race as a tradition with her aunt for many years. “I am looking forward to the challenge of running it and spending time with my family,” Eckert said before the race. This race is a way for many families to bond. Some go running, some go to walk, and some go to cheer on the participants.
This race is not only about personal benefit. Much of the proceeds go to charities like Girls on the Run, the Barrett Cancer Center at UC, the Alzheimer’s Association, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, and many others. Running this race not only brings you and your family closer together, but it can also benefit our community. The support for these organizations from the participants was overwhelmingly strong and is greatly appreciated.
This race is not only a beneficial event for the community but a great experience for all who participate.