12/01/2020
As the race results came in, so did the stories. We are so grateful to families like Andrea Wright's, who shared their 38-year journey with the Turkey Chase.
"My father, Irwin Kaplan, ran in the first Turkey Chase 10K to support the work of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA and the Rotary Club.
We all got up early that Thanksgiving Day to cheer him on. He didn’t start running until he was in his mid-40s and completing his first 10K race was a big milestone for him. A celebratory brunch at our house followed the event. A contingent of our family has participated in every Turkey Chase since then.
The second year, my sister, Ellen, and I joined our dad. Then our brothers, Steven and Peter, started participating. Over the years, our group grew to include our spouses and then our children. In fact, most of the grandchildren have never experienced a Thanksgiving Day that didn’t start out with the Turkey Chase and brunch! We pushed their strollers through the 2K Fun Run course; we worked hard to keep up with our school-aged children in the crowd of thousands; and then, as they got older, we let them run ahead, arranging to meet us and their grandfather at the finish line.
We typically start our day early, meeting at my parents’ house, which is a half a mile away from the starting line. With so many thousands of runners and walkers, it’s impossible to get a parking spot any closer. As the only one of my siblings who moved out of state, I make the trip from Pennsylvania with my family on Wednesday night, just so we can be in Bethesda in time for our Thursday morning meet-up.
We look forward to seeing the shirt design on Thanksgiving morning every year. We sort out our race packets, pull our new shirts over our sweatshirts, and walk to the “Y” to take in the festive atmosphere. It’s always exhilarating to see nothing but people in front of you and behind you while waiting for the master of ceremonies to yell “Go!”
My mother, Eva, prepares brunch, which is as much a part of our Thanksgiving Day tradition as Thanksgiving dinner. Our friends the Wagmans, Lenny and Myrna, joined us for brunch for many years. Lenny, who had run Marine Corp Marathons, completed the 10K through his 80s, and then, when he could no longer run, volunteered at one of the Turkey Chase mile-marker checkpoints.
At some point my father could no longer complete the course, but he would still walk to the “Y” with us. He would then take his place at the finish line, cheering on the other finishers while he waited for members of our group.
Jogging or walking around the track at “Y” was part of my part of father’s daily routine for decades. He got to know the regulars at the track and belonged to a core group that shared life events with each other, both happy and sad. They also took it upon themselves to welcome new walkers into the fold.
My father died in 2013. In his honor, we have continued the tradition that he started. Although we could complete the courses we mapped out for the virtual Turkey Chase any day this week, we’ll be getting up early on Thanksgiving morning, like we always do.
If you have stories like Andrea's, please share them! We'd love to hear tales of past and this year!
