It was a brisk way to enjoy Thanksgiving morning as runners came out to take part in an annual Derry holiday tradition.

The Greater Derry Track Club hosted its 52nd Turkey Trot on Thursday, with big crowds forming near Gallien’s Beach to get ready to take to local streets and roadways.

The certified 5K route took participants around Beaver Lake in a scenic loop that many ran in quick time, while others strolled with family and friends or walked with their dogs.

About 1,000 participants took part in the Turkey Trot, considered to be among the oldest in the state.

Some were regulars at the holiday gathering. For others, it was a first.

“I fell in love with running, so I thought I’d give it a try,” said Parker Hilton of Hudson, adding this was his inaugural Turkey Trot in Derry.

It’s a

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