Another Successful Wild Turkey Run!

Register for the upcoming race and see previous years records.

Race Information

Thanksgiving day

Starts at 8 AM

Proceeds from the 21st Annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run on Thanksgiving morning benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. This is the one of the largest races on the North Shore, with 2,000 anticipated participants.

First 1600 participants get long sleeved shirts.

Location

Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street,
Salem, Massachusetts 01970

Contact

Doug Bollen
Phone: 978-810-8866

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New 2024 Course Map

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A Letter to 2024 Participants, Sponsors, & Volunteers

Early Thanksgiving morning, the rain held off until the completion of the run as 1737 runners, volunteers and spectators took to the streets of Salem to start their holiday participating in the 21st Annual Wild Turkey 5-Mile Run!

On behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, thank you to our participants for joining us for our 21st year. Your generosity and support of this annual event benefits youth programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, and for that we are truly thankful.

This year’s Wild Turkey Run was the largest race on the North Shore. We started in 2004 with 300 runners and had a high of 1961 runners in 2015. This event has become a great holiday tradition both for locals and visiting family members. 

We had to change course as there was construction at the Willows and we ran in the Salem Common for the first time since year one!!   

Some interesting statistics from this year’s Wild Turkey 5-Mile Run: 


For the 16th year in a row, women runners outnumbered men, 54.32% to 45.68%.  

  • Runner ages ranged from 6 years old to 83 years old! 
  • The winning time of 26:14 was turned in by the first-place finisher, Chris Batts from Winthrop
  • The female winner was Heather McClain from Peabody, in a time of 27:03
  • 9 Runners have completed all 21 Wild Turkey Runs!
  • We had 1737 registered runners up from 1631 in 2023.
  • Runners came from 32 states

Competitors joined us from across the country, representing 32 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. The states include: Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, California, Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, New York, Georgia, Idaho, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Utah, Oregon, Vermont, South Carolina, New Mexico, Washington, Illinois, Hawaii, Louisiana and Washington D. C.  

This great event could not be possible without the support of our community sponsors. Sponsors include: Witch City Walking Tours, Dunkin Donuts, New England Running Company,  Peabody Essex Museum, Planet Fitness, Herrick Lutts Realty Partners, Crosbys Market,  A & A Services Home Improvement,  Johnson & O’Connor, Eastern Bank, Jem Studio Body AlChemist, Salem Wax Museum (In Memory of Ed Shirley), Boys & Girls Club of Lynn,  Beauport Ambulance, East Regiment Brewery,  Kaloutas Painting, Highland Dental,  John J. Walsh Insurance, Correnti & Kolick LLP, Duffy Law, Octocog Marketing & Design, and StephenOGrady.com.

Special gratitude to the many volunteers who donated their Thanksgiving morning and at the packet pickup to help out at the race:  Stephanie Cooper, Kelly and Todd Pheulpin,  Ellen Talkowsky, Ilene Simons, Carole Donnelly, Grace and Josenny Duran, Elmer Galvez, Tom St. Pierre, Barbara Marino,  Beth Griffin, Kerry Phelan, Tina Zolla, Mario Fagone,  Lynne Grenier, Mark DeLuca, Peter Solomine, Shari, Kenny and Kyle Hewson, Michele and Gif Campbell, Mark Janett,  Lauren Gabel, Mary Herchenhahn, John Landry,  Lisa Cammarata, Carol and Lee Libelo,  Debbie and Mark Everett,   Jenn Taylor,  Paul Cranney,  Suzi Clements,  Peter Graves, Alison Phelan, Amy Walsh, Ashley Springett, Tim Short,  Kevin Power, Shawn McCarthy, Alen Yen, Joyce Arcisz,  Estella Moriarty,  Joanne Scott, Saul DeLeon, Rosely Vasquez, and Coach Matt Hubauer and members of the Salem High Baseball team. Thanks also to the great cheering group from the Salem Willows neighborhood.    

Special thanks to the Salem Police for controlling the traffic during the race to keep the runners safe, and to the many Salem residents along the route who cheered our runners on!
 
Again, thank you everyone for making this another successful Thanksgiving event!

Doug Bollen
Wild Turkey Race Director

Wild Turkey Race Packet Pickup Information

Pick up information - Pre-race packet pick up w/ numbers & shirt plus a chance to win a free pair of Brooks running shoes will be held starting Tuesday, November 26 and Wednesday, November 27, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at: New England Running Company, Commodore Plaza, 43 Enon St., Beverly or pick up race day from 6:30 a.m. at the Peabody Essex Museum Atrium on the Pedestrian Mall, Salem, Ma. Race starts promptly at 8:00am in front of the Witch Museum on the Salem Common.

Awards will be given out as soon as results are done by timing company, check your phones to see if you placed in top three in your division. You can pick up your award inside the PEM.

There are parking garages located nearby the start and finish.

The Wild Turkey Run will accept runners online until 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday November 26 and then will accept race day registrations starting at 6:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. We never close down registration completely, we accept runners right up to the start of the race. (The first 1600 entries will receive long sleeve shirts).

Our Sponsors

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Doug Bollen at 978-810-8866.
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Past Winners

Record holders for the Women's and Men's top finishers are highlighted below.

Year

Men's Winner

Women's Winner

2024

Chris Batts26:14

Heather McClain27:03

2023

Peter Asaro25:46

Arianna Maida30:02

2022

Andrew Ernst23:25

Colleen Kelly30:17

2021

Dan Chruniak26:33

Tara Chaplin30:32

2020 (Virtual)

Dan Donato29:44

Kat Vassallo31:43

2019

Dan Donato28:39

Caterina Braz-Rocha27:41

2018

James Baily27:00

Emily Giannitti30:11

2017

Marcelo Rocha26:00

Katelyn Kiel30:34

2016

Caleb Evanter26:00

Christine O’Donnell30:47

2015

Caleb Evanter25:59

Klynn McKinley31:20

2014

Jordon Williamz25:30

Klynn McKinley31:26

2013

Russell Brown24:55

Christine O’Donnell31:27

2012

Caleb Evanter26:12

Kelly Walton31:33

2011

Alex Gomes26:18

Lauren Kennedy29:31

2010

Max Kaulbach25:57

Lauren Kennedy29:01

2009

Dan Vassallo25:41

Lyn Bessette31:06

2008

Dan Vassallo25:19

Christine O’Donnell30:44

2007

Casey Driscoll27:18

Julie Peterson32:28

2006

Jason Garrity25:25

Christine O’Donnell30:32

2005

John Paul Davis27:17

Amanda Walsh32:08

2004

Mike Toomey27:29

Christine O’Donnell32:03

Hall of Fame Volunteers

The volunteers and sponsors who have help facilitate the race over the years.

Beth O'Grady -  all 20 years

Ellen Talkowsky - all 20 years

Ilene Simons  -  all 20 years

Joanne Scott - All 20 years

Ed Zielinski

Kelly Pheulpin

Grace Duran

Tom St Pierre

Paul Cranney

John Landry

Tim Short

Wicked Running Club

Kerry Phelan

Beth Griffin

Amy Walsh

Tom O'Shea

Lisa Cammarata