The annual Millersville Turkey Trot will be held at Biemesderfer Stadium, 45 Pucillo Drive, Millersville, on Thursday, Nov. 23. Children's races will begin at 8:20 a.m., followed by the start of the 5K race at 9 a.m. Participants may register on the day of the event, and advance registration is available at http://www.millersvilleturkeytrot.com.

For the kids' run, young runners will have the option to participate in a 100-meter sprint or a half-mile race, and their parents are invited to join. Registration for each run is free, with an option to purchase a T-shirt for those who preregister.

Registration for the 5K race will include an entry in a pool of prize drawings, and owners of chosen tickets will be contacted if not present. Prizes will include items such as gift cards, clothing and tickets to Penn Cinema and other local attractions.

This year, the Turkey Trot will celebrate its 51st race. The first Turkey Trot took place on the Sunday before Thanksgiving in 1973 and featured a 10-mile run along Route 999. At the time, a wave of interest in cross-country was sweeping the nation due to the United States' recent Olympic marathon victory; the new running fever inspired nearly 1,000 runners to participate in the first Turkey Trot. The event met the growing demand for long-distance races and provided a convenient alternative for local runners who normally traveled to other cities and states for similar competitions.

In 1978, the Turkey Trot transitioned from a 10-mile race to a 5K in response to the declining interest in long races, but the event's number of attendees dropped significantly throughout the '80s and '90s; However, the Turkey Trot's popularity began to return in 2012, after the day of the race was moved to Thanksgiving morning. Last year, nearly 2,000 runners attended the event's half-century celebration.

Although competitive runners often participate in the Turkey Trot, the event is also open to families with young children and others who may prefer to walk the length of the route. "There's an equal place for people who want to race and for families who would rather jog or walk," said Tom Ecker, who organizes the Turkey Trot every year. "Everyone is welcome, and many people have incorporated the run into their Thanksgiving traditions."

For more information and to preregister for the Turkey Trot, visit http://www.millersvilleturkeytrot.com.