Record-setting crowd participates in 34th annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Before gobbling up Thanksgiving dinner, over 21,000 people participated in a longtime Austin tradition: the 34th annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot.

Runners, joggers and walkers alike started at the Long Center early Thursday morning before continuing through the downtown Austin course.

ThunderCloud Subs co-founder Mike Haggerty said this year's record-setting crowd shows the Austin community coming together for a family-friendly tradition.

"At 34 years, we have families that now have four generations that run together and have been running it since they were kids," Haggerty, the trot's executive director, said.

How the turkey trot helps Austinites in need

The annual run benefits Caritas of Austin, a local nonprofit helping people experiencing homelessness in the Greater Austin area. The nonprofit helps connect hundreds of people with a home, food, jobs and life skills.

Jo Kathryn Quinn, Caritas of Austin's president, said the event "feels like a big community hug for Caritas." The 2023 turkey trot raised $315,000 for the nonprofit.

"Over the years, the event has raised over $5 million for our work," Quinn said. "It's so helpful to our organization. It's critical support."

Tim, a turkey trot runner, is also a Caritas client. He said the race and nonprofit bring people hope.

"You follow the program and stay with your case manager and a whole landscape of opportunities open up, that's for sure," he said.