WEBSTER, N.Y. — Many had a healthy start to their Thanksgiving Day as thousands of runners came together for the annual Webster Turkey Trot.

“My friend was in town and asked if he wanted to run a race,” participant Atlaure Hayes said. “And I was like, ‘I don't see why not, I’m going to go eat today anyways.’”

They came out to celebrate a now-51-year-old tradition.

“I run with Fleet Feet,” Kaye Treanor said. “I'm one of their runners on their racing team, so we do this event every year and it's a great way to get people from all walks of life, all kids, adults, runners, walkers, just together on Thanksgiving and have fun.”

They did so with many family and friends on the sidelines supporting the event and those racing.

“My fiancé, she slowed me down a little bit,” participant Christopher Suarez said. “But it was great. Just kidding, no she didn’t, yeah, she beat me. This is our first time racing and we'll have something to take back home and show off now, and I think we'll do one every year from now on.”

“Have fun and don't worry about how fast you can go,” Treanor said. “Just enjoy running with your friends and everybody else out here.”

Participants worked up an appetite just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

“I earned this while I'm eating,” Hayes said. “I'm going to wear it all for dinner.”