YMCA of Greater New York Joins with NYCRUNS to Strengthen the Health and Well-Being of New Yorkers
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YMCA of Greater New York Joins with NYCRUNS to Strengthen the Health and Well-Being of New Yorkers
August 25, 2026
- Thousands of Runners to Take Part in the NYCRUNS Great Gobble 5K Benefiting the YMCA of Greater New York on Saturday, November 21, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
- National “Turkey Trot” Tradition Started with the YMCA in 1896
BROOKLYN, NY (August 25, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/– NYCRUNS is coming together with the YMCA of Greater New York to celebrate over a century of holiday season running with the NYCRUNS Great Gobble 5K Benefitting the YMCA of Greater New York on Saturday, November 21 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
“The YMCA of Greater New York plays such an important role in the health and well-being of New Yorkers,” said Steve Lastoe, Founding CEO of NYCRUNS, the Brooklyn-based running event organizer and community partner. “We’re excited to collaborate on this Thanksgiving season event to both celebrate the YMCA’s Turkey Trot roots and assist in their critical fundraising efforts.”
“We are thrilled to partner with NYCRUNS for the Great Gobble 5K, a fitting tribute to the Y’s history as the birthplace of the original Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Buffalo, New York, 130 years ago,” said Anthony Escobar, YMCA of Greater New York Chief Development Officer. “As the holiday giving season begins, this race gives New Yorkers a joyful way to get active, give back and support the Y’s work strengthening communities across our city.”
The NYCRUNS Great Gobble 5K Benefiting the YMCA of Greater New York is a 3.1-mile tour of picturesque Prospect Park, one of the jewels of the NYC Parks network. Thousands of runners will loop the park, earn a one-of-a-kind Finisher Medal, and have some fun with the YMCA of Greater New York team in the event’s pre- and post-race Festival Area
“Turkey Trots” have become extremely popular over the years in the United States. Held often on Thanksgiving morning, these popular events reach from small towns to big cities and often raise funds for charity. The first-ever Turkey Trot took place in 1896 and was put on by the YMCA in Buffalo, New York, and is the oldest consecutively run footrace in the world
Registration is open for runners of all ages and abilities with opportunities available to join the YMCA Great Gobblers Charity Running Team
Check here more information on the NYCRUNS Great Gobble 5K Benefiting the YMCA of Greater New York
About the YMCA of Greater New York
For more than 170 years, the YMCA of Greater New York has been where New Yorkers find their purpose, their people, and their place. As New York City’s leading nonprofit advancing individual and community health and well-being for all, the Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by providing access and opportunities for all to learn, grow, and thrive. We provide a place to play, to be healthy, and to give back. We give parents childcare, young adults job training, seniors a way to connect, and children a safe place to go. By bringing people together from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, the Y improves overall health and well-being, ignites youth empowerment, and connects and supports diverse communities across New York City. Follow the Y on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ymcanyc.
Since 2011, NYCRUNS has become one of the nation’s premier independent race organizers recognized for producing serious races that don’t take themselves so seriously. The Brooklyn-based organization hosts approximately two dozen events annually, including the flagship NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon. Hundreds of thousands of runners have taken part in NYCRUNS races, which are gathering spots for hundreds of NYC running clubs and crews and provide meaningful support to countless causes and local businesses. Visit NYCRUNS.com for more information.
Please contactmedia@nycruns.comwith any questions or requests
