“New Kid on the Block”: Norwood Debuts Inaugural Turkey Trot Road Race-November 2, 1985

Inaugural Norwood Event Joins Busy Sunday Running Slate

While established South Shore road races are feeling the crunch of a crowded autumn calendar, Norwood is making its official entry onto the local running scene this Sunday, November 3, with the debut of the Norwood Turkey Trot.

Described as the “new kid on the block” in The Patriot Ledger‘s weekly Runner’s Almanac, the inaugural event comes at a competitive time for race organizers. This Sunday alone, local runners face a major dilemma, choosing between four regional fixtures: the high-profile Superoni Heartbreak Hill 10K, the Ed Henley Memorial 10K in Weymouth, the Marshfield RoadRunners Turkey Trot, and Norwood’s new community race.

Despite the crowded weekend schedule, Norwood organizers Daniel McKenna alongside Jim McDermott and his wife, Susan, report enthusiastic local backing and anticipate a strong turnout of roughly 250 runners.

High School Athletics Integration Boosts Community Spirit

To carve out a unique identity and build local enthusiasm, the race directors incorporated creative entry divisions tailored specifically for the town.

“We’ve developed special divisions,” explained co-director Daniel McKenna, “like the first-place finishers from each varsity sport at Norwood High School. That’s attracted a lot of interest. We’re trying to build some school spirit, and Jim McDermott has put forth a lot of effort to get people to run. We’re excited about it.”

While major events like the Heartbreak Hill 10K navigate corporate sponsorship shifts and declining registration numbers elsewhere in Eastern Massachusetts, Norwood’s grassroots effort at Junior High North and Union Warren Savings Bank focuses on fostering community pride, setting the stage for what organizers hope will become a long-standing local Thanksgiving-season tradition.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger