A Race to Be Thankful For: First Flight Track Club Starts New Duck Turkey Trot 5K

By Tatum Clements

Thanksgiving Day is the most popular running day in the United States, with Turkey Trot races taking place all over the country, and this tradition holds true on the Outer Banks, too. 

However, for the last few years, there has not been a Turkey Trot in the Town of Duck. 

But come Thanksgiving Day 2025, that is about to change because the First Flight Track Club is partnering with the Town of Duck to host the inaugural Duck Turkey Trot 5K on Thursday, November 27. 

Formed in the spring of 2024, the First Flight Track Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides support for youth runners in Dare County. 

“We all love running, and we are all invested in growing the running community, especially for kids,” said President of the First Flight Track Club Gray Berryman. “Thanks to the great work of OBX Go Far and outstanding middle and high school coaching programs, we have a deep pool of very talented student runners here. It’s one more really cool thing about the Outer Banks that most people don’t know and wouldn’t necessarily expect. So, we are working to grow this community by supporting teams and encouraging youth participation in running.”

Outside of giving youth runners a brand new Turkey Trot to participate in, Berryman says that the First Flight Track Club is also filling a void in the local community with the Duck Turkey Trot 5K, and bringing back a beloved tradition to the Town of Duck. 

“At Thanksgiving last year, I wanted to run in a local Turkey Trot, but I waited too long to sign up and they were all booked a few weeks before Thanksgiving,” said Berryman. “This made us realize that there is a need for more Turkey Trots on the Outer Banks, and we have the right Board of Directors with deep roots in Duck to bring a race back to the community at the level our participants expect.”

Prior to this year, there has not been a Turkey Trot in Duck since 2021, when Outer Banks Community Foundation Emeritus Director and Race Director Nancy Caviness retired the Annual ADVICE 5K Turkey Trot, which she and Donna Black (owners of Advice 5 Cents, a bed & breakfast) created in 1996 as a way to give back to their community.

Caviness’s race thrived for 25 years, and for many of those years, net proceeds from the race were donated to the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) and directed into the ADVICE 5K Endowment Fund, which still supports the health and well-being of people living and working on the Outer Banks today. The Annual ADVICE 5K Turkey Trot Fund has awarded just shy of $85,000 in grants since it was established in 2013. 

“I couldn’t be happier for my beloved community,” said Caviness. “My hope was always that someone would come in and fill the gap, and I am thrilled that the First Flight Track Club is reintroducing the importance of having a Turkey Trot in Duck. I have watched Gray’s interest and passion for running grow, and I think this is a great focus for him and the track club. It is wonderful that Gray is throwing the net a little wider with an emphasis on youth running.”

And, just like its predecessor, this year’s Duck Turkey Trot 5K will also be a charitable run/walk.

To enhance the race’s charitable impact, the First Flight Track Club has established a new endowment fund with OBCF to support student athletes with financial need.

“Each Dare County running sport team (cross country or track, high school and middle school) has a fund they can use to purchase items for students in need,” said First Flight Track Club Secretary Amy Denson, who also serves as the First Flight Middle School Head Track Coach and the First Flight High School Assistant Cross Country Coach. “Racing shoes get to be very expensive! Often, students need to purchase clothing items for their uniform. So the Track Club has given coaches the capability to provide those, as needed. As a coach myself, this has been invaluable to have funds readily available when needs arise. The Track Club has also provided summer camp scholarships for athletes interested in gaining more experience. This past year, we sent students to a distance running camp and a throwing camp for shot put/discus athletes.”

The First Flight Track Club has high expectations for their upcoming race, with exciting goals to reach on the horizon. 

“We are most excited to bring the community together with a high-quality race and a really fun party, and all of it is going to support a great cause,” added Berryman. “We need more funds to support student athletes and local youth running teams. One of our main goals is to create a college scholarship fund with the Community Foundation, so that we are able to award scholarships to student athletes who have made continued contributions to their high school teams.”

With Gray’s passion for youth sports and running combined with Nancy’s passion for the Outer Banks community and her knowledge on how to organize a successful race, this year’s Duck Turkey Trot is queuing up to be one to remember. 

“Nancy is helping us with race software, since she now works with RunSignup,” said Berryman.  “She has been very generous with sharing the best insights to help us make this version of the race the best it can be.”

There is still time to register for the Duck Turkey Trot 5K online at FFTrackClub.org/duckturkeytrot. The race is open to runners and walkers of all abilities.

“‘It’s time to start working on your Turkey Trot costumes,” said Berryman. “Bring the whole family and help us celebrate the return of this iconic race to the Town of Duck. Packet pickup is at the Duck Dive Bar, the race’s after party is hosted by Treehouse Coffee, and the Tap Truck will make the race that much more fun for runners and volunteers! The support of the business community is just amazing. Thanks to the generosity of the Town of Duck, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, and sponsors like Twiddy, Duck Church, Carolina Designs, and Urban Cottage, this year’s race is going to be one to remember!”

With a love for running and community at its core, the Duck Turkey Trot 5K has Caviness’s blessing. 

“My hope is that the community will embrace this opportunity again in the same way they embraced the ADVICE 5K,” said Caviness. “At the heart of everything I have done is a notion of community, and Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots create connections to causes and are the social fabric of a community. The Duck Turkey Trot 5K is a new concept and a new course, which is terrific! We laid the groundwork for the Town of Duck to have a race, and we know it takes many people to get something to fly. I hope this race flies high and has 25 years of success!”

For more information on the Duck Turkey Trot, visit FFTrackClub.org/duckturkeytrot. 

To make a gift to the First Flight Track Club Fund or the ADVICE 5K Fund at the Outer Banks Community Foundation, visit OBCF.org/donate or call 252 423 3003. 

It has never been easier for you to make a real impact in our community! At the Outer Banks Community Foundation, there are countless ways to get involved in philanthropy. Start your journey today and make a lasting difference in the lives of those around us.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.