As Justin Wilson crossed the finish line of the annual Turkey Trot, he hoisted his 10-pound, gray mutt named Rocky over his head.

Turns out, Rocky wasn’t up to the 3.1-mile jog in this clear crisp Thanksgiving Day. He stopped several times to relieve himself in Deep Ellum and had to be carried most of the run.

"But it was a triumphant victory," Wilson said.

Wilson and Rocky were among thousands of runners and walkers who packed downtown Dallas streets for the 42nd annual Capital One Bank Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot. Organizers say it’s the country’s largest multilevel race.

With temperatures hovering around 50 degrees, crowds assembled in front of City Hall around 9 a.m. to start either the 3.1- or eight-mile runs. The shorter trek attracts walkers, strollers and dogs, while the longer run requires actual physical exertion and takes people from downtown to Oak Cliff and back.

Chris Jones and his two daughters, Carley and Chandler, traveled from Flower Mound to take part in the easier route. They ran, walked and wove among a mass of people to finish the trot in about an hour — all without breaking a sweat.

Jones said they did, however, burn enough calories to justify gorging on turkey at their Thanksgiving lunch.

"Now we can eat with a clear conscience," he said as he stretched his legs after the race. "You couldn’t have asked for a better day."

Adam Miller drove from Greenville with his 1-year-old son, Stone, in hopes of making the Turkey Trot an annual family tradition. The jury is still out on whether Stone enjoyed it. That’s because a few minutes into the three-mile jog, Stone was sound asleep in the stroller.

Nonetheless, Miller said they’ll return next Thanksgiving.