Burn a few calories before you feast | The Olympian

While it’s tradition for many families to spend Thanksgiving morning preparing the day’s feast, for others it’s a chance to hit the road. Thanksgiving Day running events are becoming a tradition for many families.

In Tacoma, the 17th annual Norpoint Turkey Trot will be Nov. 24. The event features a chip-timed 5k run along with a 2-mile run/walk and kids’ trot.

Both the 5k and 2-mile events begin at 9 a.m. at the Center at Norpoint. Routes wind through the streets of Northeast Tacoma, providing mountain and Puget Sound views. The kids’ trot course is on the Center at Norpoint campus. Participants in the Kids’ Trot can join Norpoint staff for crafts and games in the gym while parents take part in the other events.

Awards will be given to the overall male and female winners and the top placers in each age division. All participants are eligible for random prizes given out during the awards ceremony. A contest at the post-race party will reward the best turkey costumes.

The second year of the Oly Trot will begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 24 at Heritage Park in Olympia.

The family friendly event is a 4-mile course around Capital Lake and through the Capital Campus. All runners will receive arm warmers. Prize money will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers. First place age-group winners will receive awards.

The race is a benefit for the Thurston County Food Bank. All runners are asked to bring two cans of nonperishable food. A monetary donation will be made from Guerilla Running in addition to food donations.

In Gig Harbor, the eighth annual Holmes Chiropractic Turkey Trot Run serves as a benefit for FISH food bank. This year’s run will be at 8 a.m. Nov. 24.

The event includes a 5k walk/run and chip-timed 10k run from Gig Harbor Skansie Park.

But not every holiday run is a Thanksgiving morning family run. Joint Base Lewis-McChord will host its Turkey Trot 10k run and 5K walk on Nov. 19. Organizers also have set up a 10K inline skate course.

For the past 25 years, the students at Evergreen Elementary School in Shelton have participated in a turkey trot.

Starting at 9:20 a.m. Nov. 23, more than 500 students and teachers will take part in a run. Kindergartners will run about 14 mile while the fifth-graders run almost a full mile, said Principal Steve Warner.

“It’s a reinforcer for physical fitness,” Warner said.

They also will have the chance to take home unique prizes. At every grade level, each boy and girl finishing first gets a turkey; second place gets a roasting chicken; third place gets a Cornish hen and fourth place gets a dozen eggs.

“Everybody who shows up for school will participate,” Warner said, “some walk, some jog and some run.”

Race details

Olympia: Cost is $30 per person before Thursday; $35 per person after that (arm warmers not guaranteed after this date). Register at active.com or by mail. Send payments, completed registration form and a signed waiver to Craig Dickson, P.O. Box 13184, Olympia, WA 98508 Make checks payable to: Guerilla Running. Learn more at guerillarunning.com/oly_trot.html.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord: Early registration deadline is noon Tuesday to guarantee a shirt and JBLM access pass. Late registration continues until noon Nov. 17 with no guarantee for shirt or pass. Fees are $10 for active duty/retiree/family members, $15 for DOD identification card holders and $20 for civilians. Day-of-race registration will have an additional $5 fee. Website: jblmmwr.com/race_calendar.htm

Tacoma: Entry fee for both distances is $25 through Nov. 17; $35 Nov. 18-22. Registration closes at 3 p.m. Nov. 22. There is no day-of-race registration. Entry fee includes a long-sleeve organic T-shirt. To register, go to metroparkstacoma.org/trot or call 253-591-5504.

Gig Harbor: Registration is $15, free for ages 12 and younger. Registration closes Nov. 22. Register at holmes chiropractic.net/turkeytrot.php or active.com. T-shirts can be ordered for $15 each.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

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