Turkies trotting and drumsticks dashing...

November 14, 10:22 AMRoanoke Homelessness ExaminerLauren Ellerman

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St. Petersburg Times Turkey Trot, Clearwater Florida Thanksgiving Morning
St. Petersburg Times

For the last 8 years or so, my Thanksgiving tradition has included a morning 5k. Do not be impressed, I have only been able to run the event (ok, jog slowly) the last two years. In years past I would walk with family, most often my Dad in Clearwater Florida at the annual St. Pete Times Turkey Trot.

For the last three years, I have helped plan Roanoke's Thanksgiving Day 5k, the Rescue Mission Drumstick Dash. While it is generally warmer in Fla, the Roanoke event has become a tradition I look forward to all year.

The event raises money for the Rescue Mission's kitchen which feeds over 300,000 meals annually. Yes, you read that correctly, almost 1000 meals a DAY.

And thankfully, there are similar events and organizations all over the United States on Thanksgiving morning. While not every Thanksgiving run/walk across the United States benefits the homeless, or organizations to prevent homelessness, many of them do.

Please check to see if there is a Turkey Trot or Drumstick Dash in your area, and as my local Rescue Mission says,  "Move your feet so others can eat!

 I would love folks to comment if I have failed to include their local event - I will update the article until we have a complete list! Blessings to you all this Thanksgiving and always. See you at the starting line.

Alabama

• Huntsville - Helpline Turkey Trot 5k 

California

• Folsom Co - 5k / 10k
• Long Beach - glad to see they trot in nice weather too
• Oceanside - www.osideturkeytrot.com to benefit the "Move your Feet so others can Eat" Foundation
• Orange Co. - Turkey Trot to benefit 2nd harvest food bank
• Topanga - Xterra Thanksgiving day Trail Run
• Silicon Valley - 5k & 10K to benefit 3 local charities for health hope and home

Florida

• Clearwater/ St. Pete - Times Turkey Trot 5k / 10k / 1 mile - (and my first Trot ever! Go Clearwater)

Georgia

• Conyers - 5k and 1k Turkey Trot to benefit Elks Children's services

Kansas

• Wichita - 5k and 10K Turkey Trot

Kentucky

• Glasgow - 5 mile race

Maryland

• Edgewater - YMCA 5k and 10k 
• Hagerstown - 5k and Food Drive

Michigan

• Ann Arbor - 5k at UM's campus
• Detroit - 5k / 10k and "mashed potato mile"

New York

• Buffalo - Maybe one of the oldest Trots in the Nation
• Garden City - Ffun Run and Turkey Trot
• Saratoga Springs - 5k
• Troy - Turkey Trot

Oregon

• Astoria - 5k on the Coast

Texas

• Dallas - Turkey Trot to benefit the YMCA

Utah

• Orem - Earn your Turkey Kids Run

Virginia

• Centerville - Virginia Run Turkey Trot
• Herndon - Sat. before Thanksgiving race to benefit Link
• Roanoke - biggest race in SW Virginia, downtown Roanoke to benefit Roanoke Rescue Mission
• Virginia Beach - 5k . 10k - 32nd Annual

Wisconsin

• LA Crosse - UWLax 5k (brr)