Sacramento Running News

You wake up on Thanksgiving morning and realize it’s only a matter of hours before you’ll be forced to endure another retelling of your father-in-law’s story about that time in college when he and his drunken buddies carried the Volkswagen beetle into the physics lecture hall.

Or maybe you’re dreading your aunt Murtle’s terrible political opinions and her even worse lime jello salad, as well as your annoying vegan cousin and her endless muttering about “meat is murder.”

Perhaps you’re lucky, and looking forward to a house-full of wonderful people and great food, but would like a bit of exercise to start the day.

There are many reasons to join your  friends and neighbors for an organized run on Thanksgiving morning. Fortunately, in this region, there are so many Thanksgiving Day races you have no excuse not to run one.

If you run a 5 or 10K that morning, imagine how much better you’ll feel about yourself later in the day, while standing there with a drink in your hand, wondering if your husband is going to light his hair and the house on fire with that new gas fired turkey fryer he bought on eBay. Just imagine!

With that in mind, here are a few options for you:

I’ll start with the area’s big daddy of Thanksgiving Day runs, The Run to Feed the Hungry. This 5 & 10K race is enormous and features super fast competitors and folks just out for a stroll. Proceeds go to the Sacramento Food Bank, so you can feel good about that, too.  The race starts on J Street, just west of the entrance to Sacramento State. As an added bonus, you can cheer on local Olympian Michael Stember as he tries to break 18:00 and raise money for Oakland’s American Indian Public Charter School.

If you live south of town, there is the Elk Grove Turkey Trot. This race benefits Courage to be You, a program for victims of sex trafficking. The race starts at Cosumnes Oaks High School, in Elk Grove, and includes 5 and 10K distances.

Over in Folsom, you can run the Folsom Turkey Trot. The race starts at the Folsom Parkway Trails, at the Corner of Blue Ravine and North Parkway Drive in Folsom. Beneficiaries include the Twin Lakes Food Bank, and the Folsom Athletic Association Youth Assistance Fund. There will be a 5K and 10K race.

If you are closer to Roseville, you can run the Roseville Turkey Trot. This is also a 5K and 10K event, and benefits the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Locker. They are also asking runners to bring a can of food to the event. The event takes place in Maidu Park.

If you live in Modesto, there is Modesto Turkey Trot and Gobbler Walk (PDF). This includes a 5K walk, 5K run, and 1/2 mile kids race. The beneficiary is the Modesto Junior College Cross Country Program.

Down in Stockton, you can run the 7th Annual Run and Walk Against Hunger. The run benefits the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin. Races include a 5K, a 10K, and 1/4 mile kids run. The event takes place at the Stockton Ballpark, 404 W. Fremont, in Stockton.

Finally, up the hill in Grass Valley will be the Michael Bratton II Turkey Trot. This event starts at Nevada Union High School and includes a 5K and 10K. The beneficiary is the MEBII Foundation, in support of youth mental health, and suicide prevention.

Be sure to check the events’ websites for official start times and other details.

I hope you get the chance to run one of these races and have a Happy Thanksgiving!