Start out your Thanksgiving holiday by participating in the 20th Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 27. Held at 8 a.m. in downtown Springfield, this fun run/walk is the biggest Thanksgiving 5K in the state of Missouri and also the largest one-day food drive for Ozarks Food Harvest. In 2013 alone, more than 8,000 people ran in the annual 5K, which raises funds for the Developmental Center of the Ozarks and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund. If you want to kick off your Thanksgiving by participating in an event that supports a couple worthy causes, the Turkey Trot is the perfect one for you.
Open to individual runners, families and pets, the 20th Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot is the biggest timed 5K hosted in Springfield. Registration for the walk/run is open now and can be completed on the official Turkey Trot sign up page. Those interested in participating can register for one of four running categories: Elite, Runner, Walker/Family or Pet. Each group is suited for specific types of runners and features different start times to accommodate everyone. In addition to securing a spot when you sign up for the race, you'll also receive a race bib equipped with a timing device and a long-sleeve t-shirt. You can also dress up in your favorite Thanksgiving-inspired attire on the day of the event to get into the holiday spirit - a tradition among locals.
