Running a turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day morning can be a tradition much like eating pumpkin pie and turkey on Thanksgiving. Now in its twelfth year, the Sedona Turkey Trot is slated to return this year so you can keep up the tradition. The 5K (that’s 3.1 miles) race starts in Posse Grounds Park, and the course predominately features Sedona’s most famed attractions: the city’s red rocks.
“It’s definitely a course that will challenge you if you’re used to doing 5Ks. The views up there are off the charts. I would put that race up against any 5K in the country in terms of sheer beauty. I don’t think there’s a 5K road course in the country that is more beautiful than this one,” says Vince Sherry, one of the owners of the Run Sedona shop and race director for the Sedona Turkey Trot. The timed race is open to all ages and runners and walkers of all skill levels. Many parents will bring their children. Some runners are in their 80s and have been competing in the Turkey Trot for years. Vince tells us that, one rainy day aside, the weather on Thanksgiving Day is usually ideal.
As with all events in 2021, the Turkey Trot may have certain restrictions in place depending on the pandemic. Visit runsedonashop.com for the most accurate information before you head out to run. Prizes are given out to the fastest runners and other racers in specific age groups. Prizes may be gift cards to the Run Sedona Shop and can be redeemed online. All finishers receive a commemorative coffee mug. Above all, lacing up your shoes and running or walking the Turkey Trot can be a fun way to kick off Thanksgiving Day.
“I think running a race, in general, is a great way to start your Thanksgiving holiday,” says Vince. “Thanksgiving is kind of lowkey. You spend it in your house. Food is the focus, and there’s no better way to earn your turkey than to go run a turkey trot. It buys you a few calories. You empty the tank a little bit. You got a little more space in there,” says Vince. – Teresa K. Traverse
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