Every year around this time thousands of runners — serious and not-so serious — participate in Turkey Trot events to win medals, bragging rights and raise money and donations for food banks and other charities.
Run Signup, a platform where runners can register for races, calls Thanksgiving “the biggest US running day of the year.” The site says almost 1 million runners across the country participated in Turkey Trots last year, believed to be a record.
Ken Gutman and his daughter Scarlett, 7, of Oakland, stretch as his wife and mother Shanon Hogan looks on before the start of the annual Oakland Turkey Trot at Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The main course, needless to say, is Thanksgiving Day. But many runners are lacing their sneakers for Trots this weekend.
Here is a look at some of the events being held around the Bay Area the next two weekends. The San Francisco Turkey Trot is already stuffed and not taking any more entries, so if you are interested don’t be a turkey and wait until the last minute.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz Turkey TrotDavis – Davis Turkey Trot
Thursday, Nov. 28
San Jose – Silicon Valley Turkey TrotOakland – Oakland Turkey TrotSan Francisco – San Francisco Turkey Trot – NOTE: registration is closedWalnut Creek — Walnut Creek Turkey TrotSan Ramon – Bishop Ranch Turkey TrotSan Mateo — Gobble WabbleSan Pablo – Nitro Turkey Thanksgiving RunConcord — Concord Turkey TrotSan Leandro – The Animal Run 5k Tofurkey TrotPiedmont – Piedmont Turkey TrotFairfield – Solano Turkey TrotNovato – Bank of Marin Turkey TrotSanta Rosa – Santa Rosa Turkey TrotPetaluma – Petaluma Turkey TrotNapa – Napa Valley Turkey ChaseHealdsburg – Healdsburg 5K Turkey Trot
Saturday, Nov. 30
San Francisco – Gobble Wobble Turkey TrotFremont – Quarry Turkey Half Marathon