The 21st Annual Scheels Turkey Trot is coming up Thanksgiving Day on November 28, offering the community a chance to get some exercise in before an afternoon of feasting and football. Hosted by the City of Sparks and Scheels, this is a favorite locals’ event that appeals to walkers moseying around the Sparks Marina in the untimed 2k or the 10k run (equaling out to a little more than six miles) for the more competitive exercisers. All races start at 8:30 a.m. sharp in the Scheels parking lot and registration/packet pickup will be available November 25-27 from 9am-9pm on the second floor of the Scheels sporting goods store in the archery department.
Sparks City Councilman Kristopher Dahir has participated in the Scheels Turkey Trot for the last six years and plans on running the 10k again this year with his son.
“It is awesome, I see a lot of families there for an allaround good time. Sometimes it’s freezing cold, but it’s still fun,” he says.
Involved with the Excel Christian School, Dahir says that he regularly sees kids that he knows on the run and they encourage him to go faster.
“Sometimes I’m running past little kids and sometimes they’re running past me. One kid named Noah that I know from Excel has done this run for years. Last year in the beginning of the race he shot past me and then I caught up to him at mile 5 and said, ‘you’re not going to let me pass you, are you?’ and he started running again,” laughs Dahir. “It really challenges me when little kids run past me. Trying to keep up with them makes me feel young again.
“I like to call this race ‘Earn Your Turkey’ because it’s so good for your health and it makes you hungry for your Thanksgiving feast. And it’s a great way to be a part of the community,” Dahir adds.
It’s also encouraged to wear a costume during the Turkey Trot and it’s common to see fellow runners/ families jogging as pilgrims, presidents, and humansized turkeys.
The annual Scheels Turkey Trot is an event not to miss. The cost to participate in the 2019 race is $25 through November 21, then it goes up to $30 November 22-24 available through active.com only, then it will be $40 November 25-27 at packet pickup at Scheels, and $60 on race day. Pets are not allowed at the Turkey Trot, but strollers are welcome. Proceeds of this event benefit Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) and $2 per entry goes into the City of Sparks Youth Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit http://www.sparksrec.com.
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