‘Turkey trot’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

We’re just over a week out from Thanksgiving, so I hope you’re prepared for gluttony and overeating!  There are all sorts of calculators out there that show you how many calories are in your Thanksgiving dinner and how much you’d have to exercise to burn them off.  But forget about those, because a little light jogging on Thanksgiving morning is sure to burn every one of those calories off (that’s my reasoning, at least).  Here are a couple area turkey trots to choose from:

• So Others Might Eat (SOME) Trot for Hunger 5K: An early morning 5K at Hains Point in the District.  Proceeds benefit SOME, which provides meals, medical care, and clothing to the homeless.  Features a guy in a turkey costume and Mayor Fenty.
• YMCA Bethesda Turkey Chase: A 10K run and 2 mile walk on Thanksgiving morning.  This event has been run every Thanksgiving for the past 26 years and features great post-race food, music, and entertainment.
• Alexandria Turkey Trot 5-Miler: A 5 miles race through the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria that’s great for serious runners and families alike. They’re taking non-perishable food donations for Alive, as well.
• Arlington Turkey Trot: A 5K run/walk in the Lyon Park neighborhood of Arlington.  Proceeds benefit three local charities that focus on homelessness and hunger in Arlington County.

Shannon grew up in the greater DC area/Maryland suburbs, went to Virginia for college and grad school (go Hoos!), and settled in DC in 2006. She’s an urban planner who loves transit (why yes, that is her dressed as a Metro pylon for Halloween), cities, and all things DC. Email her at Shannon (at) WeLoveDC.com!