Saratoga News

Sports

Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving

By Dick Sparrer

There's the turkey and the stuffing, the mashed potatoes and gravy, the pumpkin pie and whipped cream and all of the football on television.

But there's more to think about on Thanksgiving Day than just eating and watching TV--the Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot is becoming as much of a Thanksgiving tradition as cranberry sauce and John Madden.

The Turkey Trot, founded in 2005 by the city of San Jose, county of Santa Clara, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and South Bay Labor Council, attracted 3,100 runners and walkers a year ago and race promoters are hoping for 4,000 entrants on Thanksgiving morning.

The race benefits three Silicon Valley charities, including Second Harvest Food Bank, the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara Family Health Foundations' Children's Health Initiative. The event raised more than $318,000 for the three recipients in its first two years.

In addition 5K and 10K events, the Turkey Trot features races for world-class elite athletes. The event is scheduled so that families can run or walk the course together, then watch the elite athletes in their races, wrapping up the morning with the Lucile Packard Children's Fun Run.

The race begins at 9 a.m. on Nov. 22 in Confluence Meadow at Guadalupe River Park. The online registration fee is $30 (through Nov. 19). For more information, visit http://www.svlg.net.