There's no longer an excuse for spending Thanksgiving sitting on the couch, digesting mass quantities of turkey and pie while overloading on televised football. There are just too many opportunities to get out, get active and be social.
• People can run and possibly get part of their Thanksgiving meal covered at the annual Go!bbler Turkey Trot, 8 a.m. Thursday.
The Go!bbler is presented by Go! Running and it starts at the Heights store, 1819 N. Grant St. From there, participants of all ages will wind through Hillcrest and the Heights on courses of 3, 4 or 6.5 miles with road, track and, on the two longer routes, trail surfaces.
Preregistered participants' names will go into a drawing for a free-range turkey from Hillcrest Artisan Meats, but since the drawing is today, let's hope you're somewhere near the shop or a computer and able to register before noon.
Miss that deadline, and there's still pie, which runners and walkers could win thanks to one of the trot's newest elements: "Stick a Fork in It."
Participants will be given a fork with their name and phone number on it. At the quarter-mile mark, they'll pass a Styrofoam turkey, waiting to be stabbed. Race directors will randomly pull six forks, and the lucky owners will each get a pie from YaYa's. They'll also have spiced pecans from the Capital Hotel.
Not that participants can win all that food for free. There are no registration fees, but everyone is asked to bring food or cash donations for the Arkansas Foodbank.
"It's our mission this year," explains organizer Erin Taylor. "The Arkansas Foodbank will be bringing a truck for all the donated canned goods to go into. And it's our goal to 'Fill That Truck.' I think we will do it."
Santa will be there to help collect the food, so it's a good chance to earn brownie points with the big man.
Go!bbler long-sleeve T-shirts are available for $25.
"Since this is a free run/walk and not a race, the happiness level is 'off the charts,'" Taylor says. "Make it your family tradition. We have so much to be thankful for. Join us."
Call (501) 663-6800 or gorunning.com.
• Run for the pie at the Mercy Thanksgiving Day Turkey 5K/10K, 8 a.m. Thursday at Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith.
Presented by Mercy Fitness Center, the course is marked and participants will be timed, but race director Mandy Jennings describes it as "a fun run 5K/10K for families to enjoy the holiday together." Winners in each age division will be awarded a pumpkin pie.
Registration is $25 in advance, $30 on race day, and proceeds benefit Mercy Hospital's Ronald McDonald Room.
Call (479) 314-7400.
• Presented by the Grassy Knob Fire Department, the Don Gammie Turkey Trot 5K Trail Run starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Eureka Springs' Lake Leatherwood Park.
Honoree Gammie, a longtime runner, died in June at age 83. After taking up racing at 47, he set several national masters track records.
The race is sanctioned by USA Track & Field and goes over uneven terrain. If that's a bit too challenging, there's a 1-mile walk/run on paved surfaces that may be a better fit.
Registration is $15, $10 for children under 12.
Call (479) 236-0701 or visit turkeytrotar.com.
• It's a full-on, pre-dinner family party as Sheep Dog Impact Assistance presents the seventh annual Turkey Trot 5K, 9 a.m. Thursday at the Center for Nonprofits, 1200 W. Walnut St., Rogers.
The nonprofit is a volunteer program serving military members, law enforcement, firefighters and first responders, otherwise known as "sheep dogs."
Last year's event drew between 500 and 600 participants.
It's not simply a 5K, though. There's also a 1-mile run run/walk for all ages and, for those who want a bit more challenge, there's the Wild Gobbler 5K Adventure Run. That particular run involves 3 miles of running with additional workouts along the route designed to "honor the sacrifice of a different military or first responder." That means pushups, lunges, air squats and other challenges.
There will also be concessions, bounce houses and face painting.
Registration for the 5K is $20 in advance, $25 on run day. The fun run costs $10 and the adventure run $22. Money raised goes to provide Christmas gifts for the children of military members and first responders.
Call (479) 466-9713 or visit 2014NWATurkeyTrot.eventbrite.com or sheepdogia.org.
SPIN OUT
If a pre-dinner run isn't enough, or for those who prefer to burn their calories on wheels, Central Arkansas Velo (CARVE) presents its annual Turkey Burn Cyclocross Race on Sunday.
The USA Cycling-approved event will be held at Boyle Park, and event organizer and director Trevor Edwards says that while there have been a few minor changes, the course is largely the same as last year's.
For those who don't know, cyclocross is a timed, "sort of off-road road race," in this case a combination of pavement and grass, with obstacles along the way that require riders to get off and carry the bikes.
Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of skill level, and Edwards promises, "We try to focus on everybody."
There are three main race categories -- beginner, intermediate and expert -- with further breakdowns within those categories. Action will start at 11 a.m. with the midlevel riders and end with the experts, with the beginners racing in the middle, a strategy with a positive effect:
"It keeps people there and keeps people engaged," he says. "It's usually very encouraging for those beginner riders to have expert riders cheering them on in their race."
Trophies are given three deep in all groups with cash payouts in the Open, Women and Masters categories.
Those who don't quite feel comfortable pedaling are certainly welcome to watch.
Unlike many bicycle races, which involve riding long distances before either returning to the start or going to some location miles away, this course is tight, enclosed and very visible, making it a convenient and entertaining race to watch.
"Since it follows a loop, it's very spectator friendly," Edwards notes. "You can pretty much see riders the whole time."
To keep energy and encouragement up, everyone is encouraged to take (and use) noise makers, especially cowbells.
Registration, which opens on-site at 8 a.m., is $20. Call (501) 837-8485 or visit usacycling.org.
Readers can send tips about wellness-supporting active recreation opportunities to Jennifer Nixon at
jnixon@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 11/24/2014