Runners make room for Thanksgiving while raising money

There’s no better way to burn off the pit of delicious Thanksgiving food than a fun-filled and charitable event for the whole family. The Festival Foods Turkey Trot is a non-profit, multi-course charity event in which participants are able to run the course that best fits them, including even four-legged, furry friends.

Oshkosh Race Director Steve Sagmeister planned out the courses, making sure there would be a run fit for everyone’s needs.

“The five-mile is the only race that is timed, every year we get a few people who decide to walk it,” he said.

The Turkey Trot provides more than the classic racing experience, ensuring a place for all families, according to Sagmeister.

“There’s a two-mile run that is not timed called the Fun Run, and a two-mile walk and Dog Jog for anybody that has a pet,” he said. 

The Trot started promptly at 8:00 on Thanksgiving morning at the Oshkosh Seniors Center on North Campbell Road. 

For senior cross country runner Celso Collins, there are many appeals to the event. 

“I think people should do it just to get out with friends and family;  it is a fun thing to do before Thanksgiving,” he said. “It’s in the morning. It’s refreshing.”

For junior cross country runner Carter Crowe, it was easy to choose which race to run. 

“I like the five mile because it is usually more competitive than the run-or-walk, which is more for families and parents with strollers or pets,” he said.

Junior runner Mason Palecek has run in the Festival Foods Turkey Trot since he was a child. As his skill level has changed, so too has his race preference.

“I prefer to do the five-mile timed run now because it is more competitive,” he said. 

For Collins, running alongside his teammates is the best part.

“After the season ends, it’s good to get together again after not seeing each other for a couple of months,” he said. “It is a fun race to do.”

Sagmeister notes the shorter and more accessible options created an environment for everybody, annual attendees or first-timers, to enjoy. 

“A big part of Festival Foods is building a family tradition,” he said. “It is something for everyone, so it is not just because you can run a five-mile. The two-mile is set up for everybody, every skill level.” 

For junior Nora Mueller, the event held no stress of competition. 

“This was my first year,” she said. “I did it with my friends and my friend’s mom, so I did the two-mile fun walk because I just wanted to do it for fun and didn’t feel like running  a lot.”

Not only does the event spark fun and tradition, the Turkey Trot has raised more than four million dollars for charity in the last 16 years of running. It has attracted more than 201,200 participants among its 11 communities and home-style editions, Sagmeister affirms. 

“The biggest impacts are for the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club since the programs financially benefit,” he said “Last year, they each got $18,000.” 

The community members keep the trot up and running, according to Sagmeister. 

“Without the volunteers we wouldn’t have a Turkey Trot,” he said. “Handing out t-shirts, bibs, doing registration, water stations and food, and at the end there are  also the pies.”

As with any outdoor event, weather and environment pose potential challenges each year. For Sagmeister, unpredictable weather is the greatest obstacle. 

“Weather is probably the biggest challenge because if we get snow the night before then we have to hope that the roads all get plowed and get salt down so that it is safe for people,” he said.

For Crowe, who participates in the event as well as volunteering to help organize it, small mistakes in the course can pose difficulties for runners.

“Last year, the cones weren’t set up correctly so then some people were running towards us in the road and five-milers had to go on the sidewalk,” he said.

Regardless of this, Crowe encourages members of the community to join in on the fun. 

“It’s a really great way to get out and help your community, to serve your community,” he said. “Plus, you get some exercise in.”

The importance of the Turkey Trot extends beyond just the physical activity and occasional slice of pie; it's about connecting with loved ones and starting new traditions.

“It is a good family thing to do,” Sagmeister said. “People enjoy getting together on Thanksgiving morning and having those family traditions. Some just enjoy the pies at the end. Some come for the free t-shirts.”

by Adrianna Meszaros

Published December 2nd, 2024

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue III