Turkey Trot

Bonners Ferry’s first Turkey Trot 5k/10k fun run beging at 9 a.m. Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day, at Boundary County Fairgrounds.

“The run is free, no T-shirt, no registration,” said resident Carolyn Testa, who is organizing the event with Robert Hanover. “It’s a great way to earn your second piece of pie before 10 a.m.”

In the spirit of giving thanks, participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food bank.

“This started as our ‘Second Helping’ run for the day,” Testa said. “But we thought we’d have more fun running at an event.  We looked for a 5k nearby and couldn’t find one. That’s when we decided to bring the Turkey Trot to Bonners Ferry.”

Most towns have an annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, Testa said.

“Spokane has one, but we didn’t want to drive two hours on Thanksgiving morning,” Hanover added.

Phone calls have been made, along with flyers and a couple of paid ads in the Herald announcing the run.

“We’ve tried to think of as many people as possible to personally  invite, and to avoid missing them, we decided to purchase a few ads,” Hanover said. 

The run will lead runners down Riverside Road to the 5k turnaround at David and Brenda Walters’ farm.  The 10k will continue past their farm with a turnaround at the Davidson farm.

There will be a water station near the 5k turnaround.

“Jim Cadnum was so generous to measure out both distances with his running wheel,” said Testa.

Handmade certificates will be given to each participant at the finish line. Certificates were colored by Valley View’s fourth-grade students in the classes of Sarah Macias, Connie Perez and Doreen Beck.  There will be pumpkin pie with whipped cream and hot chocolate, along with a drawing for a 25-pound frozen turkey donated by Cadnum. 

For information, call Testa at 290-7039 or Hanover at 267-6181.