Turkey Trot 5K/ 10K is Nov. 23

Bonners Ferry is looking forward to another fun, family-friendly, and free Turkey Trot 5K/10K fun run this year on Thanksgiving morning. Organizers Carolyn Testa and Robert Hanover will be managing it from afar this year, with their A-Team of volunteers at the Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. for the run to begin at 9 a.m.

“Knowing we were going to be out of town for Thanksgiving, we asked Tyler Warner, Bonners Ferry High School History Instructor and Cross Country Coach, if he’d direct the run. Tyler’s team uses the Turkey Trot as one of their training runs each year, so it made good sense to ask him,” Testa said.

“We didn’t want to let a lot of people down with what’s become a looked-forward-to Thanksgiving morning tradition,” Robert Hanover explained. “This started as our ‘Second Helping’ run for the day, and now that we’re in our ninth year, it’s kinda become a tradition for lots of individuals and families. We’ve grown from 50 runners our first year to over 150 last year.”

The gun goes off promptly at 9 a.m. from the Boundary County Fairgrounds and leads runners down Riverside Road to the 5K turnaround past Mirror Lake Road. The 10K continues past the 5K turnaround and will be marked with cones. The water station is near the 5K turnaround.

“It’s a nice little out-and-back, and Jim Cadnum has generously measured out both distances with his running wheel,” said Testa. “Without our volunteers this year, there wouldn’t have been a 9th Annual Turkey Trot. Talk about being thankful!”

There will be pumpkin pie with whipped cream and hot chocolate with marshmallows at the finish line, along with drawings for frozen turkeys, Indian Corn arrangements donated by Jim Cadnum, and a variety of prizes at the end of the run. This year there’ll be a goody bag from Dr. Hank Willis and a limited number of T-shirts created by Far North Logo Shop that can be purchased by donation. Be sure to arrive early enough to play Turkey Trivia with prizes!

“The run remains free, no registration, but it is timed. It’s a great way to earn your second piece of pie before 10 a.m.,” said Testa.

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

Questions can be directed to Carolyn Testa at 208-290-7039 or Robert Hanover at 208-267-6181.

See you at the run!!!