Runners can strut their stuff and families can make memories while helping those in need at the first Mercer County Turkey Trot.
WEST WINDSOR — Runners can strut their stuff and families can make memories while helping those in need at the first Mercer County Turkey Trot.
The Thanksgiving Day 5K road race and 1-mile fun walk/run will take place in Mercer County Park, 334 South Post Road, West Windsor.
Adam and Debbie Cohen are organizing the event.
”The 5K race and 1-mile walk will be fun, and we’re raising money for good causes,” Mr. Cohen said. “Our hope is to build this race into one that can attract a few thousand people in a few years, so people should participate to get a good workout on Thanksgiving morning, participate in a fun event, help feed the hungry throughout Mercer County, and be part of something new and special.”
Mr. Cohen started participating in a race on Thanksgiving morning many years ago when his family lived in Naperville, Illinois, and over time they started making it a family event.
”I have very fond memories of running with each of our kids when they were small, dragging them to the finish line, and then over the years, watching them flourish into fast runners who could easily outpace me,” Mr. Cohen said.
Their son went on to run four years of cross-country in high school, and while their daughter chose not to run for the school team, she still gets out to run for fun periodically.
”The race in Naperville started off with less than 100 people, and by the time we left four-and-a-half years ago, the race had grown to over 2,000,” Mr. Cohen said. “The whole idea of getting out on Thanksgiving morning as a family and running prior to sitting down for a huge meal, i.e., banking the negative calories, was very attractive, and it was fun to get out and see a bunch of neighbors and friends for such an event.”
The Cohens also noticed that many college kids would run because Thanksgiving was the first opportunity they get during the school year to return home from college, and it was a chance for them to see their high school friends.
”So when we moved to the Princeton area, we were looking for a race and were surprised that there wasn’t such a race in Mercer County Park, since it seemed tailor made for such an event,” Mr. Cohen said. “We did find the Trinity Turkey Trot, and like in Naperville, we saw that race blossom from around 100 runners to over 1,500 this year. Finally this year, we decided to see if we could make such a race happen in the park, and we’ve been very pleased with the turnout to date.”
The entry fee for the 5K race or the 1-mile fun walk/run is $30. Participants who register prior to Nov. 20 are guaranteed to receive a T-shirt. The 5K race will start at 8 a.m. and the 1-mile walk/run will start at approximately 8:05 a.m.
Proceeds from the event will benefit local food pantries, including the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), Jewish Family and Children’s Service (JFCS) Kosher Food Pantry and RISE in Hightstown.
”I serve on the board for the Jewish Family and Children’s Service,” Mr. Cohen said. “I was looking for an event that would raise funds for food pantries, figuring that there was a natural synergy between such a cause and the Thanksgiving holiday — the idea that everyone should have food to eat on Thanksgiving and every day. Further, I like the idea of building an event that could benefit multiple food pantries. So we are raising funds for the JFCS Kosher Food Pantry as well as for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and RISE in Hightstown.”
The Cohens said they are thrilled that they have such a good turnout of people registering for the race.
”And we can’t thank our sponsors enough for the support,” Mr. Cohen said.
To register for the race, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/WestWindsor/MercerCountyTurkeyTrot.
For more information, visit MercerCountyTurkeyTrot.com or email [email protected].