Sure, you could make the drive down to the Valley to do a turkey trot on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, but the question for Flagstaffians is: Why would you?
You can stay relatively close to home and run amid the red rocks in the 15th Sedona Turkey Trot 5K at Posse Grounds Park. As of Friday, 428 runners have signed up. Every year, it seems, a couple of elite runners jump in for fun, as well, maybe because the overall female and male winners received $300.
Last year’s winners had familiar names: McKirdy Trained’s John Raneri was the top male in 14:36 and Puma and Verde Track Club’s Molly Seidel was the female winner in 17:38.
It’s a deceptively challenging course. The first mile is mostly downhill, but once you start the lollipop loop and head back, the last mile is uphill and not to be discounted, especially when there’s a headwind, such last year.
Prefer to run on trails and not dirt? The irrepressible Ruairi Moynihan of Trail GangstAZ will hold the third annual Turkey Hill Climb on Thanksgiving. For more information, click here.
Other November races of note:
Nov. 9: Pass Mountain Trail Races (50M, 50K, 25K, 10K, 5K), Mesa.
Nov. 9: Route 66 UltraRun (140 Miles, Solo, Crewed, Relay), Seligman to Toprock
Nov. 10: AZ Veterans Day Run (13.1M, 10K, 5K, 1M) Peoria
Nov. 23: Gilbert Half Marathon (13.1M, 10K, 5K), Gilbert
Nov. 23: USA Women’s Half Marathon, Phoenix
Nov. 28: Anthem Turkey Trot (10K, 5K), Anthem
Nov. 28: Fountain Hills Turkey Trot (5K), Fountain Hills
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