Want to run on Thanksgiving? These Sacramento-area 10K and 5K races still have openings

It’s never a bad idea to get a run in before feasting on Thanksgiving, particularly for a good cause.

There are plenty of options for competitive or casual runners in the Sacramento region looking to participate in an organized race before chowing down on some turkey.

Here are some options, most of which still had openings available one week before the holiday.

Run to Feed the Hungry

They call it the “largest Thanksgiving Day fun in the country” because it featured 29,241 runners and walkers, according to the event’s website.

This year marks No. 30 in the event’s history, and it benefits Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, which distributed 34.3 million pounds of food and 28.6 million meals in 2022.

The fun run is over a looped course beginning on J Street west of the Sacramento State campus and goes through tree-lined neighborhoods in East Sacramento. There are 10K and 5K runs for both timed and untimed runners. Participants receive free long-sleeved T-shirts.

Cost: $45 for individual adults between Friday and Wednesday, $48 for the day of the race. Youth (17 and under) cost $25 and $28, respectively.

You can register online through raceroster.com.

Elk Grove Gobble Wobble 2023

This run in Elk Grove is aimed at helping families, and its “Race for Babies” includes a quarter-mile fun run for children before a timed 5K and mid-morning afterparty that includes food, music and raffles.

The race benefits Chicks in Crisis, a nonprofit aimed at reducing the number of children who enter foster care by “teaching responsible parenting skills and our focus is to help teen parents find hope and strength to better themselves and therefore become capable parents who can function in society without the assistance of government programs,” according to the event’s website. The organization says it assists 400 households on average.

Cost: $45 before race day and $50 on the day of the race. The fee includes a shirt and medal. Children can participate in the quarter mile fun run for $10. The event can be attended virtually for $20.

You can register online at elkgrovegobblewobble.itsyourrace.com.

Folsom Turkey Trot

Folsom’s event, which is expecting roughly 4,000 participants, also has 5K and 10K options for runners or walkers.

It benefits the Twin Lakes Food Bank, Youth Assistance Fund and partners with City of Folsom to utilize its network of running trails, including the Johnny Cash Trail, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the famed country singer’s performance at Folsom State Prison.

The 5K and 10K races have different courses, with the 5K crossing various bridges in Folsom. The 10K course uses the Johnny Cash Trail.

Cost: $40.

You can register online through runsignup.com.

Roseville Turkey Trot

This race, which begins and ends at Vernon Street Town square in downtown Roseville, is already sold out.

For those participating, the 10K run starts at 9 a.m. and the 5K begins at 9:05 a.m. The cutoff for both races is 11 a.m.

The event’s website says participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to Saint Vincent de Paul Roseville to help stock their food locker program.