This week is Thanksgiving, which in these parts means it's fine time for a turkey day run. More about that in a minute. If you're in Charleston for the holiday, there are plenty of options for your dining pleasure, as I covered in a couple of those more recent blogs. Our vacation homes have terrific gourmet kitchens and spacious dining rooms where family and friends can cook, eat and gather together. Alas, we tend to eat a lot on this particular holiday. According to USA Today, the average American consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day. Another way to look at it - that’s the same as downing 15 Dairy Queen small hot fudge sundaes in one day. That being said, it makes perfect sense that Thanksgiving Day is now the number one day in America for running and/or walking events. You can find a “turkey trot” or turkey day run all over the country, and their numbers increase each year. It’s a great way to kick off the day right and preempt some of that holiday food guilt waiting you later in the day. USA Today covered the turkey trot/turkey day run phenomenon here. The second most popular holiday for running? Fourth of July. The third is New Year’s Eve/Day.
Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble
Not only is one of our vacation rentals the perfect setting for a holiday meal, it’s also the perfect launching pad for a morning run or fun walk. Most are oceanfront, so you can just step outside and do that on the beach. But there’s something festive and fun about venturing downtown for a group effort. This leads me to a beloved local event that draws thousands of folks to the historic city, many in costume. And it’s happening this Thursday, November 22nd – also known as Thanksgiving. It’s the Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K. For clarification, the Gobble Wobble is for those who’d prefer a walk to a run. The race is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, with a history that dates back about a century. It’s been run in various venues and formats, including relay and high school track team competitions. At one point it even ran from Charleston to Summerville. Now it is a true 3.1 mile/5K run and walk, and this is officially the 41st one in a row. The TDR/GB attracts over 7,500 registrants from all over North America. It’s second in size only to the Cooper River Bridge Run in these parts. At last check, it was the 28th largest 5K in the United States. It also happens to be a U. S. Track & Field certified event. The course itself is ideal for seeing the sights since it travels down and back up the historic spine of the peninsula. It starts at Marion Square, travels down Meeting Street to the Battery, past White Point Gardens, down Murray Boulevard, then back up King Street to Marion Square.
Specs on the TDR/Gobble Wobble
Online registration is no longer available. Don’t fret - you can register tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 21st) in person and pick up race packets from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. You can also do so the morning of the race from 7:00 a.m. till 8:30. Registration and packet pickup are in their Expo tent near the Embassy Suites at Marion Square downtown. The run kicks off promptly at 9:00 Thursday morning. There are also shorter length runs for the kids starting at 10:00 a.m. So it leaves plenty of time to get in some good exercise/sightseeing before you head back home for the big meal. Before you do cross back over the bridge, check out the post-race party with free food and beverages (beer for those 21 and over), live music and the awards ceremony. There is a bit of a tweak from years past. They are no longer allowing strollers. They are, however, allowing little ones to ride in a pull behind wagon at the back of the pack after the last corral. And here’s more from Channel 2 News.
Charities that benefit from all that running, wobbling and gobbling
As is the case with just about every turkey day run, proceeds go to charity. Last year’s benefited these great local charities:
- BE Athletics
- Daughters of St. Paul
- Boy Scout Troop 79
- Magdalene House
- Alzheimer Association
- Charleston Catholic School
- Hospice of Charleston Foundation
- MUSC Children's Hospital
- Coastal Carolina BSA
- Birthright
- Lowcountry Food Bank
- Our Lady of Mercy Outreach
- Vincent de Paul Society
- Neighborhood House
- One Eighty Place
- His Way Ministry
- Cliff's Cause
- Charleston EMS
- Project Hope
- Windward Farms
- Special Olympics
- BE Options Program
- The Palmetto Project / Homeless to Hope Concert
They’ve set this year’s goal to raise $10,000 more, so come on out and support these great causes while having some holiday fun. Here’s the official site with all the details: http://turkeydayrun.com/ And as always, remember to call EP for the best in SC vacation rentals. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger