Ramping up for the Turkey Trot
PHOTO: Julia Aue and her family prepare to run at the Turkey Trot in 2022 – Photo courtesy Julia Aue.
By Maya Malinowski
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
The Turkey Trot has been an annual tradition for 36 years, since the foundation A Change of Pace (ACoP) was established.
ACoP is a nonprofit organization that manages multiple running events annually in Davis. The Turkey Trot was the first event they ever hosted.
“Davis is our hometown, so we wanted to start a family community event,” site manager and outreach coordinator Maya Miramontes said.
In 1987, when ACoP organized the first Turkey Trot, it was the largest first annual event in the U.S. It started with just a 2-mile course, and now also has a 5k, 10k, half marathon and kid’s events.
This year, the Turkey Trot is partnering with Shriner’s Children’s Hospital to include a 50-yard adaptive run for kids with disabilities. “There has been a void in events for such kids,” executive director Dave Miramontes said.
ACoP’s main beneficiaries are the Yolo County SPCA and Cancer Champions. They have been in partnership with Cancer Champions, a nonprofit providing nutrition and fitness resources for cancer patients, for the past two years.
“Every dollar raised (at the Turkey Trot and other events) helps support cancer patients through personalized fitness, nutrition and mindset guidance,” founder and president of Cancer Champions Jen Miramontes said.
In addition to supporting nonprofits, the Turkey Trot provides a fun experience for families.
For Julia Aue and her family, the Turkey Trot has been a tradition on-and-off over the last 14 years.
This year, they’re “hoping to have a good time and make some more nice memories,” Aue said.
For junior Lydia Boughton, the Turkey Trot is relatively new. “It’s been a tradition for my friends and I the past two years to run the 10k.”
Boughton is planning on volunteering this year instead of running, due to a minor injury and the absence of her friends, who are focusing on States for cross country. “I’m expecting that volunteering will be different, but just as fun as racing!” Boughton said.
