Prior to last year’s Turkey Trot, people gathered at the Palisades High School Stadium.
Palisades Turkey Trot Organizer David O’Connell is urging everyone to get their registrations in prior to Thanksgiving morning, November 28. By registering early, one can avoid the lines and pick up a “swag” bag at Swarthmore Room in Caruso’s Palisades Village on Monday (November 25), Tuesday (November 26) and Wednesday (November 27), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Registration fees are higher this year, and O’Connell explained all costs have gone up, starting with L.A. City Permits to run the race on the streets, the cost to use the Palisades High School stadium, and even T-shirt prices have gone up.
“Everything to produce the race has increased,” he said. “Inflation. Even the timing costs have gone up.”
Now, the good news. Any profit made from the race will go back to Fire Stations 23 and 69, Desita and the Friendship Circle.
The race has contributed for years to Desita, which through Dr. Daniel Levy provides medical missions in Central and South America.
The race also supports the Friendship Circle. Under Rabbi Zushe Cunin, the Friendship Circle provide children with special needs and their families, support through teen volunteers.
This race included families dress for the occasion.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, consider your entry fee a donation for a good cause. When you pick up your swag bag, it will contain a t-shirt (red for 10K runners and orange for 5K runners), a bibb, dental necessities from local Dentist Emma Kim and a free coupon for a Wetzel Pretzel from 76 Station owner Robert Munakash.
O’Connell helped start this race in 2013 with David Houston, owner of Barney’s Beanery and Q’s Billard Club and Restaurant (on Wilshire). What started as a nice way for the community to get together on Thanksgiving morning, the 5/10K has become a tradition for many. Kids come back from college and join friends on the track. Entire families, including the youngest kids, walk and run together.
As other Palisades traditions, such as Movies in the Park, have disappeared, this race has grown. There are competitive runners, but it’s the family and friends that provide the soul to the race—and O’Connell feels that unity felt by everyone participating is important.
He had worked in sponsorship for a marathon company that hosted Rock & Roll Marathons, but “I started this race when I left the company,” he said. The race has been held for 10 years but lost two years to Covid.
Now he works in sales/advertising for Accuweather, and he says he likes to check on the weather at least “six” times a day. Prediction for the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot? Partly cloudy and around 70 degrees.
People will appreciate the race sponsors this year, which include the Bay Theater, Hastens, which make luxury beds, the new Palisades Equinox Club and Reakter.AI by Exela Technology, which aims to revolutionize industries through advanced automation, predictive analytics, and machine learning.
Maybe one of the most fun displays will be via Hastens. The store plans to bring beds that will be put on the Palisades Football Field – and people will be allowed to try them out. (Editor’s note, perhaps I won’t run, but simply head straight to the bed to catch a short nap.)
Also, of note this year, the 10K will not go down to Temescal Canyon this year. Rather those runners will do the 5K loop twice, which goes through El Medio streets and bluffs with some spectacular views of the Santa Monica Mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south.
O’Connell said the city was asking for $12,000 for permits to close Temescal. Last year, when he did have a permit O’Connell and volunteers needed to put up 300 barriers and then take them back down.
Volunteers are still sought to help with race duties that day, people can sign up https://paliturkeytrot.com/volunteer/ If you don’t want to run, but want to come out and see the event, volunteering might be ideal.
Many people dressed for the Turkey Trot and then did warm-up exercises.
Photo: RICH SCHMIT/CTN
The event is expected to draw about 2,200 participants and an equal number of spectators. Results will be posted shortly after the race www.paliturkeytrot.com/results
Oh, and NO DOGS are allowed on the Palisades High School field. O’Connell said that when people are told No Dogs, they respond, “no dogs, except for mine.” But, the high school could take away the race permit if there are canines on the field, so please NO DOGS.