I don’t know why I didn’t think of this early on and sign up, but I have made up my mind and doing the Dana Point Turkey Trot this Thursday!  We were thinking we might travel for thanks giving, but with my work schedule, I just came to a realization that we are going to be in Orange County for thanks giving! With that I was looking for a Turkey Trot run, and there were two races I was considering. (I am doing the Dana Point Turkey Trot, but I do like both these races!)

Orange County Turkey Trot

National Champion and world class athlete, a USA Track & Field Level II Coach – Caren Ware‘s company ‘Itz About Time‘ is hosting their Orange County Turkey Trot in Irvine this year. I have done races organized by Caren,  which are mostly themed runs, that combines fun for family at the same time providing all the professional expectation around race chip timing etc. Caren runs the company, and chances are you would have seen her handing out fliers, and free entry tickets at Adventure Runs. Talking to their reps, they do realize, they are up against Dana Point Turkey Trot, which has long been an OC tradition, and hoping to get people that may not like a long drive to Dana Point on a thanks giving morning! In fact, it seems to work, as my friends who have to travel to visit with their family in north OC, are preferring to do the Irvine Race than Dana Point one.  If you don’t like the drive , and want to do a race local in Irvine, this is the race for you!

The course is around IVC College in Irvine, and there will be plenty of parking, and the course will be super flat. Race starts at 8:00am as opposed to the Dana Point one that starts at 8:30am and 9:30am. So you could finish your run sooner.

Registration is $35. Use code RaceShed20 for a 20% off. Registration link: http://itzabouttime.com/oc-turkey-trot-2

For Kids, there is a Gobble Wobble Kids Dash, ages 2 and under, and 3 to 4. $25 registration fee. Use code RaceShed20 for a 20% off.

Race is on Thursday , at 8:00am. Course limit is 2 hours which is plenty for walkers!

Some of my Snail’s pace runner friends are doing this race, so expect to see some fast runners on the course! Registration closes online tomorrow, and you will be able to sign up on site.

There will be finisher medals, and I have seen them in person at our group run, and you will be happy earning one and taking home!. There will be age group placement, and since most people do this for fun, the chances of placing is high for most runners!

Dana Point Turkey Trot

Dana Point Turkey Trot has been a long standing Orange County Holiday Tradition. This year marks their 39th race! The race includes a 10k, 5k for 40 years old and above(masters), and a 5k for rest of the age group. Race is on Thursday, (duh), and the start times for 10k is 7am, 5k/masters is 8:30am and 5k for rest of the age group is 9:30am. If you don’t care for age group awards, you can run in any distance/start time, but if you are interested in comparing your time against rest of your peers, run with the right start time, as their timing device wont recognize your bib otherwise.

there is a $1000 cash price for the 10k top finisher male and female. So this is one of the sought after race for fast runners!

If you are runner mom with children, you can run with your kids.

Registration is $40 for 5k, and $45 for 10k. ( Check  Snail’s Pace Meetup page for a $5 discount code – https://www.meetup.com/snailsfountainvalley/events/234103656/ )

Registration Page: http://turkeytrot.com/

Online registration closes tonight.

This is our Snail’s Pace Club Run, so expect to see some of the fastest runners on the course!

Special Mentions:

1. If you live in South OC, or SD Area, check out the Ocean Side Turkey Trot. It seems fun from their photos and videos. http://osideturkeytrot.com/
2. If you want to head out to a trail run, check out Xterra Topanga Turkey Trot. – http://trailrace.com/topanga-turkey-trot/ ( LOVESHACK for 10% off) 
3. San Diego Turkey trot – http://sdthanksgivingrun.com/#turkey-trot (Code FALLRG10 for 10% off)
4. LA Turkey Trot – http://turkeytrot.la/  (Code THESHED for 10% off)
5. Riverside Turkey Trot – http://riversideturkeytrot.com/ (Code RGFIVE for $5 off)

(Code credits : http://raceshed.com )