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Make room for dessert: Kick off Thanksgiving Day by burning calories at the Hobbler Gobbler and Turkey Trot events
There鈥檚 just something about burning calories on Thanksgiving morning that brings people together.
For one, it eases the guilt for all the indulgences that will transpire over the remainder of the day. But for runners and walkers in Rio Rancho and sa国际传媒官网网页入口, it鈥檚 also the opportunity to support a good cause 鈥� or in this instance, causes.
Make room for dessert: Kick off Thanksgiving Day by burning calories at the Hobbler Gobbler and Turkey Trot events
The Hobbler Gobbler will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with 10K, 5K and Kids K races beginning at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center on Thanksgiving Day, while the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Turkey Trot 鈥� which launched in 2019 鈥� takes place at the Sid Cutter Pavilion at Balloon Fiesta Park with a 5K run/walk, a Little Turkey one-miler and a Tot Trot on the same day. Proceeds for the Hobbler Gobbler will benefit RunFit, which works to combat child obesity by offering running programs in schools. Meanwhile, those who sign up for the Turkey Trot will be supporting Watermelon Mountain Ranch, New Mexico鈥檚 largest no-kill animal shelter.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the whole country celebrating Thanksgiving in various ways, but that鈥檚 in the afternoon,鈥� said Alicja Konieczek, Turkey Trot event director. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 becoming so big because all these families go across the country to (visit relatives), and then they want to do something fun. And what鈥檚 better than running or walking in a fun costume among your friends and family members?鈥�
It doesn鈥檛 hurt that running or walking in a large group is very much in tune with the spirit of the season.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really that camaraderie,鈥� said Stephen Pino, Hobbler Gobbler race director and RunFit founder. 鈥溾�� And everybody can do it, and I think that鈥檚 also the plus. All ages can participate.鈥�
Pino anticipates that the Hobbler Gobbler will draw approximately 1,000 people. Participants will receive medals and T-shirts, and many that attend are decked out in Thanksgiving-themed attire such as turkey costumes or hats.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 also the other fun part about it is people kind of let loose and do fun things,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淪ome people run without a shirt even if it鈥檚 cold. So it鈥檚 kind of funny to see people doing the things they do on a fun day like that.鈥�
The Turkey Trot includes a cranberry station, where runners can recharge with a shot of juice, and a pie stop at the end, where finishers can reward themselves with bite-size pieces of pumpkin pie. There鈥檚 also a costume contest where the winner will receive a free balloon ride.
鈥淎s many pumpkin pies as we could fit on the table (last year), they all were gone in a short time,鈥� Konieczek said. 鈥淪o, yeah, this was a good hit and a surprise. And we have another surprise this year, but you have to come to check it out.鈥�
Konieczek expects as many as 2,000 people will participate in the festivities at Balloon Fiesta Park, and while entertainment is a significant factor, there鈥檚 also plenty of appeal for competitive athletes 鈥� including cash prizes for the top three male and female finishers in the 5K. Case in point: former Polish steeplechase Olympian Aneta Konieczek, Alicja Konieczek鈥檚 sister, runs the event most every year, and numerous elite college runners and local running clubs also take part.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite competitive,鈥� Konieczek said. 鈥淚f you compare the top times, we have probably the best local runners that are coming for the cash prize.
鈥�... So we get it competitive for the athletes doing some prizes and also make it fun for the people that don鈥檛 care about the time, that care about the momentum and the good vibes.鈥�
As for the Hobbler Gobbler, it鈥檚 accessible for a variety of skill levels yet still engaging enough to accomplish the primary objective.
鈥淚t鈥檚 flat, but also some moderate hills and some downhill. It鈥檚 a nice course, but it鈥檚 a doable course 鈥� meaning that it鈥檒l earn your Thanksgiving dinner,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 definitely a course that people really come back year after year to participate in knowing they not only got their money鈥檚 worth, but they got their opportunity to say, 鈥楬ey, I did what I had to do, and now it鈥檚 time to eat.鈥欌��
