Turkey trots often take place right after Thanksgiving to give people a chance to burn off all the calories they consume on the food-centric holiday. But two races sponsored by the Chicago Park District at Portage Park and Rainey Park take place before Turkey Day — for a reason. Both races will give participants the chance to win a turkey or pie.
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For participants in the Portage Park trot, a 1-mile family fun run/walk in its 17th year, those who finish first and second in their age group will win a turkey. Third-place winners are awarded a pie. Plus, a turkey will be raffled off to give everybody a chance to win.
“We like to start the Turkey Trot off with the a recording of the theme from the movie ‘Rocky’ to get everyone pumped up before the race,” said Deb Groh, Portage Park’s supervisor. “We get a lot of regulars from the neighborhood, but we also get people who have never been here before who discover the park and fall in love with it.”
The sixth annual Turkey Trot at Rainey Park, in the Scottsdale/Greater Ashburn community, is a 1-mile race for ages 6 and older. The first-place winner in each division goes home with a turkey, the second- and third-place finishers will each receive a pie. Everyone gets a T-shirt emblazoned with a turkey.
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.: 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; no entry fee. Pre-registration highly recommended at the park office or online, http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com. Information, 773-685-7235.
Rainey Park, 4350 W. 79th St., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; $5 entry fee. Participants can register on-site the day of the event. 773-284-0696 or http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
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