DAVIS TURKEY TROT RETURNS AFTER 2020’S CANCELLATION
The Davis Turkey Trot returned for the first time in two years Saturday morning after being canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Several different races including a 5K, a 10K and a kids run were available for participants while vendors offering refreshments and samples were available at the finish line at Civic Center Park in Davis.
Richard Harkless has been running in the Turkey Trot for years since he attended UC Davis and hopes to participate in future races now that he lives here with his family.
“We have a six-year-old and I plan on her being a one or twomile state champion one day. That’s my plan,” he emphasized.
Harkless ran the 5K race in roughly 20 minutes, according to him, and was excited to see his daughter run during the kids race.
Ozzy Arce is also a UC Davis alumnus and has participated in a couple of Turkey Trots before. He lives in San Francisco now but enjoys going back for this event because of how “community-oriented it is.”
“Running was an outlet for me during the pandemic and this kind of allows me to continue kind of doing the thing that I enjoy to do as an escape during the day,” he highlighted. “Running with people I think energizes a lot of us, so it’s nice to be back.”
Arce noted that the additions of new races such as a twomile “dog run” seem to have increased the popularity of the event.
“People itching to get back to these community-focused events,”
He said he was running the 10k event and was hoping to be done in 50 minutes.
“The trick is being in front of the line so you get pushed by
all the people that are really good.”
Mary Yin Liu, executive director of Thriving Pink, said her nonprofit organization was at the event to support the community with
outreach and to celebrate with everyone.
“We were here the last time, and it’s just exciting to see everyone and to connect with all of our friends in the community,” she stated.
Liu noted that her organization had several dozen walkers all wearing the Thriving Pink shirt participating
in the two-mile race to get more attention from the community.
Covid protocols were in effect that requires athletes, volunteers and staff to wear masks at all times except while running. Race results were posted within two minutes of finishing the race and are available at results.changeofpace.com.