A decade of ‘Turkey Trot’
COC Athletic Department preps for annual event
For the 10th year in a row, College of the Canyons has invited residents of all ages to join the school’s athletic department in their Thanksgiving Day “Turkey Trot.”
“We started doing this 10 years ago, because at that time there was no 5K races or other Turkey Trots on Thanksgiving,” said Lindie Kane, the COC cross-country and track and field coach. “It started out with just our friends and family coming together, but now we see even our local runners, college students home from school and nearby Santa Clarita youth groups come out and participate.”
Following in the tradition of previous years, the 3-mile run takes participants on a tour throughout the area surrounding COC, according to event organizers.
“We start at the base of the stadium, run a mile through the campus and then around what we call the ‘freeway loop,’ with that killer hill next to the I-5,” said Kane. “And then the run ends back at the stadium.”
The event registration is scheduled to take place at the finish line on the day of the event, and all runners receive a race T-shirt and a race medal. The overall winners of both the men and women races will also receive plaques this year, Kane said.
This year’s entrance fee is $20 at the time of registration.
“We keep this going every year and it really helps us afford all our uniforms, equipment and travel expenses; basically anything above and beyond our normal budget,” said Kane.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
“It’s just a good way to meet up with friends and family, support the program, burn some calories and then go home to feast and give thanks,” said Kane.
For more information about the event, visit the 10th annual Thanksgiving Day “Turkey Trot” official webpage at cocathletics.com, or call the COC cross country and track and field head coach Lindie Kane at 661-755-8162.