Gobble, gobble
Turkey Trot 5K in Conway is fun before feast
Maret Cahill Wicks, executive director of the United Way of Central Arkansas in Conway, never gets tired of telling her favorite Turkey Trot story.
A woman came up after the 2015 Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day and said, “Thank you, thank you,” Cahill Wicks said. The executive director was bewildered about why the woman was thanking her.
“She said, ‘You got me away from my in-laws for two hours,’” Cahill Wicks said, laughing.
Whether you like your in-laws or not, the Turkey Trot is a fun morning of fitness before the feast, Cahill Wicks said.
The fourth annual Turkey Trot 5K Family Fun Run and Walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Centennial Valley neighborhood in west Conway.
People may run or walk, and strollers, wheelchairs and people with pets are welcome.
New this year is the Gobble Wobble, a 1-mile race for children 10 and younger.
“It’ll start before the Turkey Trot; the Gobble Wobble will start at 8,” she said. “We’ll get them out and back, hopefully, within half an hour.”
Runners will take off first, followed by the other groups.
“We’re on the trajectory of seeing this could be 1,000 runners,” Cahill Wicks said. “I try to take last year’s numbers and see where we were at the same time, and it seems to be quite a bit above, … but you never know.”
Some people wait until race day to sign up, she said.
Registration is $25 for the Turkey Trot or $30 on Thanksgiving; $20 for the Gobble Wobble, or $25 the day of the event. Registration is available online at www.uwcark.org/turkey-trot.
The proceeds go to a good cause, she said — the 33 programs within 23 United Way agencies, “and four of our own programs we support with this.”
United Way agencies range from the Boys & Girls Club to the Faulkner County Council on Aging.
“Everybody gets a participation medal, and we do have prizes for the ones that place,” she said.
The weather is “normally nice — it’s cold; don’t get me wrong,” she said.
Cahill Wicks said people are encouraged to dress up in costumes, feathers or finery, and there will be a costume contest.
Last year’s winner was Ben Gruita, she said. “He was dressed up as a roller-skating T-Rex,” Cahill Wicks said, laughing. “It can be whatever you want.”
Traci Smith of Conway, a former member of the United Way of Central Arkansas board, came up with the idea to have the Turkey Trot. She had participated in a couple of those in other states and enjoyed them, so she suggested it to Cahill Wicks.
“I’m glad we jumped on that bandwagon; it’s been fun,” Cahill Wicks said.
Smith lives in the Centennial Valley subdivision, where the event takes place, and her next-door neighbor, Arkansas Sports Hall of Famer Terri Conder Johnson, is the race director.
Smith is still in charge of the “fun tent,” she said — breakfast and cocktails.
“The event grows every year, and we make things better every year based on what we learn or mistakes from the previous years,” she said. “We also focus on making it more fun for the participants and their families. We are very proud of this event, and I think people love it.”
Everyone is welcome at the event, Cahill Wicks said, inlaws included. tkeith@arkansasonline.com.