Over 4000 people from the Bay Area, Central Valley, and across the state — some travelling from Hawaii and the East Coast — gathered at Lake Merritt on Thanksgiving Day for the ninth annual Oakland Turkey Trot.
The event primarily consists of a five-kilometer run (which is approximately 3.1 miles), but additionally features a 200-yard dash for children ages two to seven. The race also works as a community fundraiser, partnered with the Oakland Mayor’s Office, the Oakland Education Fund, the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and other local charities and organizations. Proceeds from the race go towards these groups, which altogether provide 28 million meals annually and give grants to schools for youth to participate in these races to inspire them to stay active and involved in their lifestyles and the community.
“It’s become a bit of a tradition that my family does with some of our family friends, so I always like getting to spend time with them by doing it,” Sarah Marsh, a Berkeley High School senior who has run the race four times, said.
Live music played as participants flooded through closed-off streets, many wearing Thanksgiving-themed accessories and full costumes. The race began at 8:30 a.m. and brought in runners of all ages. “Everyone starts at once … so it gets really crowded, and if you’re looking to go fast, you have to pass a lot of people before you have an easy shot,” Elena Schuetzenmeister, a BHS freshman cross-country runner who attended the trot, said.
“About when I hit the first mile, the group started thinning out … I think that’s when I was doing my best and having the most fun,” Julia Celorio Tippin, a freshman on the cross-country team who joined the race after noticing the event on a billboard near her house, said.
Bystanders, family, and friends stood along the outsides of the race, cheering on and motivating contestants with homemade signs, food, and bells.
“There were people on the sides of the course cheering for everybody who passed by,” Celorio Tippin said. “I loved how encouraging everyone was no matter what pace you run,” Schuetzenmeister added.
Even though several BHS students said they didn’t see many classmates, the race brought a general feeling of connection to the larger Bay Area community.
“I’m always surprised how many people are there,” Marsh said. “And it definitely feels like a community of people that I might not have otherwise realized was there,” she said.
Calliope Askins, a BHS junior, noted that the emcee contributed to the race’s welcoming atmosphere, stating, “The emcee was saying, ‘Everyone, turn to your neighbors, say hi, give them a high five, talk about what’s going on.’ I saw a lot of crowd participation and people who were really excited and making new friends,” she said.
Students also noticed the wide range of participants, reflecting the race’s inclusivity.
“There were very elderly people, and a bunch of children still in strollers,” Celorio Tippin said. Marsh noted that it was common for dogs to run the race. She also highlighted the race’s accessibility, noting how many participants were walking, if not running, the course.
“I hate running, but it is a nice environment,” Brooke Matthes-Davis, a BHS junior, said. This year marked the fifth time she’s run the race. Costumes were a highlight for her. “I saw a lot of people in onesies, like turkey onesies. There was this guy in an inflatable and a guy with a pool ring in the shape of a turkey. Those are always fun to see,” she said.
For some students, the race served as a personal challenge instead of a competition.
Matthes-Davis explained that she partly participates in the race because her dad does. However, she added that she enjoys the challenge. “I like to challenge myself. I don’t like running, so it’s the only time I ever run,” she said.
Askins explained that the race allowed her to make an effort without pressure so she could truly push herself. “It’s nice to get that feeling of like, ‘Wow, we earned it,’” she said, “I felt super exhausted but pretty fulfilled.”
Most students said they would return. “If I’m home from college, I definitely think I would do it again because I really like the atmosphere,” Marsh said. “We already signed up. It’s something I look forward to every year,” Schuetzenmeister said.