The St. Petersburg Times Turkey Trot in 2011 was my very first 5K. I had been working my first official “adult” desk job for a couple of years, and sitting for eight hours a day had begun to take its toll on my formerly active body. I decided to combat sitting with running and gradually worked my way from not being able to run even one mile to running a few in a row. Despite being unsure I could run a full 5K, with a little nudging from my optimistic wife I signed up for the race and gave it my best shot. I surprised myself by crossing the finish line with a proud smile on my face.
My first 3.1: done.
I immediately signed up for more races after that, and fell in love not only with running but with participating in locally organized running events. You know, the kind with a free T-shirt and maybe even a finisher’s medal. Preferably one with a built-in bottle opener.
I returned to the Turkey Trot the following year and raced it again, this time with my wife Steph and little sister Meghan. It was a great race for the nostalgia, but I had to admit: The 15,000+ crowd was suffocating and anxiety-inducing. I stepped in dog poop more than once and dodged it several other times. I found myself in traffic jams of strollers and walkers and dogs — and I am a slow runner — and it seemed every time I wanted to pick up my pace I found myself at another roadblock.
Every Thanksgiving morning since, I have gone running solo in order to avoid the crowds. An added bonus to sticking closer to home: no need to drive to the race. Also, I get to run on my favorite path: Coffee Pot Bayou in my hometown of St. Pete.
Coffee Pot Bayou is where I really learned to run. It is arguably the most beautiful place to run in St. Pete and is a part of my regular running route. Each time I pound the pavement along Coffee Pot I witness some sort of magic: Whether I see dolphins swimming, a cluster of turtles sunning themselves on a nearby dock or overhearing an inspiring conversation between fellow runners, running makes me feel better every single time I do it — even during the toughest of miles.
Running makes me feel alive in a way few other things can. My physical body is energized by movement and sweat and adrenaline. My emotional self is invigorated by soaking in my surroundings — with water, plant and animal life (and witnessing others around me appreciate it with fresh eyes too), I am constantly reminded how full of life our city is.
Local races are great, but with this year’s Turkey Trot race predicted to include nearly 20,000 participants, I am happy to stick to my own trot.
This year, North Shore Elementary — together with the City of St. Petersburg — has teamed up to combat the crowds, and the North Shore Coffee Pot Turkey Trot is a 3.1 mile race St. Petersburgers should be eager to lace up for. Though last year’s signup crowd of 500 is expected to quadruple this time around, the numbers are still comparatively small. Only service dogs are allowed, which drastically reduces your chances of stepping in shit and eases the anxious mind. And race participants still get a free T-shirt.
Gobble gobble.
Teaming up with the City of St. Petersburg as a co-sponsor is sure to add benefit to participation in the local school’s trot, and more participation and involvement are exactly what organizers are aiming for.
North Shore Elementary is a school to support. Formerly known as Coffee Pot Elementary, the school has had its doors open for nearly a century. North Shore experienced something of a renaissance, though, when administration and parents joined forces to increase emphasis on the school’s involvement within the community.
“The Coffee Pot Turkey Trot 5K is designed, in part, to raise public awareness of that success as an inspiration to other neighborhoods, that they might rally around their local school to effect similar change.” North Shore seeks “to foster an environment where neighborhood schools are seen as local assets, rather than consolation prizes for families that were unlucky in a school-choice lottery,” boasts their press release.
Sign up for the Nov. 22 North Shore Turkey Trot here — and be ready to run at 7:45 a.m.!
Working in the education field as well as being a former student of the Pinellas County public school system myself, I am thrilled to support both the school and the race. With such enriching activities as after-school drama club, Spanish club, hip-hop dance club and even yoga, North Shore works hard to stand out as an example for other neighborhood public schools.
The North Shore Elementary Coffee Pot Turkey Trot is proof of this work, and I admire organizers’ effort to increase community involvement and support for students who deserve a quality education without being forced to fight for a magnet school as their only chance of getting it.
Extra bonus: The race course takes participants along Coffee Pot Boulevard, one of St. Pete’s most magical neighborhoods and my personal favorite place to run.
So show some support for the little guys — those who still believe in the power of change. Those who fight for what they believe in. Those who show up for their students and their schools. Join their force and fit in some fitness. Go celebrate your day of thanks in one of the most beautiful cities in our sunshine state.
This Thanksgiving morning, grab your family, your friends, your loved ones and lace up before you pig out — you’re sure to witness a bit of magic, too.
This article appears in Oct 18-25, 2018.