A new OKC Thanksgiving tradition?
No holiday is more tradition-rich than Thanksgiving.
Another activity is trying to work its way into the traditions of folks in Oklahoma City. Even though the Oklahoma City Turkey Trot is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, it has largely been a forgotten about event. But now the 5K race is moving downtown, and organizers have plans to make it a huge deal.
One of those organizers is Jeffrey Kidder.
His name is familiar in our state’s running community because he is one of the executives with the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. He is one of the people responsible for taking the marathon to heights most folks would’ve thought impossible when it started almost a decade ago. As it prepares for its 10th anniversary next spring, it is hoping to lure nearly 30,000 participants for everything from the full marathon to the one-mile walk.
What started out as a novel idea has taken off.
Kidder wants to do the same with the Turkey Trot, and in covering the marathon over the past few years, I have learned that when folks like him decide to do something, it’s best to jump on board or risk getting passed by or worst run over.
So, when Kidder sent me a note with his personal reason for getting involved this year with the Turkey Trot, I wanted to share. Here’s some of what he had to say:
I was sitting in my OKC office the day before Thanksgiving last year when I received an email from a friend asking if I was going to run the Turkey Trot at Lake Hefner. I replied that I didn’t know for sure. I work with many other large events/races around the country. I rarely run in local events because I am usually somewhere else on any given weekend. However, I had a strange sensation about this particular race, not quite an epiphany, but a mild nudge to do something to help out in some way. …
After some quick research, I called Dorothy Herring, the race director, at Eagle Ridge Institute. … I told her I was not running the Turkey Trot and offered to help out in any way I could.
Thanksgiving morning I made the short commute over to the lake and went to the pavilion at Stars and Stripes Park. Dorothy was quite gracious and welcomed the offer to volunteer once again. She introduced me to John Mayfield, the executive director of Eagle Ridge, and we spent some time talking about the history of the Turkey Trot. Over nine years ago, they decided this would be a great way to serve the community and get the message out about the lives changed through the Eagle Ridge Institute. John spoke passionately about the phenomenal work that Eagle Ridge does with families, chemical and alcohol dependency, the elderly, and at-risk kids. I was completely unaware of the range and depth of services offered by Eagle Ridge Institute.
I began to wonder, if I didn’t know what an amazing and caring group of people make up the Eagle Ridge team, how many of the 1,000 runners assembled that morning didn’t know either? These people walk the talk. Every day they set out to change the world, one person at a time, through their love and compassion. This is what Thanksgiving is all about.
While I was standing at the start/finish line, the epiphany hit. “Most of the people in Oklahoma City don’t know this is going on. What if everyone knew? What if this became a tradition like Thanksgiving in Dallas, where 34,000 people gathered to run or walk together as a family? Or Detroit, my hometown, where nearly 25,000 gather in the Michigan cold, run their turkey trot and then attend the Thanksgiving Day parade?” Thousands more volunteer and cheer and make these events a family affair. You hear them say, “We do the Turkey Trot every Thanksgiving morning – we run a little, we give a little and we laugh a lot. It is our family tradition”
I’ve already decided to add this new tradition to my Thanksgiving. What about you? Will I see you there?
That turkey can cook a little while without you.
For more information go to www.okcturkeytrot.com.
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