By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–Over 8,300 participants, some donning Thanksgiving-themed costumes, kicked off their Thanksgiving holiday at the 19th O’side Turkey Trot on Thursday in downtown Oceanside.
For the second year, San Diego Running Co. produced the race, which took runners down the classic 5K course while adding the option for daring runners to “Double Dip” by completing the course for a second time back-to-back.
The beloved event attracted participants from San Diego County, 5 countries, 44 states, and nearly 500 cities across the U.S.
“You really can’t beat spending Thanksgiving by the beautiful Pacific Ocean and under the palm trees. For both locals and visitors, the O’side Turkey Trot offers a classic California holiday experience that you just can’t get anywhere else,” said Eric Marenburg, chief running officer and co-founder of San Diego Running Co. “It warms our team’s hearts to see the families, friends, and coworkers who have made this an annual tradition.
While participants ran and walked to the finish line, competitive runners turned out to race for top spots.
Tim Hendricks, the men’s 5K champion, completed the 3.1 miles in 14:09. Coming in after Hendricks was the men’s 5K second-place finisher, Evan Franco. Sean Caster took the third-place spot. The women’s 5K course was led by Anna Pasternak, who finished with 16:28. The second and third-place finishers for the women’s 5K were Phoebe Massey and Isabel Gladden.
Those who took part in the Double Dip challenge also completed a 5K earlier in the morning on the same course. Top finishes in the early wave were Francisco Varela in the men’s division with a time of 15:00 and Meriah Earle in the women’s division with a time of 16:48.
The largest team competition was the San Diego Waves XTC, which brought out over 52 people to complete the race. The top five largest teams with over 20 members received $100 gift certificates.
Participants began their experience at the O’side Turkey Trot Health and Fitness Expo, where they picked up their shirts and race numbers.
On race day, runners enjoyed a scenic course that started on Pacific Coast Highway and ended behind the amphitheater on the strand in Oceanside. Runners, walkers, and trotters of all ages and paces took in water views and ocean breeze on their way to the Double Dip challenge and took home three medals, one for each race and a third one-of-a-kind Double Dip medal.
The O’side Turkey Trot partnered with the Move Your Feet Before You Eat! foundation. The Carlsbad-based organization was created to promote health and well-being through incorporating regular physical fitness into daily life. They donate to local schools and nonprofits that encourage physical activity. To date, the event has raised over $500,000 for nonprofits that serve North County residents.
