OCEANSIDE — The 15th annual O’side Turkey Trot, traditionally held every year in downtown Oceanside, is going virtual this Thanksgiving.
For 14 years, the O’side Turkey Trot has attracted thousands of participants from North County and beyond to take on its 5K competition and other running and walking challenges. In recent years, the O’side Turkey Trot has attracted more than 10,000 participants dressed in various costumes and teams representing Oceanside’s numerous non-profits and businesses.
Due to COVID-19 state and local mandates that prohibit mass gatherings, the O’side Turkey Trot cannot meet as usual.
According to Director Kathy Kinane, due to popular demand the Move Your Feet Before You Eat! Foundation decided to host a virtual Turkey Trot event this year.
The Turkey Trot encourages participants to run or walk anywhere, anytime and to post their times and photos online on the Turkey Trot’s registration page. They also encourage participants to post their trots on social media using the hashtag #osideturkeytrot.
Participants can take on the Turkey Trot and post their results anytime between Nov. 14 and 29.
Kinane said registration prices are a “record low” this year, with prices starting at $22 and capping at $48, depending on which age group a participant belongs to and which event the participant chooses.
Of that amount, $5 will go to a charity of the participant’s choice.
Those who register will also receive a finisher shirt, a medal, bib number, finisher certificate and virtual coupons.
Kinane told City Council at its Oct. 7 meeting that the O’side Turkey Trot has raised more than $370,000 for local schools and non-profit organizations over the past 14 years.
“Our team is so sad to miss the opportunity to cheer our trotters on Thanksgiving morning, but we will be offering some really fun RaceJoy messaging to trotters during their virtual trot,” Kinane said.
RaceJoy is an interactive app that tracks a runner or walker’s time via GPS. Trotters can download the app and use it during their own personal trot.
