The Silicon Valley Turkey Trot has been a San Jose Thanksgiving tradition since 2005. Starting on Thanksgiving morning, the event offers runners and walkers of every skill level to enjoy a holiday community gathering and exercise before the Turkey feasts that follow

Founders Carl and Leslee Guardino started the Turkey Trot after seeing a similar event in 2004 with over 20,000 participants in Sacramento. The Guardinos teamed up with Bob Brownstein of Working Partnerships and Joe Pon of Applied Materials as the Title Sponsor and the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot was born.

By 2005, the SV Turkey Trot made its debut with nearly 2,000 participants with 250 volunteers, raising $132,000. Every year since the inaugural race, participation and support for the event has grown. Last year there were over 22,000 participants, 1,000 volunteers and $612,000 donated for charity.

The goal this year is to raise at least $700,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank, Housing Trust of Santa Clara County and Santa Clara County Children’s Health Initiative.

The Second Harvest Food Bank supplies food for an average of 250,000 people each month. Housing Trust of Santa Clara County’s goal is to make South Bay housing more affordable by making loans and grants for those who are trying to buy their first home. Santa Clara County Children’s Health Initiative is a nonprofit that raises money to give children health insurance.

There are eight races of various difficulty organized for the Turkey Trot. The day will begin at 6:30am with race-day packets distributed before a 7am Thanksgiving-themed costume contest. The first race of the day will be a 10k for those who are in wheelchairs beginning at 7:45am. While that race is going on, the 10k turkey trot running event will start at 7:50am. This will be followed by the 5k turkey trot run/walk starting at 8:30am. Tthere will also be a elite women’s race followed by an elite men’s race. The last race of the day will be the kid’s fun run followed by the elite race ceremony. The entire event will be over by noon, just in time for football and Thanksgiving turkey.

Registration has already started online and is $38 to sign up. It will be $42 to sign up at packet pickup on the day of the race. The children’s fun run is $10. The Turkey Trot is only open to the first 25,000 registrants. All participants will receive a commemorative long-sleeved race shirt. Visit www.svturkeytrot.com for more info.