Hello Turkey Trot Runners & Walkers! Thank you for joining us for the 10th Annual Calabash Turkey Trot! This is the BIGGEST Turkey Trot along the Grand Strand Area and we’re excited you’re joining us! We’re covering a lot of important information in this email such as:
- Wednesday Food Drive During Packet Pickup
- Costume Contest
- Packet Pickup Times & Info
- Raceday Parking & Schedule
- Special Info For Challenge & Virtual Participants
- Some Race Etiquette To Consider.
- A Special Surprise At The End!!
#1) Share The Calabash Turkey Trot!
We usually sell out. Don’t let your friends and family miss it! Share on your Facebook page and with your friends about the race so they can join you on Thanksgiving!
#2) Miles For Meals – 10,000 lbs In 2024!!
Check out our video on Facebook! We’ve partnered with local food banks all year to support the food insecure families in our local community. Each race they give us a specific item and we encourage participants to bring this item to our packet pickup. Every little bit helps! For the Turkey Trot, feel free to bring any non-perishable food item but they’ve specifically requested Bags of Rice. This program is really helping families in need especially around the holidays!
#3) Costume Contest:
Get started on your best costume ever. If you think running/walking a turkey trot is fun, try it in a fun costume. We once had a family make a Mayflower ship and run the entire race together IN the ship – it was epic and something I and many others will never forget. Create a really fun costume and be entered in the contest for a trophy!
#4) Packet Pickup:
It is required to run with your bib during the race and you pick this up at our packet pickup. We will host this in Calabash at the Elks from 2pm – 7pm on Wednesday 11/27. This is located at: 937 Carter Dr SW, Calabash, NC 28467. We strongly encourage you to pickup (or have your bib picked up) by a friend or family member here on Wednesday if at all possible.
– YES, you can have someone else pickup your bib for you on Wednesday.
– Bib numbers are not pre-assigned for this race so you don’t need to know your bib number when picking up your packet.
– We have a very limited emergency race day pickup option and ask if at all possible you have your bib picked up on Wednesday please.
We will welcome some of our partners and sponsors with us at the race expo. Dr. Gehrman with OrthoSC will be providing complimentary orthopedic screenings from 4:30 – 7:00pm. Be sure to stop by!
#5) Where To Park Race Day?
Use this address: 9939 Nance St, Calabash, NC 28467 – You will come from Beach Dr. down River Rd. to park! We will have volunteers and staff helping to direct you into approved parking lots. Big Thank You To: Becks, Ella’s, Calabash Fishing Fleet, Angus Steakhouse, Oyster Rock, Nance’s, Dockside, Seafood Hut, Calabash Marina, Seafood Shack, Bagel Dock, Blondiez Donuts, Grapevine, Island Vibe, Calabash Curios, Milk & Honey, Bennett’s and BSRI Thrift Shop for their support and allowing participants to park on race day!
#6) When To Park Race Day?
We encourage you to arrive 50 – 60 minutes before your race. We will park everyone as close to the start line as possible but there will be ALOT of cars to park – please come early.
NOTE: 5K & 1M runners – Unless you’re running in the 10K, you can show up about 7:20-7:30. You will come down River Rd. which will be full of 10K runners from 7am – 7:15. Also, there will be runners on the road as you arrive so please allow extra time and drive slow as you approach the race and park.
#7) What’s The Race Day Schedule?
7:00am – 10K starts
8:30am – 5K starts
9:15am – 1 Mile starts
9:30am – All awards will be given out altogether
9:30am – COSTUME CONTEST!
*After Party will be going on as everyone finishes with pumpkin pie, coffee and music!
#8) Challenge Runners – Where Do I Get My Medals?
If you are in the challenge, we don’t make you run your 2nd & 3rd races with your medals – that’d be mean.. You’ll have a bib noting that you’re in the challenge and you’ll get all of your medals in the finish line immediately following the 1 mile race.
#9) Virtual Runners:
All finisher swag is shipped to you within 2 weeks following the event. You are able to complete your virtual walk/run anywhere/anytime before or after you receive your items, this is on the honor system.
- Corral by pace is VERY important. If you’re aiming to run a sub 6-7min/mile pace – please make your way to the front. Walkers please start near the back. We will have our team and volunteers holding signs in the start corral to help organize everyone by pace. Age group awards are by “Chip Time” meaning it doesn’t start until you cross the start line. Overall & Masters awards are by “Gun Time” which is why it’s important for them to be in the front.
- Bibs are REQUIRED to be on the race course.
- We love our four-legged friends but our insurance does not allow them on course.
- If you stop to walk, pull off to the side first to avoid collisions.
- Running with headphones if fine, just be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to course signs please.
- Many of the people on your course are volunteers – please thank them.