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Aspen’s first turkey trot is Thursday

Erica Robbie
The Aspen Times
Chris and Caroline Field
Jeremy Wallace/The Aspen Times |

When local Chris Field realized Aspen didn’t have its own turkey trot around Thanksgiving, he said to himself, “What the heck?”

“We’re one of the most active towns,” Field said. “I was shocked.”

For those who don’t know what a turkey trot is, it’s a fun run that takes place in various cities on or around Thanksgiving Day.



Aside from bringing people together around the holidays, turkey trots encourage calorie burning before feasting.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cities across the U.S. host turkey trots around Thanksgiving every year, Field said.




But not Aspen, he said, adding that the nearest city that hosts a turkey trot is Glenwood Springs.

On Thanksgiving 2014, Field and six of his friends from Aspen Valley Young Life decided they would change this.

The first step to bring a turkey trot to town was finding a location for the race, Field said.

Field and his friends brainstormed possible routes that would equal about 3.1 miles, which is the typical length of a 5K race, Field said.

After meeting with the city of Aspen’s special events committee, Parking Department, and Police Department, the city approved one of their three proposed locations.

“We didn’t really know how much work would go into this,” Field said.

But Field said partaking in the event is “kind of a no-brainer.”

Before you sit on the couch, eat a bunch of pumpkin pie and completely gorge yourself, come out, have some fun and support your local community.” Field said.

Aspen’s first-ever turkey trot kicks off at 9 a.m. Thursday on Aspen’s golf course.

There will be a 5k family fun run as well as a kids 1k run. Costumes are encouraged.

All of the proceeds will go to Aspen Valley Young Life.

Local grocer Clark’s Market is sponsoring the event, which will award the first place male and female runners with a Clark’s Thanksgiving turkey.

Pumpkin pies, also donated by Clark’s Market, will be given to turkey trotters at random.

“This is going to be the first of many,” Field said. “We expect them to get better and bigger every year and to get more local sponsors supporting us and getting their name out.”

To register for Aspen’s first-ever turkey trot, visit http://www.aspenturkeytrot.com.