The Creek Beat: A New Thanksgiving Tradition

Some families toss the football around on Thanksgiving Day.

Others have certain foods that are always on the holiday day.

These days some folks even shop together before stuffing themselves with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.

A different Thanksgiving tradition has started around my Walnut Creek home. One I kind of like.

For the past three years, my son-in-law Spencer Erickson and I have participated in the annual Turkey Trot in downtown Walnut Creek on Thanksgiving morning.

It's the only race I run all year. I ran competitively in high school and college. I even competed for a few years after that. Hundreds of races in all.

I don't see the need to jump into these 5Ks and 10Ks anymore.

Except on Thanksgiving morning.

Three years ago, Spencer and I did it as an excuse to take in more calories that evening.

Last year, Spencer's parents joined us and walked the course while we ran.

This year, it was just Spencer and me again in the 5K.

We don't see each other much during the race. Being half my age, Spencer finishes about five minutes ahead of me.

But we start together and he's always waiting for me at the finish.

There are a number of things I like about this tradition.

One is the personal victory of being almost 60 years old and still being able to run three miles without walking.

The other is the feeling of getting Thanksgiving Day off to a refreshing and healthy start.

But there's also something special about the Walnut Creek Turkey Trot.

There were 7,000 runners in the race this year. Yet, it still feels friendly, fun and even a little cozy.

It's still a community event. Some of the runners wear turkey hats and even turkey costumes. There's a guy who runs in a Santa outfit and still finishes in the top 50 in the 5K.

There's couples. There's families. There's co-workers running as a group.

All helping to raise money for local schools and the region's food bank.

It's an uplifting way to start the holiday with which we give thanks.

A new tradition. One I'll keep doing for awhile.