Holiday runners are waving their waddles and fluffing their feathers for the eighth annual Seattle Turkey Trot, a 5 K fun-run or walk with all proceeds benefiting the Ballard Food Bank.

Last year over 2,500 trotters traversed the course and raised over $90,000.

“I think it's amazing commitment and show how much this community cares and comes together to celebrate Thanksgiving Day by helping others and really showing that this event is important and a great way to end hungry,“ said Jen Muzia Executive Director of the Ballard Food Bank.

“Birds of a feather flock together ” just like last year, and the local cross country team members from Ingraham High School, Patrick and Kirby McDermott, will lead the Trot dressed as the holiday’s iconic bird.

“I think community is essential to the Food Bank and for people to come out and run and give thanks for what we have is amazing. We can’t do what we do without all the volunteers, bakeries and groceries stores and all the wonderful people that help make the food bank run (no pun intended).”

This year organizers are trying to increase migration by 500 runners. The run takes place Thanksgiving morning (November 27) starting at 9:00 a.m.
Indeed, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” and so the organizers are sticking with the same course: The start is at 32nd Avenue NW and NW 85th Street, in the Sunset Hill neighborhood of Ballard, and ends in Golden Gardens Park.

After last year, Erin MacDonald -- Development Associate at the Ballard Food Bank -- said it was the biggest run ever, growing by around 500 people. “Every year the numbers keep going up, and I think it’s becoming more of a community staple,” said MacDonald

“Fine feathers make fine birds,” and runners are encouraged to wear costumes adorned with their finest holiday feathers.

“The work we do at the Ballard Food Bank is a community effort. The Turkey Trot is a great way for all of us to come together as we run, walk or trot for hunger. It’s also a fun event to kick-off Thanksgiving with friends and family,” said Muzia.

Ballardites Erin Fortier, Matt Ramme and John O’Brien hatched the Turkey Trot nine years ago after running in the Portland Turkey Trot. At the time there was nothing like it in Seattle.

“In my family it was a tradition to go for a run on Thanksgiving morning,” says Fortier. “It was a way to spend time with family on the holidays and feel better about all the food we’d be eating for the rest of the day.”

The three were just chicks when it came to planning a 5K run, but their feathers never ruffled. They sent invites, rustled turkey gobbles and clucks and 50 runners heard the call the first year.

“Everyone had a great time,” said Ramme, “we saw great potential to expand the event.”

The three nested a new way for the community to give thanks every year.

“It really is a grass roots event that could not have had more support from the Ballard community,” said MacDonald.

So why the Ballard Food Bank?

“During Thanksgiving, people spend a lot of time thinking about food. We want to raise money for those in our community who are helping the hungry,” says Ramme, “We chose the Ballard Food Bank because it is a local Ballard non-profit and people can connect the run with a nearby organization.”

For more information contact, Erin MacDonald at development@ballardfoodbank.org or 206-789-7800.

About the Seattle Turkey Trot: www.seattleturkeytrot.org/