Community impact and family-friendly atmosphere attracts big crowds to North County
OCEANSIDE, Calif. – The O’side Turkey Trot, San Diego County’s largest Thanksgiving Day running event, returned for another year of festivities and fundraising. The trot drew nearly 8,000 participants and 300 volunteers this year, making it one of the largest races in the nation. The event is also a major fundraiser for the community, bringing in an estimated $20,000 this year. Funds will be donated to local causes by the Move Your Feet Before You Eat®! Foundation. Over the event’s 18 years of trotting, it has donated close to $500,000 back to the community.
Participants had their choice of 5K and five-mile distances, as well as the option to double down and take on both courses. The O’Side Turkey Trot welcomes all paces, drawing competitive athletes, recreational runners and walkers to the beachside community on Thanksgiving Day.
Kellyn Taylor took the top spot for the women in both the five-miler and the 5K, with times of 27:08 and 16:13 respectively.
In the five-mile run, Austin Ledgerwood won the men’s division with a time of 25:52. Top Oceanside locals in the five-mile event were Okwaro Raura with a time of 26:47 and Lily Gross with a time of 30:34.
In the 5K event, Tim Hendricks took first place in the men’s race with a time of 14:36. The first Oceanside residents across the line in the 5K were Jesus Villarreal with a time of 15:34 and Lindsey Billotte with a time of 18:22.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better first year of putting on this iconic event,” said Eric Marenburg, Chief Running Officer and Co-Founder of San Diego Running Co. “The participants, spectators, and everyone else involved in the Trot made it such an incredible experience. There is so much more to the O’side Turkey Trot than the race itself, and that’s what makes it such a special event for the community members and everyone who comes from out of town to get in on the fun!”
The Trot also featured a costume contest and the largest teams competition. Earlier in the week, the event hosted a shakeout run for trotters taking part in any Thanksgiving running event and welcomes thousands to the expo at the Junior Seau Beach Community Center to pick up their bibs and event gear.
The 2024 O’side Turkey Trot will take place Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. To register and for more information on the O’side Turkey Trot, visit www.osideturkeytrot.com. Follow the event on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About San Diego Running Co.
San Diego Running Co. is an experience company dedicated to bringing the community together through unique, memorable events that tell a story and empower people to get out and enjoy new experiences. They produce well-known events in America’s Finest City and all over
San Diego County, including the Pacific Beach Half Marathon & 5K, O’side Turkey Trot, the San
Diego Santa Run and more. For more information, visit www.sandiegorunningco.com and follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
