Running a race for charity is a great way to practice running away from an angry grizzly bear or toward a charismatic mountain lion. Keep pace with nature with today's Groupon: for $20, you get registration to the 2010 Long Beach Turkey Trot (a $30 value before November 13, a $35 value November 13–23, and a $40 value after November 23), which begins and ends at the Belmont Olympic Pool in Long Beach on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25.
Traversing the scenic expanses of the beach bike path, the Long Beach Turkey Trot allows the fleet of foot and big of heart to kick off their Thanksgiving with a pulse-raising run or walk benefiting the nonprofit Community Action Team. Two distances (5K and 10K) and four start times (7:30, 8:30, or 10:30 a.m. for the 5K; 7:30, 8:30, or 9:30 for the 10K) allow you to choose your own pavement-pounding adventure, and cotton event T-shirts and personalized bibs ensure no one runs totally nude. Four hundred random runners will receive free holiday pies, while everyone else can replenish their precious calories at the race with finish-line snacks or at home with their own gravy, stuffing, and cornucopias full of hot fudge and gummy bears. All entrants must sign a waiver before participating.
Reviews
OC Weekly and Everything Long Beach featured the Turkey Trot.