'Trot Off Your Turkey' at Starting Line

A Barrington road race that has become part family reunion and part homecoming will be be held this year on the same day it always runs -- the Saturday after Thanksgiving, or Nov. 24 this year.

"We have close to 1,000 runners each year," said Denise Languirand, a new co-chair with Anne Lyden of the 13th annual Trot Off Your Turkey 5K and 1.5 Mile Run/Walk. "It will be very much like the same race as in the past."

Pre-registration prices continue through Nov. 19, Languirand said. Click here to go to the race website.

"You can run for $18 through Monday," she said. The price goes up to $25 after Nov. 19.

The event was started in 1999 by two Barrington moms, Jill Bogdanovic and Lynne Dolan, as a way to welcome St Luke’s School alumni back to the community at Thanksgiving. It annually raises funds for St Luke’s School, and much-needed food for families within the community, said Languirand.

Entry fees for the road race go to support the non-profit school, and participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, which are donated to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Those food items are then distributed to local families in need via TAP-IN, the charitable organization located in the lower level of the Barrington library.

There is also a food bank raffle with 50 prizes donated by St. Luke's families and sponsors.

“TAP-IN needs to restock its shelves after Thanksgiving," Languirand said.

Every non-perishable food item donated earns the donor a raffle ticket, and TAP-IN will be on hand to sell more raffle tickets for the array of gift baskets and holiday items that participants could win. St Luke’s School supplies the raffle items, and proceeds from the ticket sales also go to benefit TAP-IN.

The race and walk are open to everyone of all shapes and sizes and abilities, said Languirand. But it is a very competitive race as well.

"The Rhode Island Roadrunners and Ronald McDonald House have selected this race to be one of their 'grand prix' and 'challenge' events, respectively," she said. "That's quite a kudo for the race."

Runners and walkers have come from dozens of states and as far away as Canada and even Europe in past years.

Major sponsors this year include Navigant Credit Union, Fuel Belt, Jaffe Orthodontics, Coleman Realtors, Lisa Daft DMD & Associates and the Dunkin' Donuts stores in Barrington, Warren and Bristol, which donate all the doughnuts, Languirand said.