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You won’t find gravy-flavored Gu or pumpkin-pie PowerBars this Thanksgiving, but you can still work up an appetite by running in one of the many Turkey Trots here in North Carolina. People have been participating in Turkey Day races for more than a century! The YMCA Turkey Trot in Buffalo, N.Y., widely regarded as the first Turkey Trot, celebrates its 118th running this year. It’s not just a fun event; it’s also the longest-running foot race in the United States, even older than the Boston Marathon. True “turkey trots,” however, date back to the 1700s in England, when turkeys were outfitted with little booties to protect their feet on the long journey from the countryside to the London marketplace. Keep in step with those turkeys and give thanks to your feet with a new pair of shoes from your favorite local running store this year, then check out our fourth annual Gobbler Guide below for a Turkey Trot near you!

Nov. 16

Gray’s Creek PTA Second Annual Turkey Trot and Kids’ Fun Run

Location: Hope Mills, N.C.

Distance: 5K and 1 Mile

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: http://gces.ccs.k12.nc.us

Nov. 23

Hampstead Kiwanis Park Turkey Trot

Location: Hampstead, N.C.

Distance: 8K and 2-Mile Kids’ Sprint

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: www.kiwanisclubofhampstead.org

HealthQuest Gobble Waddle

Location: Smithfield, N.C.

Distance: 10K and 5K

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: www.runtheeast.com

Hillsdale Sunrise Rotary Turkey Derby 5K

Location: Bermuda Run, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: www.active.com

Hope Mills YMCA Turkey Trot 5K

Location: Hope Mills, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: .www.ymcaofthesandhills.org

Martin Co. Turkey Trot 

Location: Williamston, NC.

Distance: 5K and 1 Mile

Start: 8:15 a.m.

Register: www.runtheeast.com

Rotary Clubs of Brunswick County 5K Turkey Trot

Location:  Shallotte, N.C.

Distance:  5K

Start:  7:30 a.m.

Register: www.sportoften.com

Nov. 24

Makin’ Room for Turkey Ride 2013

Location: Durham, N.C.

Distance: 25 and 50 Miles

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.msfits.org

Nov. 28

Asheville Turkey Trot

Location: Asheville, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8:45 a.m.

Register: www.jusrunning.com

Beau’s Buddies Turkey Trot for Tots

Location: Greenville, N.C.

Distance: 5K and 1 Mile

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.runtheeast.com

Butterball 5K

Location: Salisbury, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.theforumfitness.com

Charlotte Southpark Turkey Trot

Location: Charlotte, N.C.

Distance: 8K, 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run and 26.2-Yard Tot Trot

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.charlotteturkeytrot.com

Gallop & Gorge

Location: Carrboro, N.C.

Distance: 8K

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.sportoften.com

Gallop for the Gravy

Location: Wilmington, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.active.com

Gobbler’s Run

Location: Wake Forest, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.gobblersrun.com

Goldsboro YMCA Turkey Trot

Location: Goldsboro, N.C.

Distance: 5K and Kids’ Gobble Wobble

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.goldsboroymca.org

Greensboro Gobbler

Location: Greensboro, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.greensborogobbler.com

InsideOut Sports Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Location: Cary, N.C.

Distance: 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk, 8K and 100-Yard Kids’ Dash

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.runnc.com

Just Think First 5K and Skinny Turkey Half-Marathon

Location:  Raleigh, N.C.

Distance:  13.1 Miles and 5K

Start: 7:30 a.m.

Register:  www.fsseries.com/skinnyturkey

Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K and 10K

Location: Cornelius, N.C.

Distance: 5K and 10K

Start: 7:30 a.m.

Register: www.epicsportsmarketing.com

Mooresville/Lake Norman Turkey Trot

Location: Mooresville, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8:45 a.m.

Register: www.sportoften.com

Renaissance Center Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Location: Durham, N.C.

Distance: 8K and 1 Mile

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.sportoften.com

Ridgewood Turkey Trot

Location: Raleigh, N.C

Distance: 8K and Kids’ Dash

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.sportoften.com

Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot

Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.

Distance: 5K and Fun Run

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.clevecoymca.org/locations/ruby

Running of the Turkeys 5K Run/Walk/Stroller Jog

Location: York, S.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.sportoften.com

Turkey Dash Charlotte

Location: Charlotte, N.C.

Distance: 4 Miles and 1 Mile

Start: 8:30 a.m.

Register: www.turkeydashcharlotte.com

Turkey GOBBLE!!! 5K

Location: Franklin, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.active.com

Turkey Strut 5K

Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: www.turkeystrut.com

Twin Rivers Turkey Trot

Location: New Bern, N.C.

Distance: 5K, Dog Jog and Kids’ Dash

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.runtheeast.com

Wilkes Family YMCA Turkey Trot 5K

Location: Wilkesboro, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 8 a.m.

Register: www.wilkesymca.org

Nov. 29

Turkey Turtle Trot

Location: Bald Head Island, N.C.

Distance: 5K

Start: 9:30 a.m.

Register: www.bhic.org/turtle-trots

Nov. 30

Kids First Turkey Trot

Location: Elizabeth City, N.C.

Distance: 5K, Diaper Dash and Tot Trot

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: www.runtheeast.com

Wilmington Roadrunners Turkey Trot 4-Mile Trail Run

Location: Carolina Beach, N.C.

Distance: 4 Miles

Start: 9 a.m.

Register: www.wilmingtonroadrunners.org