Saratoga News
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For healthy Thanksgiving Day, plan to trot first and eat later
By Jason Sweeney
If you want that extra slice of pie but not the extra pounds, the second annual Silicon Valley Turkey Trot in San Jose might be the answer.
"It's a fun and healthy way to enjoy ourselves while giving back to the community," Los Gatos resident Carl Guardino said. "It's the perfect excuse for a second slice of pie."
Guardino and his wife are fitness buffs who participate in Ironman competitions. One Thanksgiving morning two years ago, Guardino learned about the Sacramento Turkey Trot and wondered why Silicon Valley didn't have one of its own.
"We're twice the population. We're at least as generous. But we really didn't have something like that around the holidays," he said. "We thought someone should do that in Silicon Valley."
As president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Guardino put the wheels in motion, and now Silicon Valley has its own Turkey Trot. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1978 by David Packard with the goal of making the valley a better place to live. The Silicon Valley Turkey Trot is working toward that goal, Guardino explained.
Guardino said with 40 percent of children across the country overweight, a community fun run, is a great way to encourage fitness, as well as raise money for the over-stretched budgets of local nonprofits.
The Silicon Valley Turkey Trot begins at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 23 at Confluence Park East between Autumn Street and Highway 87 in downtown San Jose. The Turkey Trot includes races for different age groups and fitness levels. Toddlers as young as 2 can participate in a 100-yard run. Elite runners will compete in a 10K run with a $5,000 first place prize. If a national record is broken in that race, a $5,000 bonus will be awarded. Julius Achon, a two-time Olympian from Uganda, will be one of the competitors in the elite race.
"The Kids' Fun Run is the highlight of the day," Guardino said. His daughter, Jessica, who just turned 2, will be one of the runners.
A CEO/Celebrity Charity Challenge 5K Run and a Quickest Cop/Fastest Firefighter 5K competition are other highlights.
Los Gatos resident Karen Brodine and her family will be running in the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. Her husband, Jeff, is a marathon runner who works for Applied Materials, which is the presenting sponsor for the event. The Brodines' two boys, Nick, 9, and Taylor, 7, are no strangers to Turkey Trots. They ran in the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot last year, and in a Turkey Trot outside of Chicago two years ago. They also ran in the Lexington Elementary School Turkey Trot on Nov. 17.
"They are really jazzed about running," Karen Brodine said. "We spend a lot of time outdoors and enjoy physical fitness. I love staying fit and helping my family do so."
A registration fee of $10 for children and $30 for adults can be paid online at www.svlg.net. The fee for adults bumps up to $35 on race day.
Funds raised from the event will go to the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation, the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County.
"We're really thrilled," said Second Harvest Food Bank communications manager Lynn Crocker, whose organization provides food to people in need in the valley. "We couldn't raise the money and food we need without the help."
Second Harvest's goal is to raise $4 million this holiday season, Crocker said. "This race really helps us meet that goal."
Last year, nearly 2,000 people and 240 volunteers participated in the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, and $132,000 was raised for charity, Guardino said. The goal this year is for 3,000 participants, 250 volunteers and $200,000 raised for charity after expenses.
For more information or to register for the Turkey Trot, visit www.svlg.net and click on 'Events.'
