Oceanside CA— Downtown Oceanside celebrates the 11th Annual Pacific Marine Credit Union O’side Turkey Trot on Thanksiving Day with the return of PMCU as the title sponsor, and an added senior fitness event the day before.
“Pacific Marine Credit Union is very proud to be a driving force behind what has become a healthy tradition for so many families in North County,” said PMCU CEO Bill Bernie.
The event benefits 60+ nonprofits annually, and has put Oceanside on the map nationally as a place for active families to live, work, and play, according to race director, Kathy Kinane of Kinane Events. Runner’s World Magazine named the event a “Top Trot” in the country for the past two years. This national recognition has helped attract participants from 46 states and 460 cities.
“We get people out on Thanksgiving morning to move their feet before they eat,” said Kinane. “The Trot team competition has always been very robust with families, cities, schools and businesses of all sizes competing for the bragging rights of largest team. For the non-competitive participants, we have a hilarious costume contest and a herd of local entertainers along the beautiful seaside courses.”
The O’side Turkey Trot features a 10K Harbor/Pier Run, 5K Run/Walk and multiple kids’ races. Since its inception in 2006, the event has grown from 2,200 to 10,000 participants, with the largest growth coming from baby boomers over 60 years of age.
To satisfy the interest from the active retiring population, organizers and Tri-City Medical Center have created an adjunct event, the Senior Festival of Miles, a walking/jogging race for seniors. This new event will be held on the day before Thanksgiving and will feature some of the fastest seniors in the country as well as walkers, joggers and “walkers with walkers.” Waves of seniors, divided into age groups, will start at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 2:30 p.m.
“While many will be committed to winning, others will be committed to just finishing,” said Kinane.
For more information, go to osideturkeytrot.com.
About Kinane Events
Kinane Events is an award winning Event Marketing and Management Company that specializes in outdoor events including runs, walks, bike rides, health fairs and concerts. Kinane Events has been serving Southern California since 1992 managing many of the largest participatory events in Southern California, including the Nike Run Hit Wonder, O’side Turkey Trot, Surf City USA Marathon, Santa Anita Derby Day 5k, Orange County, Los Angeles and Inland Empire Race for the Cure , Danskin Women’s Triathlon and Tour De North County. Kinane Events established the Move Your Feet Before You Eat!® Foundation in 2007 to address the exploding obesity epidemic and have contributed over $240,000 over the past 8 years to help support entities that are encouraging folks to run/walk or be active. Kinane Events can be reached at info@kinaneevents.com or call 760.434.5255