On Thanksgiving morning Nov. 28, the St. Giles Family Mass Community Turkey Trot will transform the streets of Oak Park into a celebration of community and the giving of thanks.
The St. Giles Family Mass Community has hosted a Thanksgiving Day trot for nearly 44 years, starting as a small run through Oak Park. The event has grown in popularity, with families now participating in both running and walking.
Proceeds from this year’s event will support Companions Journeying Together, which aids families affected by incarceration, and the Migrant Ministry of the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park, which supports arriving migrants with essentials, social services and housing, while providing mentorship to help families settle in their new community.
“For the last ten years or so, we’ve been raising around $4,000 to $5,000, which we split between charities that we believe in and would like to support,” said Jack Lesniak, who has directed the trot for more than 30 years.
The trot begins at St. Giles Gym on Linden Street with participants stepping off at 9:30 a.m. The route loops through several neighborhood streets before finishing back at St. Giles Gym.
The course is about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) long, but it is not officially certified, unless the odometer of a classic 1967 Chevy is considered valid.
“We call it a trot because it’s more of a family event than a competitive one.” Said Lesniak. “The distance isn’t certified – it’s roughly a 5K, measured using a car’s odometer. It’s more of a social event. We’re not pushing anything; we’re just trying to get families together and make Thanksgiving kind of fun in the morning.”
The core organizing team for the event is Lesniak’s family, including his wife and two sons. On race day, they coordinate around 60 community volunteers, many of whom have been involved for years.
This year, Lesniak invested in a finish line computer timing system and additional signage to improve the race experience. Due to past issues with providing finish times and awarding age group prizes promptly, Lesniak is seeking major sponsors to help cover the costs of these enhancements.
“Over the last four or five years, my two sons have helped bring us into the 21st century by getting things a bit more computerized. It all used to be done by hand –
scoring, timing, and all that. Now, this year, we’re aiming to have at least some of the timing done digitally,” Lesniak said.
After the race, participants are given donuts, oranges, bananas, water, coffee and hot chocolate.
Awards for the event will be handed out at the finish line instead of through an official ceremony, with 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place male and female finishers receiving a medal. Additionally, each of the top three finishers in each age division, male and female, will receive a ribbon commemorating their age division placement. All finishers must check in at the awards table with their finishing time to receive their award ribbon.
Pre-ordered t-shirts and race bibs for registered runners and walkers can be picked up at St. Giles Gym, 1034 Linden, Oak Park, Illinois, on Nov. 27 from 4 p.m.to 6 p.m. and on race day from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
To register for the trot go to https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/OakPark/SGFMCKTurkeyTrot