Shannon Canning, a 41-year-old, stay-at-home mother of two, said she enjoys getting out with her family and celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday in a not so traditional way.
Canning said she and her family took part in the turkey trot, put on by the West Texas Running Club, for their second time.
While Canning’s oldest daughter, Mattie, 10, ran the two-miler last year, this was Bella’s, 7, first run with her family.
Canning said her daughters are involved in a running club at Roscoe Wilson Elementary School doing one to two-mile runs to help them get ready for the two-miler race.
She said she prepares for the 12k race by running up to four times a week with a motivational friend.
Her husband is a cyclist, so he is not running, Canning said, but he will be there on his bike following and cheering them on during the race.
While the Canning’s may not have family close by, they are celebrating three Thanksgiving meals with similar families in Tech Terrance, she said, so running this race means they can enjoy and eat what they want later.
Most people would not think of running on Thanksgiving. Terry Dalton, the race director for the West Texas Running Club, thinks differently. He said for many families this is a tradition.
Dalton said he has been the race director for the past five years and said with over 1,000 participants, this is the biggest turkey trot he has seen yet.
He said many people are looking for a way to get together enjoy the holidays while in the process of getting some exercise. This way they can enjoy their Thanksgiving meal later with a little less guilt.
There are two races, a 12k and a two-mile run, Dalton said, with people coming to run the race from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska.
“This is the biggest race the West Texas Running Club puts on,” he said. “It requires at least 70 volunteers.”
Dalton said the race was hosted by the Bayer Museum of Agriculture and the runner’s entry fees go to the South Plains Food Bank to help feed families in need.
“Next month’s race is to help the Marine Core’s Toys for Tots,” he said. “It is being held the second Saturday in December at the Mae Simmons Center in Lubbock.”
About Tyler McDaniel
