Turkey Trots in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia

This holiday season join friends, family, co-workers and neighbors and participate in one of the Turkey Trots in Washington, DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia. Some are for charity, some are just for fun. All will help you burn a few calories before the big Thanksgiving feast! Here is the 2009 schedule of Turkey Trots, Runs and Races:

In Washington, DC

Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger
November 26, 2009, 8:00 a.m. West Potomac Park, Washington, DC. Sponsored by SOME (So Others Might Eat) with Honorary Chair Mayor Adrian Fenty, this popular 5K fun run and family walk benefits programs for the homeless, and helps SOME to serve more than 800 meals to the hungry every day of the year.

In Maryland

Turkey Chase Bethesda–Chevy Chase YMCA
November 26, 2009, 8:30 a.m. 9401 Old Georgetown Rd. Bethesda, Maryland (301) 440-1854. 10K Race and 2 mile Fun Run. Every Thanksgiving for the past 25 years, thousands of runners have gathered in Bethesda to run in the Turkey Chase in support of the YMCA's Youth and Family Services, YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club Foundation.

In Northern Virginia

Alexandria Turkey Trot
November 26, 2009, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cora Kelly School, 3600 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria, Virginia. DC Road Runners Club, a local group affiliated with USA Track & Field, sponsors an annual race on Thanksgiving Day. Food donations support ALIVE!, a nonprofit organization serving Alexandria's needy.

Cranberry Crawl 5K/10K Run and Race Walk
November 21, 2009, 8:30 a.m. Belle Haven Park & Marina, 1201 Belle Haven Rd., Alexandria, Virginia (703) 481-3530. The annual turkey trot is sponsored by Potomac Valley Track Club.

Freeze Your Gizzard 5K Cross Country Race
November 21, 2009, 9 a.m. Ida Lee Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Dr., Leesburg, Virginia (703) 777-1368. Food donations will benefit Loudoun Interfaith Relief, the largest food pantry in Loudoun County and an organization providing support to homeless shelters, low-income senior citizen housing centers and after school programs for at-risk children.

Herndon Turkey Trot 5K
November 21, 2009, 4 p.m. Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave., Herndon; (703) 435-6800. A turkey and all the trimmings awarded to the overall male and female winners.