EUGENE, Ore. — It’s a Thanksgiving staple in Eugene for years.
Level 32’s Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot kicked off Thanksgiving for more than a thousand people in the Eugene area, with family members from as far as Oregon, California and Montana.
This year saw the addition of a 10k race alongside the regular 5k.
Nearly 200 people signed up for the first 10k, with Ben Harter of Ashland coming in first place.
“I live, currently, in Ashland but I come down here every year,” Harter said. “My family still lives in Eugene, and I’ve been doing this for 12 to 14 years. I’ve gotten second a lot of years, but it feels good to get the win.”
Organized by Level 32 Racing, the event is partnered with FOOD For Lane County, collecting canned goods and donations to help out those in need.
For director James Houghton, while the race itself is always fun, the impact it has on the wider Lane County area means more to him.
“It’s amazing. The more people that show up for this race, the more it benefits FOOD For Lane County,” Houghton said. “This is the biggest event we’ve had in about five to six years. It’s great to see everyone back out. I say be a trotter, feed a family.”
By Billy Spotz and NBC16.com Staff