It was just below freezing at start time, but that didn’t keep runners and walkers from trotting through the streets of Granville for the 20th annual Turkey Trot.
More than 2,000 people took part in the 5K run/walk, which raised money for the Food Pantry Network of Licking County and was organized by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Granville.
The event has become a holiday tradition, with families and friends running and walking together in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner and football watching later in the day.
But Aubrey Bowling, a senior at Granville High School, told The Reporting Project that it is also a lot of fun. She has run it several times before, she said.
“The environment is amazing,” Bowling said. “It’s amazing to see everybody out on the road.”
The vibe was, indeed, joyful as just before the 9:30 a.m. start time, bundled up runners and walkers stretched and chatted with friends and family.
When the run began, a gaggle of young boys and girls took off, followed by more seasoned runners, those going at their own pace, and many joggers and walkers.
After running east on East Broadway and along Newark-Granville Road, participants turned back to town at Colomen Gwen Circle.
And when they reached the corner of East Broadway and North Granger Street, the finish line was in sight.
“I see it, I see it,” a runner said.
They could hear it, too. Clapping and cheerful music begin to drown out the sounds of breathing and feet pounding the pavement.
“Almost there,” another runner said.
Eli Kretchmar and Sophie Cotts were the first-place man and first-place woman respectively.
But others were satisfied to just complete another race.
“I love it. I’m competitive, and I’m a runner,” said Micaela Vivero of Granville. “Once you’re a runner, you’re always a runner. It’s a personal challenge for me to do it every year. And I feel so energized by the experience.”
This year, she coaxed her daughter’s boyfriend, Tyler Nguyen, to join her.
“My first time,” Nguyen said. “She beat me by two whole minutes.”
Runners take off for the 20th Annual Granville Turkey Trot along E. Broadway in downtown Granville. 
Eli Kretchmar is the first runner across the finish line in the Granville Turkey Trot. 
Frank Broering and his family from Pataskala ran in Hawaiian shirts. 
A tired turkey heads toward the finish line. 
Granville Brian Walsh and Bryn Bird were among those who took part in the trot. 
Chuck Moore, executive director of the Food Pantry Network of Licking County, happily greeted runners at the finish line.
Back at St. Luke’s with event organizers, Mary Lucas-Miller said that she missed the first Granville Turkey Trot because she was having a baby – a good reason to miss – but she has been helping out every year since then.
“Denise Mack is our 20-year person,” Lucas-Miller said.
Mack said she hasn’t run in the trot because she has always been too busy working behind the scenes.
“It just feels good,” Mack said. “And it’s a nice way to start the holiday season.”
And, she added, it’s for a good cause.
That cause is the Food Pantry Network of Licking County, an organization that has felt some added pressures this year with higher food prices and the recent federal government shutdown that led to a suspension of SNAP benefits.
The food pantry distributes thousands of pounds of food every month to households facing food insecurity – more than 3,000 meals a day. It also helps soup kitchens, shelters, and after-school programs.
As thumping techno music pushed the last runners and walkers across the finish line, Food Pantry Network Executive Director Chuck Moore stood cheerfully at the finish line handing out bottles of water.
“This event will raise over $100,000 for us this year,” he said. “It ends up being about one-fifth of my budget that allows me to put food back into my community.”
As he handed out another bottle of water to a finishing runner, Moore said, ”There are over 2,000 runners out here today and about 65 dogs. It’s been a great morning!”
Jack Shuler writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.