By Stephanie Starks | Staff Writer
Before Baylor students head home for Thanksgiving break, Baylor Health Services is inviting them to lace up their running shoes and get moving at its third annual Turkey Trot.
The 5K race will take place Saturday in front of the Student Life Center, offering students an opportunity to exercise, spend time with friends and celebrate the upcoming holiday.
Turkey trots are running events traditionally held on or around Thanksgiving Day, bringing friends and families together through physical activity.
According to RaceNearMe, Texas has 131 turkey trots scheduled for 2026, accounting for 6.7% of the 1,944 races nationwide. Last year, 49,104 runners participated in turkey trots across Texas.
Uriah Yarbrough, outreach coordinator for Baylor Health Services, said the event gives students and Waco residents a chance to connect through physical activity.
“The Baylor community and the Waco community are so closely intertwined,” Yarbrough said. “[The Turkey Trot] is not only a means for physical activity, but a means for fellowship.”
Running a 5K engages several muscle groups, including those in the hips, back and shoulders, while also providing cardiovascular exercise.
“[Runners] will get to burn some calories, but it is also good to get the body moving and going,” he said. “Not only that, we got Thanksgiving coming up. We got to burn all those calories off to put all the calories on.”
In addition to the race, Health Services will offer a Thanksgiving-themed face-painting station where students can get “battle ready” or enjoy time with friends.
“I feel like sometimes college students get caught up in studying and forget to take care of their health, which includes nutrition, proper diet and exercise,” Kunz said. “Exercise is super important and should not be forgotten.”
Kunz encouraged students to participate in the race, emphasizing that the event is also an opportunity to have fun.
Virginia Castile, a registered nurse at Baylor Health Services, said students should consider participating for the social experience, regardless of their running abilities.
Castile said students do not have to be experienced runners to enjoy the event.
“It gives a taste of being physically active,” she said. “It does not have to look a certain way. Whether people are walking or running, it will be a good experience.”
While not every student enjoys running, some appreciate the effort that goes into participating.
San Diego freshman Ariana Lemkuil said she is not a runner herself but respects those who take part in Turkey Trots.
“I find it extremely challenging to do [running] in general,” Lemkuil said. “Especially long-distance races like Turkey Trots. I think that it is great.”
For Greenville, South Carolina, freshman Ruth Butcher, turkey trots have long been a family Thanksgiving tradition.
Butcher recalled waking up early on Thanksgiving morning instead of sleeping in because her family was a “Turkey Trot family.”
“We would get up early, and run a 5k,” Butcher said. “Then we would stuff ourselves and lay on the couch the rest of the day.”
Butcher said participating in the race gave her family a chance to exercise before spending the rest of the holiday relaxing together.
“The rest of the day was allowed to be whatever we want because we got our exercise in for the day,” she said.
Although running is not always enjoyable in the moment, Butcher said the experience is rewarding afterward, describing turkey trotting as “type 2 fun.”
“When you look back on it, you are like ‘Wow, I did enjoy doing that,'” she said. “While you are doing it, it’s maybe less fun.”
