Turkey Runs Kids Through Fat-Fighting Obstacle Course

Kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley are getting into gear for the annual Dana Point Turkey Trot. Thursday, a turkey helped remind them.

Each week until Thanksgiving, the club's members will run one mile. They're preparing for the Kids’ Gobble Wobble to be held Thanksgiving morning.

On Thursday, about 150 kids ran obstacle courses with Drumstick, the Turkey Trot mascot, while their parents got a lesson in good health.

Here's more from the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley:

On Thursday, three Orange County organizations came together to support National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley (BGCCV), the Dana Point Turkey Trot and Moms in Charge hosted an afternoon of obstacle course training and nutritional education for South Orange County families at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

Over the next eight weeks, members of the BGCCV will run one mile per week, leading up to the one-mile Kids’ Gobble Wobble portion of the Dana Point Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. Thursday’s event kicked-off the training program with more than 150 children in attendance. Drumstick, the Turkey Trot mascot, led kids in a fun obstacle course while their parents were educated on healthy and affordable food options by Mom’s In Charge, a local organization working to educate parents on proper nutrition for kids. 

“The Dana Point Turkey Trot is a longtime tradition for thousands of Orange County families,” said Heather Johnston, Executive Director of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce. “We always want to encourage kids to live healthy and active lifestyles especially this month in support of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. We want local families to get active together, so we are offering free registration to kids who sign up with their parents this weekend.”

According the American Heart Association, 12.7 million children are considered obese. Among them, 14.7% are Hispanic and 10.3% are Caucasian – the two most prominent ethnicities among BGCCV members. With 58% of BGCCV members being Hispanic and 35% being Caucasian, the BGCCV wants to make every effort to prevent and fight childhood obesity in their members. The Gobble Wobble training program is an example of how the BGCCV works toward making a healthy and active lifestyle seem fun and attainable to both kids and their parents.

“Our kids are excited to be a part of the Gobble Wobble this year and we look forward to seeing their progress over the next eight weeks,” said Jim Salvia, Athletic Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

All kids can register for free for the Gobble Wobble portion of the Dana Point Turkey Trot between Thursday, September 26th and Monday, September 30th when they register with an adult. To take advantage of the BOGO offer, go to http://danapointturkeytrot-webearlybird.eventbrite.com.

Now in its 36th year, the Dana Point Turkey Trot has been named one of America’s best Thanksgiving Day runs by Fitness Magazine. An Orange County tradition with more than 16,000 runners, walkers, volunteers, spectators, sponsors and vendors, the course runs through the scenic and picturesque Dana Point Harbor and Doheny State Beach. Running USA said the Dana Point Turkey Trot is the ninth largest Thanksgiving Day race in the nation, and the second largest in California. The race offers walkers and runners a 10k, 5k, Kids’ Gobble Wobble, and a two-day health and wellness expo. For more information about the 36th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot, visit http://www.turkeytrot.com.