Fox Valley runners have pick of Thanksgiving races

Ÿ The Fox River Trail Runners and Batavia Accelerators will host the 15th annual Fox and Turkey 4 Mile and Youth Mile Race Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24. The Youth Mile starts at 8 a. m. and the Four Miler at 9 a.m. Neither race is a predictor race.

The race headquarters is Peg Bond Center, 151 Island Ave., Batavia. Online registration is available at www.frtr.org until Monday, Nov. 21. Race day registration is from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Peg Bond Center. More race information can be gathered at www.frtr.org.

Race fees for the Four Miler are $30 through Nov. 21 and $35 until and during race day. The Youth Mile fees are $20 through Nov. 21 and $25 until and during race day. Fox River Trail Runners and Batavia Accelerator members who register in advance receive a $5 discount.

The Fox and Turkey races are a Thanksgiving season tradition. The races are run along the scenic west side of the Fox River south from River West. The youth mile uses the first half-mile of the four-mile course.

This is a food drive event to benefit the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry. Runners and spectators are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the food pantry.

In 2010, the organizers raised more than $1,400 in cash donations and hundreds of pounds of food for the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry.

The four-miler awards are two-dozen frozen turkeys randomly awarded to finishers. Awards for the top three overall male and female winners, and the top three male and female in 13 age groups.

For information on the Fox River Trail Runners, visit www.foxrivertrailrunners.org. For details on Batavia Accelerators Youth Track Club, visit www.bataviaaccelerators.org.

Ÿ The Life Time Fitness Run Club is hosting the eighth annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24.

All proceeds go to benefit the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Food Pantry. Donations of $10 or equal value of nonperishable food items is requested.

Registration will be from 7:15 to 7:50 a.m. The race will start at 8 a.m. from Life Time Fitness, 451 Rolls Road in Algonquin. Runners don't need to be members of Life Time to participate. For details, call (847) 458-6200 or visit lifetimefitness.com.

Ÿ The Hillstriders Running Club will hold its annual Thanksgiving Day 5K Race on Thursday, Nov. 24, at Lippold Park, off Route 176 in Crystal Lake. It will start at 8 a.m. sharp, rain or shine.

It is a 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) certified course with markers every half mile, over flat and mostly crushed limestone.

In order to participate in this event all runners and walkers must complete and sign the form available at www.hillstriders.com. The entry fee will be voluntary nonperishable food items or monetary donations will be collected at the race and donated to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry.

There will be $50 gift certificates for the first-place male and female finishers provided by the The Running Depot.

Registration will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 at The Running Depot, 30-E. N. Williams St. in Crystal Lake; or on race day from 6 to 7:30 a.m. at Lippold Park.