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Burn off your stuffing at a turkey trot

Turkeys usually aren't the only ones stuffed around Thanksgiving.

A few of us humans also find it necessary to maybe let our belts out a notch or two.

But in Glen Ellyn - and other places such as Addison, Roselle and Naperville - there's a way to burn off a few calories before you start digging into the mashed potatoes and gravy: the annual Turkey Trot races.

Addison gets a jump on the season with its Turkey Trot 5K that steps off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Centennial Park, 1776 W. Centennial Place. A 1-mile race for kids starts 45 minutes later.

In Glen Ellyn, Naperville and Roselle, the races all start on Thanksgiving morning.

The Naperville 5K Turkey Trot steps off at 8 a.m. Nov. 24 at Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave. The race is sponsored by the Naperville Noon Lions Club to benefit those with vision and hearing impairments and diabetes in the Naperville area. Details are available at napervilleturkeytrot.com or (630) 364-3922.

Roselle's Turkey Trot 5K also starts at 8 a.m. Nov. 24 at Lake Park High School West Campus, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. The cost is $30 and details are available at roselle5K.com or (630) 232-7275.

In Glen Ellyn, the Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. Nov. 24 at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road. This is a five-mile run, jog and walk event that's different from many others because you don't have to cross the finish line first to be one of winners.

Instead, in this "predicto"- style race, runners are asked to predict how long it will take them to finish the five miles, with those who finish closest to their predicted time winning, regardless of how fast or slow that might be.

The two men and women with the closest predictions receive a Thanksgiving-themed treat. Past prizes have included full pumpkin pies or a turkey.

"You don't have to be a great runner to win," said Courtney O'Kray, an event organizer.

The five-mile course starts at Lake Ellyn and takes runners through the heart of downtown Glen Ellyn. The race is free and no registration is necessary, but runners are asked to bring nonperishable food items that will be donated to the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry.

Last year, runners donated more than 100 pounds of food, organizers say. The pantry is looking for peanut butter and jelly; white and brown rice; pasta and spaghetti sauce; canned fruit, veggies, beans and soup; and sugar.

"It's a great way to start Thanksgiving morning," O'Kray said.

  Runners show their festive spirit at Naperville's Turkey Trot, which benefits Rotary Club charities. Some wear turkey hats while others go full turkey. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com, NOVEMBER 2015
  Several DuPage communities offer turkey trot races where runners can work off their calories before the Thanksgiving feast. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com, NOVEMBER 2015
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