From turkey trots to mash potato miles, and even gobbler hobblers, every November, Thanksgiving themed races return, giving runners a chance to log some miles before diving into their Thanksgiving feasts.

However, at East, opinions on these races are split.

Junior, Avery Beetles is a track and cross country athlete at East, however, she isn’t convinced Thanksgiving should involve running and takes a firm stance against these races.

“Thanksgiving should be spent relaxing and eating food and spending time with your family, not out running,” Beetles said. “I know that I’m a runner but honestly, running kind of sucks, I don’t like turkey trots.”

On the other side of the debate are Molly Haye and Olivia Coffin, who both participated in the Gobbler Hobbler 10K on Nov. 9 at Fox Chase Elementary school, alongside some of their friends and family.

For senior Molly Haye, the decision was about movement and mindset.

“I just wanted to get out of the house and get active,” Haye said. “It felt good to start the day doing something healthy.”

However, senior Olivia Coffin participated for the fun and the memories that come with a race like this.

“I did it for fun,” Coffin said. “Running with Molly and Ruby made it way more enjoyable, my favorite memory was crossing the finish line with everyone.”

In the end, whether students decide to spend Thanksgiving morning participating in these races or sleeping in, the debate shows how Thanksgiving traditions differ within the East community. For some, it’s a reason to run and for others it’s a reason to rest. Both approaches are a part of what makes the holiday meaningful.

Written by junior Michelle Wannah. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.