Over 1,200 Runners Race in 3rd Annual Turkey Trot

By FRANCES SHARPE | Editor-in-Chief

On a clear and crisp Thanksgiving morning, over 1,200 runners hit the road to burn some calories and enjoy a little family fun at the 3rd Annual Banc of California Turkey Trot Pacific Palisades to benefit Hearts with Hope.

In addition to the 5K, this year’s race featured a 10K, starting at Palisades Charter High School’s Stadium by the Sea, winding its way up and down Temescal Canyon Road and through the streets of the El Medio Bluffs neighborhood and finishing back on the football field.

Palisadian David Houston, who is one of the event organizers, was decked out in a head-to-toe turkey costume and rode the “Vespa pace scooter” to lead the runners throughout the picturesque course.

When asked for a quote, Houston told the Palisadian-Post, “Gobble, gobble, gobble!”  (Translation: “We’re so happy to see all our neighbors and friends here today and thankful to live in the Palisades.”) 

Houston organizes the event each year with his wife Dawn Umemoto and fellow Palisadian David O’Connell.

“What a great way to start your holiday,” O’Connell said.

“We’re so grateful to everyone who came out today to run and support this great cause and we’re thankful to all our sponsors who helped make this event possible.”

The Post is proud to be the media sponsor for the event for the third year in a row. Throughout the morning, the Post passed out reusable canvas shopping bags featuring a cartoon map of Pacific Palisades and let runners take selfies wearing Thanksgiving-inspired masks in front of a Turkey Trot backdrop.

Runners of all ages and abilities took part in the festive affair, including some local star power as Riviera residents Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner did the race with their kids.

For some residents, the annual event has quickly become a tradition. Sue Kohl, who lives in the Alphabet Streets, said she’s been participating in the run since its debut.

“I love seeing people wearing turkey hats and seeing all the smiles on all the faces. It’s a lot of fun,” Kohl said.

For Howard Kern, who lives along the race route in the El Medio Bluffs, the location made it easy to participate.

“How could I not run when it’s in my own neighborhood?” Kern asked.

Another El Medio Bluffs resident, Mandy Favaloro, did the race with five of her friends. “We decided as a group to do the Turkey Trot before we started cooking,” she said.

Favaloro’s favorite part of the race?

“The views from the bluffs are incredible. We got lots of good selfies,” she said.

Several other people mentioned the awe-inspiring views along the Asilomar bluffs as one of the best parts of the race.

Patrick McKenna, who lives in Marquez Knolls, said it was a chance to “have some fun with my kids and get to see another neighborhood in the Palisades.”

Some runners traveled long distances to take part.

Rebecca Green, 9, and her brother Miles, 8, came all the way from Washington, D.C. to visit their Palisadian grandmother Cathe Jacobs for the holiday and wanted to do the race.

“I like running,” said Miles, who was wearing a rainbow wig.

Sister Rebecca, wearing long orange decorations in her hair, enjoys running too and said she wanted to participate as a way to train for track and field.

At the finish line, John Closson, VP Regional Manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, realtor and Highlands resident Brett Duffy and his wife Allison Duffy and other volunteers handed out medals to the finishers.

“This is a wonderful way to support the community and kick off the holiday with a little exercise before filling our bellies,” Closson said.

After finishing the race, runners cooled down, stretched and visited sponsor booths, including the Studio K booth where Susan Howard demonstrated an aerial workout.

At the booth for presenting sponsor Banc of California, Rena Alekperova, VP Branch Manager for the Palisades branch located in the Highlands Village by the Beach shopping center, said the event exceeded her expectations.

“It’s a great way for us to participate in the community and to get to meet so many residents,” Alekperova said.

In addition to all the family fun and neighborhood camaraderie, the holiday run had a higher purpose with proceeds going to support Hearts with Hope Foundation.

The organization instructs local medical personnel around the world in the treatment and care of children with congenital heart diseases.

Eric Carpio and Oscar Gamero, two volunteers manning the Hearts with Hope booth, said the event was making a “huge difference” for the organization.

Carpio said, “We’ve had an amazing response from people today and a lot of them are asking about coming with us on the missions in foreign countries.”

With their morning run completed, most of the race participants had a more immediate mission in mind—Thanksgiving dinner.