OCEANSIDE: Annual Turkey Trot swells in popularity

Event expected to draw 5,000 runners to beach Thursday morning

By PAUL SISSON - Staff Writer | Tuesday, November 25, 2008 6:09 PM PST ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- In its third year, the Oceanside Turkey Trot expects to see about 5,000 runners and walkers, more than double the 2,200 galloping gobblers who ran the inaugural event in 2006, organizers said this week.

The race, which operates under the slogan "move your feet before you eat," brings a hungry horde to Oceanside's waterfront for five kilometers of early-morning pavement pounding.

Many arrive in turkey costumes, some come dressed as Native Americans. All are looking to burn a few calories to justify an extra helping of stuffing and gravy later in the day.

The Turkey Trot is a creation of local philanthropist and competitive runner Richard Muscio and fitness promoter Kathy Kinane. Kinane is the owner of Kinane Events, a company that promotes several Southern California races every year.

Kinane, who has coached running and who competed in the 1984 Olympic trials, said she always wanted to do a 5K race along Oceanside's scenic beach front, but was stymied for years by the coastal rail line which carries frequent passenger and freight traffic.

When the city opened a pedestrian underpass that extended Pier View Way underneath the tracks, she said the race was finally possible.

"I waited 20 years for that to happen," she said. "There is a huge running community in Oceanside that just wasn't being served."

Kinane joined up with Muscio, an accountant and advisor to high-net-worth investors, who wrote a check to make the first race happen in 2006.

Muscio, who owns a second home on Pacific Street in Oceanside, said he took up running after temporarily losing his vision in 2001. He noted that the City of San Diego, and cities like Dana Point in Orange County had Thanksgiving morning races, but he always thought North County residents should not have to drive so far to compete before they eat.

"We're just trying to encourage physical fitness in the community," Muscio said.

This year is the trot's first with a title sponsor. Jennifer Topzand, marketing director for Pacific Marine Credit Union, said she ran in the event for the first time in 2007 and became convinced that a sponsorship made sense.

"We were looking for an event to support the community," Topzand said. "What's fantastic about this event is that it goes to very worthy folks in our community. And the costumes, the families out there with their kids in strollers, it just makes it a lot of fun."

Turkey Trot organizers continue to work with the Oceanside Unified School District to encourage running among all school-age kids. An eight-week after-school running program is now operating at 12 local schools.

Kinane said she believes the event, and the training that leads up to it, is having demonstrable results in local schools. She noted that Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School became the city's first middle or high school to achieve a score of 800 in state achievement tests. The running program is active at Martin Luther King, and Kinane said getting kids moving helps them focus in the classroom.

"We're hoping that putting a little oxygen into their brains will help out with their grades," she said.

Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com.

IF YOU GO

Registration: Race day registration for the Oceanside Turkey Trot will be begin at 6:30 a.m. Thursday at the Civic Center at 330 N. Coast Highway.

Schedule: Races will begin at 7:15 a.m. for the open 5K; 8 a.m. for the Oceanside-only residents' 5K; 9:15 a.m. for the 1-mile race for ages 9 to 12; 9:30 a.m. for the 1-mile race for ages 7 and 8; and 9:45 a.m. for the 1-miler for ages 6 and under.

Entry fees: $25 to $30 for adults, $22-$25 for ages 13 to 17; $22-$27 for seniors; and $20-$25 for children.