Traditions New and Returning Draw Over 8,300 to the O’side Turkey Trot

December 4, 2024

Beloved local holiday event debuted Double Dip challenge, continued classic 5K route and largest team competition in 2024

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (December 4, 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Over 8,300 participants came out to kick off their Thanksgiving holiday at the O’side Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 28, the largest field size the race has seen since 2017. The top-ranked trot celebrated its 19th annual event and its second year in the care of producers San Diego Running Co. This edition of the North County race took runners down the same classic 5K course while adding the option for daring runners to “Double Dip” by completing the course for a second time back-to-back. Participants turned out not only from all over San Diego County, but also from five countries, 44 states and nearly 500 cities across the U.S.

“You really can’t beat spending Thanksgiving by the beautiful Pacific Ocean and under the palm trees. For both locals and visitors, the O’side Turkey Trot offers a classic California holiday experience that you just can’t get anywhere else,” said Eric Marenburg, chief running officer and co-founder of San Diego Running Co. “It warms our team’s hearts to see the families, friends and coworkers who have made this an annual tradition. The Trot’s mark on the community goes far beyond race day through its economic and charitable impact, and the people who turned out to have fun with us today make that possible.”

While participants of all paces are welcomed to run, walk or trot their way to the finish line, competitive runners turned out to race for top spots. Tim Hendricks, the men’s 5K champion, completed the 3.1 miles in 14:09. Coming in after Hendricks was the men’s 5K second-place finisher, Evan Franco. Sean Caster took the third-place spot. The women’s 5K course was led by Anna Pasternak, who finished with a time of 16:28. Second and third-place finishers for the women’s 5K were Phoebe Massey and Isabel Gladden.

Those who took part in the Double Dip challenge also completed a 5K earlier in the morning on the same course. Top finishes in the early wave were Francisco Varela in the men’s division with a time of 15:00 and Meriah Earle in the women’s division with a time of 16:48.

The popular largest team competition was dominated by the San Diego Waves XTC, which brought out over 52 people to complete the trot together. The top five largest teams with over 20 members received $100 gift certificates.

Participants began their experience at the O’side Turkey Trot Health and Fitness Expo, where they picked up their participant shirts, race numbers and interacted with vendors and sponsors. On race day, they enjoyed a scenic course that started on Pacific Coast Highway and ended behind the amphitheater on the strand in Oceanside. Runners, walkers and trotters of all ages and paces took in water views and ocean breezes on their way to the finish. There, they were greeted with unique finisher medals to celebrate their accomplishment. Those who completed the Double Dip challenge took home three medals, one for each race and a third one-of-a-kind Double Dip medal.

The O’side Turkey Trot partnered with the Move Your Feet Before You Eat!® foundation once again. The Carlsbad-based foundation was created to promote health and well-being through incorporating regular physical fitness into daily life. The foundation donates to local schools and nonprofits that encourage physical activity. To date, the event has raised over $500,000 for nonprofits that serve North County residents.

The O’side Turkey Trot will return on Nov. 27, 2025 and registration will be launching soon. For more information on the O’side Turkey Trot, visit www.osideturkeytrot.com, and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO RUNNING CO.

San Diego Running Co. is an experience company dedicated to bringing the community together through unique, memorable events that tell a story and empower people to get out and enjoy new experiences. They produced well-known events in America’s Finest City and all over San Diego County, including the Pacific Beach Half Marathon & 5K, the San Diego Santa Run and more. For more information, visit www.sandiegorunningco.com and follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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