WATERVILLE, Maine (WABI) – Champions Fitness Club has been holding a 5 and 10k Turkey Trot for over the past twenty years.

“Champions always does such a great job, bringing people in for the 5K, 10K. A lot of energy, the volunteers all get here real early, and it’s a great atmosphere. Really helps to jump start your Thanksgiving, a lot of excitement,” said Sapan Bhatt, who ran in the Turkey Trot.

“Just thankful to be out here Thanksgiving morning. A lot more people than I thought actually got up early to do this,” noted Turkey Trot Runner, Samuel Blouin.

Most made it out to have fun, though some runners were quite competitive.

“I think that there’s probably a little of both, but the ones that you see year after year, they’re serious. They’ve got their timers going, and we write their times down, but they definitely got their times on their watches,” said Lisa Lambert, Fitness Director and Manager for Champions Fitness Club.

“So, I got first place, I was really happy. I saw on the website that you got a sweatshirt if you get first place. So, I told my family, and they said, ‘Don’t come home without a sweatshirt.’, so, here I am,” explained Sarah Schute, taking first in the Turkey Trot.

For some, it was just a way to burn some calories before a big Thanksgiving meal.

“The turkey is the least of my problems. It’s the cinnamon rolls and all the pie and everything else that goes with it,” said Schute

“I gotta get that calorie deficit for all that pumpkin pie later,” Bhatt added.

“I kind of like to challenge myself on these days. A holiday, for some people you can rest which is a great thing, but I was like ‘Well I have an opportunity to challenge myself.’, you know, work for your turkey. So, I worked for my turkey today,” explained Camden Dangler, taking second in the Turkey Trot.

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