If you’re looking to burn off some calories before sitting down for a Thanksgiving meal, the Arnold Parks and Recreation Department has just the thing.
The 16th annual Gobble Gobble Run will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, at Arnold City Park, 1 Bradley Beach Road off Jeffco Boulevard near the Meramec River.
Participants may walk or run a 5-kilometer course along the Meramec River, and children may participate in a free half-mile run. Participants may register for the event at raceroster.com.
Registration for the 5K costs $33. The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 20.
Kara Woldtvedt, Arnold Parks and Recreation Department supervisor, said the event can draw up to 1,000 participants and is a lot of fun.
“I think any time people come together for a family friendly event or an event to help them stay in shape is great,” Woldtvedt said.
“It is also a great way for people to explore Arnold City Park. It is a quick, fun way to get out in the community and meet a lot of people.”
Woldtvedt said the park’s course is flat, and it is well marked, making it easy for participants to follow the route.
“Because it is flat, it is a very fast course,” she said. “If someone wants an opportunity to set a personal record, this will be a great run for them.”
Each of the three men and three women who finish the 5K with the fastest times will receive a plaque. The top three men and women in each age category will receive a medal.
Registered participants also may receive either a long-sleeve Gobble Gobble Run T-shirt or a $10 gift certificate for the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
“There are a lot of participants who return every year,” Woldtvedt said. “I have received comments on the registration forms from participants saying this is their favorite run of the year. I know a lot of people look forward to getting out in the fresh air before going home, or wherever, to eat all of that good Thanksgiving food.”
Woldtvedt said the parks department needs five to 10 volunteers to help with the run. Anyone interested in volunteering may call her at 636-282-6649 or email her at kwoldtvedt@arnoldmo.org.
“Volunteers help out with the packet pickup, handing out water and directing runners on the course,” she said.
Participants may pick up race packets at the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 21-22, or at the park the day of the run.
Parks department employees will collect donations of nonperishable food items at the run.
The city is participating in the Feed the Masses food drive, a competition this month among local municipalities to see which one collects the most food items to donate to area charities.
Items collected in Arnold will be donated to the Arnold Food Panty.
Nonperishable food items also may be donated at the rec center.
Arnold collected 22,856 food items last year to win the competition, which the Missouri Park and Recreation Association holds.
The city also won the competition in 2020 and in 2021.
“It is one of our biggest events,” Woldtvedt said of the Feed the Masses collection.
Arsenal Credit Union sponsors the Gobble Gobble Run.