Marathon County United Way Turkey Trot logo
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — After going virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic the United Way of Marathon County Turkey Trot 5K race returns to the Eastbay/Footlocker parking lot this Thursday.
“It’s become a family tradition. We see a lot of the same faces every year,” said Ben Lee with the United Way’s Hunger Coalition. “As people register I’ve recognized a lot of the names that took part in our virtual race last year so even when we weren’t in person those people continued to show up.”
Lee says that goes for everyone in the community, as many of the sponsors who have been part of the event in the past have come back this year along with the runners. That’s good news for the event’s charitable cause, which is helping to stock shelves at over a dozen food pantries in the county.
“Even in our off-year [in 2020], we distributed 3.6 million pounds of food throughout Marathon County,” said Lee. “One hundred percent of the proceeds [from the event] go to the Marathon County Hunger Coalition.”
The race begins at 8:30 and is a chipped timing event, meaning your time won’t start until you cross the designated start/finish line. Lee says participants can make it a family event by bringing their children in strollers or a leashed dog, but those racers will start towards the back of the line so they aren’t spooked by a pack of runners passing them.
Online registration remains open until midnight Friday at the United Way of Marathon County’s website by clicking here. You can also donate without participating through the website, or by dropping off a food donation in the Eastbay/Footlocker parking lot the day of the race.
WSAU Radio and Midwest Communications are sponsors of this year’s race.
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