BOUNTIFUL — With all the delicious calories that are a vital part of the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s always good to be able to squeeze a little athletic fun into the day.

The South Davis Recreation Center will be offering up the perfect opportunity with their second annual Thanksgiving 5K and Kids’ 1K runs, scheduled for the morning of Nov. 27.

With pumpkin pie-prizes that fit right in with everything else on the dinner table later that evening, it’s a fun way to get outdoors and get moving with your family, friends and neighbors.

“It proved very popular last year, and we’ve had a lot of people sign up already for this year,” said Scott McDonald, aquatic and fitness director at the rec center.

He added that the pumpkin pies will go to the top three runners in each age category. “We’ve even had people call from out of state say that they’ll be here visiting family and asking if we’ll be having the race again.”

Participants who bring canned food for the Utah Food Bank will receive a discount on their registration costs (to register, please call 298-6220 or go online to www. southdavis recreation.com). Though new this year, McDonald expects the practice will become just as much of a tradition as the race.

“It’s a good thing to do,” he said. “The Utah Food Bank serves a wide variety of people, so we’re not singling anyone out.”

Though today (Nov. 20) is the last day to sign up if you want to be certain of receiving a T-shirt, registration will be open until the morning of the race.

Those who want to preview the route can join the South Davis Road Runners, a local running group, this Saturday morning (Nov. 22) at 7 a.m. in the rec center parking lot.

“We wanted to pick a route that was easy and avoided as many major lights as possible,” said McDonald, who runs with the Road Runners.

The route for the kids’ 1K will be even simpler, following the length of the sidewalk around the entire recreation center property. All of the kids who participate in the race get T-shirts and medals, marks of a job well done.

“The kids’ race helps make it a family event,” said McDonald. “My daughter really likes watching me run, and she says that she wants to run marathons when she grows up. The kids’ race, though, gives her the chance to do it now.

“She still wears the T-shirt she got at last year’s event. It’s not something that everyone has, and she feels like she earned it.”

Even for kids who don’t feel that connection, however, the kids’ race is a great opportunity for them to get active.

“With obesity being such an issue, it’s a very beneficial thing to get kids moving early,” said McDonald, adding that the same goal is shared by both races.

“They help get people moving, get out there, and get active.”

jwardell@davisclipper.com