October 24, 2016 – The ASC Training Center, based on Donner Summit, will host the Donner Lake Turkey Trot, a run or walk which begins and ends at Truckee’s West End Beach and goes all the way around Donner Lake. This year the Turkey Trot will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2016. The seven-mile events begin at 9:30 am with the non-competitive walk. At 10 am participants can compete in the “Mash Potato Mile,” a one-mile fun run that also starts and finishes at West End Beach. The official seven-mile Turkey Trot race will begin at 10:30 am. Pumpkin pies, turkeys, and other Thanksgiving-themed prizes will be raffled off after the racers have finished (timing ends at noon). There will also be lots of great raffle prizes sponsored by the Tahoe Mountain Sports. The overall male and female winners will take home prizes and all kids in the Mashed Potato Mile will receive awards as well.
The event, now in its 49th year, is a fundraiser for the ASC Training Center Junior Cross Country skiing programs. Pre-registration is open at Tahoe Mt. Sports. All people that pre-register at Tahoe Mt. Sports will get a commemorative 40th anniversary travel mug. The race costs are $25 for adults, $15 for kids ages 18 and under, and $10 for the Mashed Potato Mile. Registration closes at 4 pm on the 4th. Participants can still register at West End Beach on race day from 8:30 am to 9 am. Race day registration is $40 for adults, $25 under age 18, and $20 for the Mashed Potato Mile.
According to race founder Peter Werbel, the Turkey Trot was started as a purely “for the fun of it” event that always happened, rain, snow, or shine. The first race attracted 96 runners in 25-degree weather and Bob Woodcliff was the winner with a time of 43 min, 35 sec. Last year’s winner was Sean Clark from Philadelphia, PA and he won the Turkey Trot in an impressive 40 minutes and 5 seconds. The female winner was Bethany Gunther, also from Philadelphia with a time of 448 minutes and 23 seconds. More than 250 people are expected to enter the 2016 events, carrying on the tradition of fun for participants and spectators of all ages and abilities.
The ASC Training Center and its programs are open to everyone. ASC grooms 20 km of cross country ski trails in the winter, which are open to members and the public, Wed. – Sun., 8:30am to 4:30pm. ASCTC is well known for its high quality grooming and as an amazing race venue. In addition to cross country ski programs, ASCTC offers snowboarding, alpine gate training, and year-round biathlon programs to participants of all levels. For more information about program and activities please visit www.auburnskiclub.org, email: info@assoc.auburnskiclub.org or call 530-426-3313.