Photo: turkeytrotrun on Instagram

From roast turkey to pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving is packed with delicious foods that make it hard to resist the urge of indulging without guilt. Although it is pretty common to pack a few pounds during the holiday, you shouldn’t have to refuse those delectable desserts after adding the turkey trot to your Thanksgiving traditions. Instead of feeling lethargic after your Thanksgiving feast, Vancouver locals are able to test their endurance and give back to the local community at the 20^th annual turkey trot on Gransville Island.

Annually attracting over 1,000 runners from Van City and beyond, the event is organized by the RUNVAN charity, which strives to inspire an active lifestyle while supporting the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. If you’re up for the challenge, make this year’s Thanksgiving a rewarding one, as you can burn off those extra calories during a 10K run across Vancouver’s popular peninsula. Before making your way to the finish line, the route follows a waterfront path along the southern edge of False Creek. Afterwards, families can celebrate the holiday with free food and live entertainment.

While most people fall into a food coma after the holiday, the turkey trot is a way to stay in shape over Thanksgiving. The towering high plate of food that typically embodies Thanksgiving shouldn’t keep you from staying on track. After all, it might even put you in the right mindset to forgo that second slice of pie!