Sonoma Ranch Elementary School hosted its third annual Turkey Trot on  Nov. 21, bringing students and parents together for a day of fun and fitness.

The event not only encouraged physical activity but also provided a glimpse into the district's growing running programs.

Participants chased Mrs. Luci, the school’s friendly turkey mascot, around the campus, both inside the school building and outside on the campus grounds.

The event, which was voluntary, encouraged students to run a course that was about a mile long and gave students the opportunity to run more if they desired.

After students completed the initial course, participants were then given an ice pop and were free to play on the playground, be with their friends or continue running for as long as they liked.

“These types of events are always fun,” said Betsy Marlinga, a Sonoma Ranch coach. “It gives students a reason to exercise, be with their friends, and it offers them a glimpse into programs like our school and district run clubs.

"We had a district run club meet the day before our Turkey Trot, and every single one of our runners was excited to come back and run the Turkey Trot the next day. Our students have really exceeded our expectations, and running has become an encouraging activity for everyone.”

Sonoma Ranch’s Turkey Trot is just one example of the growing running culture at Gilbert Public Schools., where 24 GPS elementary schools participate in a district run club, while all 26 elementary schools have their own individual run clubs.

The district club was started by a few teachers and parents across the district who wanted to gather different schools together for running meets. The club has since blossomed into a district-wide program that encourages students to exercise while fostering team-building skills.

“The District Run Club has grown exponentially and continues to grow — we even had to separate it into two regions,” added Cherie Naumann, the run club coach at Carol Rae Ranch Elementary and GPS Physical Education Department chair.

The District Run Club, now divided into East and West regions, boasts nearly 1,200 student participants. Each month, runners compete in district meets at a different junior high school in the district, with the top three finishers in each grade level receiving medals for both boys and girls.

“The Run Club’s popularity is likely due to the fact that there’s a reason for everyone to participate," Naumann said. "Students don’t just join for the exercise — some join for the competition, while others join for the social aspect. There’s really a spot for everyone.”