While most were sleeping and some were inside basting turkeys and rolling out dough for pies on Thanksgiving morning, thousands of people from near and far joined families and friends out in the fresh air to continue holiday traditions, or start new ones, by running or walking to feed the hungry.

Instead of starting inside Sacramento State’s J Street entrance and going north on Carlson Drive, the Run to Feed the Hungry began on J Street just west of the Sac State entrance. The course was changed for safety reasons and to accommodate the increasing number of participants ?” the new course would avoid the bottleneck problem of the H Street tunnel, said Beth Ruyak McWhirter, media and fund raising coordinator for Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.

A flood of Santa hats, turkey headgear, running strollers, smiling faces and camera flashes streamed past the new start line at 9 a.m. as over 17,000 running shoes pounded the pavement, eager to begin the race.

Corporate teams such as KNCI, Hanson McClain, Financial Title, and the Sacramento Bee were also at the event in addition to celebrity guests such as KSTE radio personality Jack Armstrong, Channel 13 news anchor Jennifer Whitney and Sacramento Bee writer Rick Kushman.

Amidst falling red, orange and yellow leaves, under a partly sunny sky and with temperatures dipping below 50 degrees, 5K and 10K runners, untimed and timed, made the midtown loop returning to the Scottish Rite Temple to pass the finish line and get race treats such as bananas, Vitamin Water, and Starbucks Coffee.

“It’s a fantastic cause,” said Katie Mandel, one of 180 AmeriCorps volunteers helping out on race day. “Its getting back to what Thanksgiving is all about ?” coming together as a group and reaching out to help other people.”

A record number participated in the 12th annual race, which has continued to increase in popularity every year ?” almost doubling since 2001 where 10,401 ran the race.

Ruyak McWhirter said the money raised from the event could be close to $400,000 and will be donated to the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services to help feed over 55,000 hungry people. She said the money is crucial to the food bank’s efforts and supports 12 programs including 300 moms in the Mother-Baby program.

“Families, friends, serious athletes and people wanting to share community spirit, enjoy starting this holiday of thanks, with a way to give,” Ruyak McWhirter said. “They support their community, get some fresh air and exercise, see lots of folks they know, collect the t-shirts, smile, talk, build memories and then feel less guilty about indulging later in the day.”

Ruyak McWhirter said that she has already met second generations participating in the race: people who ran with their parents, who are parents themselves now and are bringing their babies.

Even dogs, like Susan Russell’s Golden-Doodle, named Harley, were welcome to run in the race alongside their owners.

Rowell said she returns to the 5K untimed race with her best friend at hand and dog on leash for the joy and the fun of the race.

Sisters, Crystal Granger and Denise Granger-Mayer from Rancho Cordova, wore fluffy turkey hats, which they had bought online to get into race spirit.

“What a great way to get out there and help others instead of just watching TV,” Granger-Mayer said.

As quick as 30 minutes after the race started, speedy top finishers were already passing the end line.

Simon Sawe, who previously set a city 10K record with a time of 28:46 in 2003, claimed the $1,000 first place prize for the men’s 10K with a 29:16 effort and a pace of 4:43 minute miles.

Former Sydney Olympian and Stanford graduate Gabe Jennings came in second place and was clocked at 29:52.

Folsom resident and first time women’s 10K winner, Johanna Bonfiglio, claimed first place in the women’s division with a race time of 34:03.

Looking into the future, Ruyak McWhirter said some of the race’s goals are to raise $500,000 and to someday see a bib number of 20,000 ?” which would mark a goal-breaking number of participants.

“And most of all, to increase awareness that as the run participants celebrate the blessing in their own lives, every one of them is blessing the life of another human being,” Ruyak McWhirter said. “And that is very good.”

The Run to Feed the Hungry first started as the suggestion of Sacramento public relations specialist and runner Gaylord Walker, who in 1994, pitched the race idea to the food bank. After suggesting the run could make more than $50,000 annually, food bank officials made the event happen. Since cancer took Walker’s life in 1997, the race has been dedicated to his memory.

Jessica Weidling can be reached at [email protected]