Thousands of runners participate in annual Turkey Trot
By David James Heiss
Redlands News Collective
Photo by Mauricio Rodriguez
More than 4,600 people participated in the 12th annual Redlands Turkey Trot.
Photo by David James Heiss
Zachary Laurenzana of Escondido is the first person to cross the finish line.
Thanksgiving morning was not a sleep in-late day for nearly 4,700 individuals looking to burn off calories prior to celebrations or competing for prestige.
Festivities kicked off with a 1K Fun Run in which mostly kids chased — or surpassed — a turkey mascot down a segment of University Street.
Promptly at 8 a.m., scores of participants lined up at the starting line for 5K Turkey Trot around the University of Redlands campus.
Just 15 minutes and 28.1 seconds later, 31-year-old Zachary Laurenzana of Escondido would be the first to cross the finish line, followed by 18-year-old Micah Chandler with a time of 15:36.6, and 20-year-old Vicente Quiroz of San Bernardino with a time of 15:38.7.
The first woman to cross the finish line was Jennifer Meyers, 43, of Redlands, who finished with a time of 17:15.5.
Overall, 4,674 people signed up for the Turkey Trot this year, with hundreds getting a discount by donating canned food to Inland Harvest as part of their sign-up.
Proceeds from registrations benefit Phoenix Hope International and the Redlands Educational Partnership.
Jenny Medina, 24, of Highland participated in her first Turkey Trot.
“I like to run,” she said. “It’ll be nice to burn off extra calories.”
She joined a friend from Redlands, Ann Ly, who told her about the event.
Medina said that she had a personal goal to try and finish the 5K in 30 minutes; she came close with a time of 38:56.8, while Ann Ly, 26, finished slightly ahead of her at 35:14.4.
David Schrum of Redlands, Julie Freeland, and their daughter Madeline Freeland, 21, ran for the first time as a family, though Madeline has participated in the Turkey Trot previously.
Photo by David James Heiss
Keilani Luna of Glendora, 29, took first place in the women’s 25-29 age bracket. She holds up a T-shirt and pumpkin pie, the prizes given to top three finishers in each age category.
Photo by David James Heiss
Sarah Almeida (center) and Melissa Pitcher of San Diego trot along the course.
Make it stand out
Photo by David James Heiss
Jazmine and Randall Henriquez of Highland were on hand to show their support at the 2025 Redlands Turkey Trot.
“Julie and I are part of the Loma Linda Lopers” running club “and just wanted to do this for fun,” Schrum said. Schrum, 57, finished with a time of 42:21.3, slightly ahead of Julie, 52, who finished with a time of 42:55.3. Madeline gave them someone to follow, finishing with a time of 38:53.3.
Official results for the 12th annual Redlands Turkey Trot, timed by Moorestown, N.J.-based Runsignup, are available at Redlands Turkey Trot Results.
Editor David James Heiss serves on the board of the Redlands Educational Partnership.
Photo by David James Heiss
Runners participating in the turkey trot. The last contestants meandered over the finish line approximately an hour-and-a-half after the 5K started.