Residents, many in turkey-themed outfits, participated in Thursday’s 13th annual Turkey Trot in Hancock, put on by UP Health System - Portage. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — If someone moved suspiciously quickly for seconds at their Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, multiple factors could be at play.

One, they’d already worked up an appetite. Two, they’d already gotten plenty of practice moving that day. 

That could apply to any one of an estimated 300 people who ran or walked during Thursday morning’s 13th annual Turkey Trot, put on by UP Health System – Portage.

The 5K event has a direct impact on the hospital’s mission of making communities healthier, said event coordinator Angela Luskin, community health coordinator for UPHS. 

“This is a fabulous way to get out, get our bodies moving on a Thanksgiving holiday,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see so many friends and family. They’ve made this a part of our annual tradition to join us for the turkey trot each year.”

The icy conditions forced a change in the usual course. Instead of walking on the snowmobile trail, the group did two laps around Portage, Ingot, and Elevation streets and Campus Drive.

Thursday’s turnout was about average for a Turkey Trot, Luskin said. 

“It seemed like there was a lot more furry friends this year, which was awesome to see,” she said. 

Many participants got in the holiday spirit, wearing turkey headdresses or Thanksgiving-themed costumes. 

Kristy Tereschuck of Hancock combined both trends. Using autumn-hued strips of cloth, she’d made the turkey-themed skirts being worn by herself, her friends, and even her dog, Dobby. 

Thursday was either her fourth or fifth time doing the Turkey Trot.

“It’s fun to get out and just feel good after,” she said. “Then you can go and pig out and not feel too guilty.